Euro 2024

JORDAN PICKFORD pulled a hilarious expression ahead of England’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.The Three Lions marched out in Berlin for Sunday’s historic showdown against the tournament’s best team before crashing to a late 2-1 loss.Jordan Pickford cracked fans up as he pulled a face before England’s Euro final defeatCredit: ITVThe goalie stared into the camera ahead of the game with SpainCredit: ITVGareth Southgate went for a bold starting XI as Manchester United star Luke Shaw was handed his first start for club or country since February.And Pickford certainly seemed to be feeling relaxed before kick-off.As the closing ceremony came to an end, England and Spain players lined up in the tunnel.Players from both sides took a deep breath as they considered the magnitude of the event lying ahead.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut Pickford took it all in his stride like usual.As the camera panned over the players at the front of the tunnel, it briefly rested on the Everton goalkeeper.And Pickford decided to have some fun by staring directly down the lens.He then pulled a very funny face which surely made even the most nervous fan laugh.Most read in Euro 2024EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSIndeed, fans watching from home were left in stitches by Pickford’s eccentric behaviour.One said: “Pickford is all of us right now.”The Sun’s Charlie Wyett gives his thoughts on England 2-1 defeat to Spain in Euro 2024 finalThis 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…Another declared: “Fully focused.”One noted: “Ha ha no way.”Another boomed: “He is a funny guy.”One added: “Pickford is locked in.”Pickford put in a good showing against Spain but was unable to keep them out on Sunday night.Nico Williams fired his nation ahead in the 47th minute.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut Cole Palmer came off the bench to grab an equaliser in the 73rd minute.However, Spain made sure they had the final say with an 85th minute winner courtesy of Mikel Oyarzabal.England 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. More

HARRY KANE cut a forlorn figure after being withdrawn during England’s showdown with Spain.The Three Lions skipper was replaced by Ollie Watkins just 61 minutes into their 2-1 Euro 2024 final defeat.Harry Kane was gutted after being withdrawnCredit: AFPThe England skipper has not been at the races at Euro 2024Credit: GettyKane was seen with his head in his hand after he struggled to get into the game, which Spain were leading 1-0 when he came off.Before kick-off, Gary Neville suggested why the Three Lions talisman has not been at his best.The ITV pundit said: “He doesn’t look right physically, that’s what I would say, but I think he knows how to play the game. He’s the very best striker we’ve ever had.”Colleague Roy Keane added: “I think when he’s been dropping deep, not in position sense, he has looked a little bit sluggish. He just needs to be a bit sharper with his distribution.READ MORE ON EURO 2024″I think his positional sense [has been fine] it’s just his sharpness isn’t quite there.”Neville continued: “I think in the next couple of weeks, or maybe even quicker that, it will emerge that he’s been patching himself up to get out there on the pitch. That’s ordinarily what happens.”He doesn’t look right and it’s something to do with his physicality, it’s nothing to do with his understanding of the game.”The change did the trick as Gareth Southgate’s England levelled through Cole Palmer soon after Kane was hauled off.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBut Spain were ahead again four minutes from time as substitute Mikel Oyarzabal prodded home.Watkins was England’s hero against the Netherlands but the Aston Villa sensation could not do it again as the Spaniards held on.From agony to ecstasy to agony for England fans as second Spain goal gives them late lead in Euro 2024England 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.After a tight first-half, Nico Williams finished off a flowing Spain move to put his side ahead.England forced themselves level but it was not enough as the best team of the tournament earned a deserved trophy. More

JUDE BELLINGHAM ruined two Spanish stars with an incredible turn in the Euro 2024 final. England were 1-0 down – thanks to Nico Williams’ second-half opening goal – and in need of some inspiration. Jude Bellingham sent Dani Carvajal and Dani Olmo crashing into each otherCredit: GettyAnd they got it after a long ball from Jordan Pickford found its way to Phil Foden, who shrugged of Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella.Bukayo Saka then squared it to Bellingham – who was charged down by Dani Carvajal and Dani Olmo. But the Spanish duo only collided with themselves as Bellingham wriggled out with the ball. The Real Madrid playmaker then shot wide but his turn left fans in awe as one said: “Wicked turn from Bellingham.”READ MORE ON EURO 2024Another added: “Bellingham turn Reminds me of Zidane.” One hailed: “Bellingham wow.” Another gushed: “What a turn by Bellingham though. Class!”Despite Bellingham’s stunning turn, super-sub Cole Palmer soon stole the headlines. Most read in Euro 2024THE TIME IS NOWENGLAND face their destiny against Spain TONIGHT – hoping to end 58 years of hurt in the Euro 2024 final.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSOff the bench, he sensationally guided the ball from outside the box into the bottom corner to level the score. A jubilant fan said: “Cole Palmer UNREAL.”Another added: “Cole Palmer has nerves of steal.”England were then pegged back once more as Mikel Oyarzabal came off the bench to put Spain ahead once more.And that proved to be the winner as Spain, the best team in the competition, won Euro 2024.Cole Palmer levelled for EnglandCredit: PA More