Euro 2024

ENGLAND fans have called for Neal Maupay to be BANNED from the Premier League after he trolled England within minutes of the Euros final ending.England lost the final against Spain thanks to a late goal from Mikel Oyarzabal.Maupay claimed to be supporting EnglandCredit: X @nealmaupay_But posted this meme within minutes of England losing the finalCredit: XIt came after Cole Palmer had cancelled out Nico Williams’ opener just minutes after he had come on as a substitute.Maupay is infamous among Premier League fans for his antics of winding up opposition players.But he appears to have brought that art to social media of late, with the Everton striker trolling rivals online.Maupay, 27, claimed to be supporting England in the lead-up to the final and even donned an England shirt for their semi-finals against the Netherlands.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLBut it did not take long for the player to make a heel turn on the Three Lions after they lost in the final.Moments after the final whistle, Maupay posted a screenshot from Love Island with the caption: “Nah I’m very sad, trust me.”Fans did not “trust” Maupay’s sincerity though.One angry fan responded on X saying: “You need to be banned from England and the PL.”Most read in FootballIt came after England lost their second consecutive Euros finalCredit: EPAMaupay clashed with several players last seasonCredit: AlamyBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAll the times Maupay has wound fans and players upA second fan posted: “You are a disgrace to the England team.”A third wrote: “I’m here to drink the English tears.”Fuming West Ham assistant Kevin Nolan has to be held back from Neal Maupay in tunnel rowMaybe Kane really is cursed as trophy drought goes on… he may never get a better chance with EnglandIT now seems as though he really is cursed. Along with the rest of us, writes Charlie Wyett.Tragically, unbelievably, Harry Kane’s agonising search for a trophy still continues and you know have to wonder whether he will ever actually manage it.Certainly for England, in any case.Kane has now suffered defeat in three major club finals and two finals of the European Championships.Last night, the Three Lions captain was so ineffective that he was replaced by Ollie Watkins just after the hour.Like much of this tournament, he really struggled to make the impact when England needed him, not that he had much service.He had one shot in the first half and that was Rodri, who subsequently injured himself and went off at the break.When Cole Palmer struck that brilliant equaliser, Kane was off on his feet from the bench, only for the national team to get another kick in the bo**ocks at the end.Kane was substituted in both the games against Switzerland and Holland which England went on to win but on this occasion, he could only witness a gut-wrenching twist just when it looked as though Gareth Southgate’s team had dug their way out of trouble.The Bayern Munich striker suffered the World Cup 2018 semi-final loss against Croatia, endured heartbreak against Italy in the Euro2020 final and then missed from the spot in the World Cup 2022 quarter-final against France.He really thought that this was his time, even though England did not play well in Germany.Kane will know that he will have more opportunities with England. But not many more.The World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico seems a long way away and it will surely be under a new manager. Will England be better than they are now? Probably not.And we are all left to wonder how much better England would have been with a fit and firing Kane at his very best.Read the full verdict on the curse of Harry Kane…Or check out all of Charlie Wyett’s Euro 2024 stories…A fourth said: “You’re a menace and I love you for that 😂😂”Maupay was responsible for multiple flashpoints in the Premier League last season, including a running rivalry with Spurs star James Maddison.He also clashed with Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez in the season run-in when Brentford played the Villains. More

