by England‘s infamous failure at Euro 2024 saw them lose control of their destiny as they struggled to manage matches at the elite level, despite the talk of a victory.
At the Olympiastadion, Spain secured a record-tying fourth European title, and England’s hopes of capping the incredible knockout campaigns were momentarily preserved when Cole Palmer came off the bench to negate Nico Williams’ first goal.
England’s 1-1 draw with Croatia and Italy in the Euro 2020 final resulted in a loss of control and territory. Mikel Oyarzabal scored as a substitute, extending the Three Lions’ wait for silverware to at least 60 years. Gareth Southgate felt sinking, and few could argue his team deserved more.
No Rodri means no issues for Spain
Regarding England’s strategy for playing Spain, Southgate made a joke, saying that they must take the ball off of them first. Spain had 69.2% possession and completed 265 passes, while England had 100. Spain generated only 0.28 expected goals in a cagey first half.
Spain’s last-ditch defending from John Stones and Luke Shaw kept them at bay, but Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo struggled to establish a foothold. In the midst of the park, Fabian Ruiz, Rodri, and Dani Olmo established the mood. Despite Rodri’s injury and Martin Zubimendi’s switch, Spain enjoyed 60.7% of the ball in the second period.
Rice completed only 77.5% of his passes, while Mainoo and Bellingham completed 72.2% and 21/31, respectively. Luke Shaw and Bukayo Saka had pass completion rates over 90%. Spain’s outfield starters also completed passes. England had 16 touches in Spain’s area, compared to 30 for La Roja, indicating a team dominated by a more experienced opponent.
Spain scored 1.77 xG, while England’s 0.55 was a better result. Jordan Pickford would have been Man of the Match if England had managed to edge the game. England’s individual brilliant moments, such as Bellingham’s overhead kick against Slovakia and Ollie Watkins’ winner against the Netherlands, were crucial in their victory, but Sunday’s final was a bridge too far.
Wingers from Roja run the show
Pre-match discussions focused on England’s ability to stop Spanish wingers Williams and Yamal. However, they didn’t stop them. With his superb play, Yamal established the Three Lions’ defense and earned his fourth assist of the competition.
Spain’s Yamal has scored 10 goals in his senior debut, making him the second-youngest player to score in a European Championship final since Pietro Anastasi in 1968. Williams and Yamal created three chances each, with Yamal’s 19 chances creating the highest figure at the tournament overall. No player has registered more in a single edition since Euro 1980.
What does Southgate do next?
England’s future is now a topic of debate, with some suggesting a more progressive approach to the 2026 World Cup. Palmer’s impactful cameo off the bench and Southgate’s substitute strategy show how far he has come in this regard.
Chelsea’s Harry Kane scored England’s fastest-ever goal at the Euros, 142 seconds after entering the fray. Spain regained control, and Southgate became the first manager to lose two European Championship finals, while England fell short in two consecutive showpiece matches.
England had the right personnel and depth, but Southgate struggled to create an attack featuring La Liga’s best player, the Premier League’s best player, and the Bundesliga’s best player from last season, which may not have been the case in previous tournaments.
Harry Kane’s performance in the Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 finals is disappointing, as he had only one touch in the opposition box, compared to Jack Grealish’s 21 minutes in the 2020 final. Southgate’s legacy will be a manager struggling to overcome the line on the biggest stage.
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