GARETH SOUTHGATE revealed his pride in the beaten Three Lions following their crushing 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.England became the first side to lose back-to-back European Championship finals, having lost to Italy on penalties at Wembley in 2021.Southgate has revealed what he told devastated England players in the dressing roomCredit: GettyThree Lions stars were left devastated after falling short againCredit: ReutersLa Roja sealed a deserved late victory as super sub Mikel Oyarzabal struck home after Cole Palmer equalised for England.The final whistle sparked wild Spanish celebrations as Southgate and his dejected squad wasted little time in taking off their runners-up medals.Southgate said: “To lose a final is incredibly tough. Congratulations to Spain. “They were the best team in the tournament and the best team tonight.READ MORE ON EURO 2024 “I told the players I am very proud of them. They couldn’t give the country any more and ultimately we lost to the better side.”Our players couldn’t have given more in terms of desire and character but we didn’t use the ball well until we were a goal down.”The players have pushed it until the 85th minute of the final game. They couldn’t have given any more.”Southgate added that he must decide on his future as England boss in the coming weeks.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe told the BBC: “Now is not the time for me to speak about the future. I need to talk to the right people and give myself a bit of time.”To get to another final… it was a privilege to have the opportunity. But to come up short is hard at the moment.”Roy Keane launches passionate rant in favour of ‘top-quality guy’ and ‘calmest man at Euro 2024’ Gareth SouthgateNEXT ENGLAND BOSSHere are the latest odds from Ladbrokes:Graham Potter – 11/10Eddie Howe – 2/1Mauricio Pochettino – 4/1Jurgen Klopp – 10/1Lee Carsley – 10/1Pep Guardiola – 14/1Ange Postecoglou – 16/1Michael Carrick – 20/1Steven Gerrard – 20/1Thomas Tuchel – 20/1Southgate will be offered a punditry role by ITV if he leaves the ‘impossible job’.The 53-year-old’s England contract expires in December after four tournaments in charge.Gary Lineker foresees Southgate calling it a day on his management career altogether and called for Frank Lampard to be considered.The BBC presenter appeared to drop a hint that Southgate would retire as he said: “I suspect this might be his last game in management.”The FA supposedly want Southgate to stay in the job for the 2026 World Cup.Should Southgate step down, Graham Potter and Eddie Howe are among the names in contention to take over.Elsewhere, Mauricio Pochettino makes up the podium spots at 4/1 odds to takeover.This felt like our time… but keep Gareth’s culture and we can win it in 2026 instead, writes Jack WilshereIT will take a while for me and every England fan to get over this, writes Jack Wilshere.To come so close to winning that trophy, only to be beaten in a second Euros final in a row, is a huge disappointment.Especially when it really felt like this was our time.It seemed that everything was coming together for us to end the long wait for a major title.But Spain deserved it. They were the better team in the final and the best team of the tournament.We will all — supporters, players, coaches, the FA — have to move on and go again.Because English football is still in a good position.Gareth Southgate has taken us to two finals, a semi-final and a quarter-final in four tournaments. We have never produced a run like that before.The challenge now is to maintain this level of competitiveness and make England even better.Southgate and his staff have done a fantastic job in changing the whole environment and narrative around the national team.Whether Gareth carries on or not, the wider culture he has put in place must be preserved.This tournament was the biggest test of that culture the team had to go through.They overcame the problems and went all the way, only to fall at the final hurdle.But there is every reason to believe we can challenge at the World Cup in 2026 and beyond.We’ve got a really good group of players, many of them young, who can go on playing and performing for England for years.Jude Bellingham, Kobbie Mainoo, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer — to name just five — have plenty more tournaments in them.This tournament will also be an inspiration for the next generations of players. Unfortunately there isn’t the trophy lift to take that to a completely different level.But England have delivered moments in Germany that will be replayed forever.The Bellingham overhead kick and Ollie Watkins’ semi-final winner will be recreated in playgrounds and cages up and down the country.What I would like to see now is England continuing to develop, to become a team that can consistently dominate opponents and can give a real identity to English football.We now have players who are comfortable on the ball and technically very good.The biggest disappointment of the tournament was that we didn’t see that as often as we would have liked. That leaves us with a ‘what if?’ feeling.England must not lose that old-school mentality of finding a way to win even when you’re not playing well — that never-say-die spirit which got us through this Euros more than once.But the next step is to allow other qualities to shine through, to give the players that our system is creating the platform to show  everything they can do.The job for me and for other coaches is to keep producing players that are comfortable on the ball and understand how to perform under pressure at a high level.English football is in a good place but we need to keep going. Then we will finally get over the line.Real all of SunSport columnist Jack Wilshere’s Euro 2024 columns… More

COLE PALMER sent London into raptures with his brilliant goal in the Euro 2024 final.The Chelsea star was brought on as a substitute in the 70th minute, just as he was in the previous knock-out rounds and the last group game against Slovenia.Cole Palmer scored a brilliant equaliser minutes after coming onCredit: APHe celebrated with his trademark rubbing of the armsCredit: APIt took him just three minutes to make the impact Southgate desired, as he curled a low shot into the bottom corner from outside the box.He celebrated with his trademark rubbing of the arms, while fans across the country went wild.Scenes from London showed how many had tuned in to watch the Three Lions in their attempt to end 58 years of hurt.A video posted online caught the roars of delight around Canary Wharf as the city erupted after seeing the net bulge following Palmer’s strike.READ MORE IN EURO 2024However joy quickly dissipated as Spain retook the lead 13 minutes later, with Mikel Oyarzabal notching the winner.Palmer’s club team-mate Marc Cucurella provided the assist for the goal, and he was cheered on by Chelsea’s social media team before the match, sparking outrage.Fans were bemused as a post supporting Cucurella read: “Next stop, Berlin. Cucu’s on fire, Europe’s right wingers are terrified.”Our Spanish left-back has been a standout performer at the Euros. Tidy on the ball, combative off it.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSEngland ratings: Palmer the super sub but captain Kane struggles yet again in Spain heartbreakCOLE PALMER came off the bench to be England’s star man – but his heroics were unable to stop heartbreak against Spain, writes Tom Barclay.Mikel Oyarzabal struck a late dagger through the hearts of the Three Lions to seal a 2-1 Spanish victory.And that ensured that 58 years of hurt will go on.Here’s how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated each England player in the crushing defeat:Jordan Pickford: 8Carefully controlled a blast of a backpass from John Stones on his line in the first half. Could do little to stop Williams’ opener but made two terrific stops to deny Yamal, only for Oyarzabal to poke home at the death.Kyle Walker: 6Had his hands full with Williams but managed the Spanish livewire pretty well but could not get near his powerful opener. John Stones: 8A colossus again as he played every single minute of this Euros, despite lack of Manchester City game-time. Superb block on early Williams shot, was often in the right place at the right time and at one point dribbled all the way up the pitch.Marc Guehi: 6Solid alongside Stones and overall it has been a brilliant first tournament for the Crystal Palace star. But Oyarzabal nicked in front of him for the winner.Bukayo Saka: 7Most consistent attacker for England across the tournament and had a good battle with pantomime villain Marc Cucurella here. It was his cross that Bellingham laid off for Palmer to work his magic.Declan Rice: 7Went past his boss Gareth Southgate’s cap haul by winning his 58th here and he is still only 25. Was in the thick of it in the midfield battle throughout. Kobbie Mainoo: 5Just 19 and starting a major final for England in the middle of midfield. Fewer bursts forward though than in recent games as his side struggled for possession and was subbed for Palmer as Southgate searched for a leveller. Luke Shaw: 7Looked so sharp for a player making his first start since Luton away on February 10, winning his battle against Lamine Yamal in the first half. But Yamal got the better of him after the break to tee up Williams’ opener.Phil Foden: 6Out of possession it was his job to man-mark Manchester City colleague Rodri, until the Spanish maestro went off injured at half-time. Had a half-chance just before the break but could not beat Unai Simon.Jude Bellingham: 7Shunted wide left when England did not have the ball – which was a lot of the time. Riskily flew into a few tackles, but it was his clever lay-off that teed up Palmer.Harry Kane: 4His lack of involvement was summed up by England fans calling for Ollie Watkins in the 57th minute. They got their wish on the hour.SUBS: Ollie Watkins: 6Semi-final hero was introduced far earlier here to get some legs in behind, though he did not have too much impact this time.Cole Palmer: 9What an impact after emerging with just twenty minutes to go. Yet another of Southgate’s subs paid off handsomely as Palmer curled a peach of an equaliser with 17 minutes remaining, sending most of the Olympiastadion potty.Ivan Toney: 6Thrown on right at the end but could not make an impact.Gareth Southgate: 7The game was a chess match for the first half and Southgate was never going to go early with his bold moves.His subs were excellent to be fair, with Palmer brilliantly getting his team back into it.Critics will say England did not play attacking enough but Spain are one hell of a side – and Southgate’s men pushed them all the way.”Up and down the left touchline, Marc’s leaving everything out on the pitch.”The Blues saw what he can do earlier this year, and now he’s ready for the grand finale.The Sun’s Charlie Wyett gives his thoughts on England 2-1 defeat to Spain in Euro 2024 final”This is your time, Marc. Best of luck.”Fans questioned why Chelsea, as an English club, decided to cheer on the opposition, though they did make similar posts about their England players Palmer and Conor Gallagher.ALL THE FALLOUTENGLAND fell at the final hurdle at Euro 2024, losing to a dramatic late Mikel Oryazabal winner as Spain won the tournament. More

GARY LINEKER offered comforting words to Anthony Gordon in a private chat after England fell to a 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.Of those 21 England players who featured at the tournament, no one had less time on the pitch than Gordon – who received just FOUR minutes.Anthony Gordon was offered some comforting words by Gary LinekerCredit: RexGordon played just four minutes of football at Euro 2024Credit: ReutersGary Lineker has been fronting the BBC’s coverageHe was limited to just one substitute appearance in the dying minutes of England’s final group game against Slovenia last month.Although Gordon impressed during that brief cameo – helping to create the Three Lions’ best chance of the night – Gareth Southgate did not call upon the 23-year-old again on the way to the final. Gordon threw his arms around Bukayo Saka, John Stones and Luke Shaw after England’s defeat to Spain before later bumping into Lineker.Lineker, 63, reassured Gordon that “it will happen” for him in an England shirt after the Newcastle United star’s lack of game time in Germany.READ MORE ON EURO 2024The Match of the Day presenter told the Rest is Football podcast: “I saw Gordon after the game.”I said to him briefly, ‘I feel for you in this tournament. I think you should have got more minutes.'”He was very kind and I went, ‘But don’t worry. You will get more chances. It will happen for you.’ He’s very young.”Alan Shearer replied by explaining how difficult it was to drop Harry Kane, but agreed that Gordon should have been more involved.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThis felt like our time… but keep Gareth’s culture and we can win it in 2026 instead, writes Jack WilshereIT will take a while for me and every England fan to get over this, writes Jack Wilshere.To come so close to winning that trophy, only to be beaten in a second Euros final in a row, is a huge disappointment.Especially when it really felt like this was our time.It seemed that everything was coming together for us to end the long wait for a major title.But Spain deserved it. They were the better team in the final and the best team of the tournament.We will all — supporters, players, coaches, the FA — have to move on and go again.Because English football is still in a good position.Gareth Southgate has taken us to two finals, a semi-final and a quarter-final in four tournaments. We have never produced a run like that before.The challenge now is to maintain this level of competitiveness and make England even better.Southgate and his staff have done a fantastic job in changing the whole environment and narrative around the national team.Whether Gareth carries on or not, the wider culture he has put in place must be preserved.This tournament was the biggest test of that culture the team had to go through.They overcame the problems and went all the way, only to fall at the final hurdle.But there is every reason to believe we can challenge at the World Cup in 2026 and beyond.We’ve got a really good group of players, many of them young, who can go on playing and performing for England for years.Jude Bellingham, Kobbie Mainoo, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer — to name just five — have plenty more tournaments in them.This tournament will also be an inspiration for the next generations of players. Unfortunately there isn’t the trophy lift to take that to a completely different level.But England have delivered moments in Germany that will be replayed forever.The Bellingham overhead kick and Ollie Watkins’ semi-final winner will be recreated in playgrounds and cages up and down the country.What I would like to see now is England continuing to develop, to become a team that can consistently dominate opponents and can give a real identity to English football.We now have players who are comfortable on the ball and technically very good.The biggest disappointment of the tournament was that we didn’t see that as often as we would have liked. That leaves us with a ‘what if?’ feeling.England must not lose that old-school mentality of finding a way to win even when you’re not playing well — that never-say-die spirit which got us through this Euros more than once.But the next step is to allow other qualities to shine through, to give the players that our system is creating the platform to show  everything they can do.The job for me and for other coaches is to keep producing players that are comfortable on the ball and understand how to perform under pressure at a high level.English football is in a good place but we need to keep going. Then we will finally get over the line.Real all of SunSport columnist Jack Wilshere’s Euro 2024 columns…Shearer added: “There’s no way you can ever drop your captain and your record goalscorer and a guy who’s on three goals without playing particularly well.“So it’s impossible, I mean you couldn’t do it and I wouldn’t have done it. I would have kept him in the team but I would have had more legs in and around him.”Heartbroken England heroes leave team hotel in Germany and head home after devastating loss to Spain in Euro 2024 final”But Kane did not look right. Whether he was carrying an injury or I don’t know.”Meanwhile Micah Richards declared that Marc Guehi was England’s most consistent player in Germany.Eberechi Eze made three substitute appearances in Germany and had 99 minutes on the pitch.Meanwhile Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton received ZERO minutes and Ivan Toney landed a mere 42 minutes across the month.Ollie Watkins – who scored the 90th minute winner against the Netherlands in the semi-final – was awarded 38 minutes in total.Meanwhile fans were always pleased to see Cole Palmer enter the fray as the Chelsea star got just 125 minutes from the bench.READ MORE SUN STORIESPalmer’s second-half wonder strike had cancelled out Nico William’s 47th minute opener – but his heroics were unable to stop heartbreak against Spain.A late Mikel Oyarzabal goal separated the two sides, with England, despite having an effort cleared off the line – unable to equalise for a second time.Maybe Kane really is cursed as trophy drought goes on… he may never get a better chance with EnglandIT now seems as though he really is cursed. Along with the rest of us, writes Charlie Wyett.Tragically, unbelievably, Harry Kane’s agonising search for a trophy still continues and you know have to wonder whether he will ever actually manage it.Certainly for England, in any case.Kane has now suffered defeat in three major club finals and two finals of the European Championships.Last night, the Three Lions captain was so ineffective that he was replaced by Ollie Watkins just after the hour.Like much of this tournament, he really struggled to make the impact when England needed him, not that he had much service.He had one shot in the first half and that was Rodri, who subsequently injured himself and went off at the break.When Cole Palmer struck that brilliant equaliser, Kane was off on his feet from the bench, only for the national team to get another kick in the bo**ocks at the end.Kane was substituted in both the games against Switzerland and Holland which England went on to win but on this occasion, he could only witness a gut-wrenching twist just when it looked as though Gareth Southgate’s team had dug their way out of trouble.The Bayern Munich striker suffered the World Cup 2018 semi-final loss against Croatia, endured heartbreak against Italy in the Euro2020 final and then missed from the spot in the World Cup 2022 quarter-final against France.He really thought that this was his time, even though England did not play well in Germany.Kane will know that he will have more opportunities with England. But not many more.The World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico seems a long way away and it will surely be under a new manager. Will England be better than they are now? Probably not.And we are all left to wonder how much better England would have been with a fit and firing Kane at his very best.Read the full verdict on the curse of Harry Kane…Or check out all of Charlie Wyett’s Euro 2024 stories… More