Euro 2024

GARETH SOUTHGATE might have dropped a hint his time as England manager will be over. Southgate has led a brave pack of new Three Lions into successive European Championship finals.Gareth Southgate after defeat to SpainCredit: AlamyIt was a second consecutive Euros loss for England and SouthgateCredit: GettyBut both times, it ended in heartache with pressure sure to mount on his future in charge. Southgate unusually referred to England as “they” and refused to commit himself in the immediate aftermath of 2-1 defeat to Spain.He said: “I think England are in a really good position in terms of the experiences they’ve got now. The age of the squad. “Most of this squad are going to be around not only for the World Cup but the next Euros as well. READ MORE ENGLAND NEWS”There’s a lot to look forward to but this moment is not any consolation.” Southgate’s current contract is due to expire in December. The FA have wanted to extend it – but Southgate himself was waiting till after Euro 2024 in Germany.And he was pressed on his future just moments after letting another final slip within his grasp. Most read in Euro 2024Southgate’s potential successor 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 – 20/1*Odds from Ladbrokes CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSEngland 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.But Southgate said: “I don’t think now is a good time to make a decision like that. I need to talk to the right people. It’s not for now.”The former England defender took charge on a temporary basis in 2016 after Sam Allardyce infamously resigned following just one game. Heartache for England as Spain clinch Euro 2024 with late winnerThis 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…Southgate had come from the Under-21s and led England to the semi-final in the 2018 World Cup.Three years later and he went one better in the delayed Euros by securing England’s first final since 1966. It ended in heartbreak on penalties against Italy and a quarter-final finish followed the year later in the winter World Cup. After another final loss, this time inside the 90 minutes, Southgate’s future as England boss has never been more uncertain. Graham Potter – who has not returned to management since being sacked by Chelsea in 2022 – is the bookies favourite to succeed Southgate. Potter is followed by Newcastle’s Eddie Howe with Mauricio Pochettino behind him.In his post-match press conference, Southgate went on to add: “I understand the questions about my future, but I need to have the conversations with the important people behind the scenes first and can’t talk about it in public first.”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

THE King and Prince of Wales have sent condolence messages to the England squad after they lost 2-1 to Spain in the Euros final.William told the England team: “This time it just wasn’t meant to be.The King and Prince of Wales have sent condolence messages to the England squadCredit: EPAThe Prince of Wales told the England team: ‘This time it just wasn’t meant to be’Credit: EURO 2024 News Pool (ENP)The Three Lions were just minutes away from forcing the match to extra-time”We’re all still so proud of you.”The royal shared his wishes in a social media post following their defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.The King also sent his condolences and praised the team for their efforts.He said in a message to Gareth Southgate: “Although victory may have eluded you this evening, nevertheless my wife and I join all my family in urging you and your support team to hold your heads high.read more on football“All those who have participated in sporting activities at any level will know how utterly despairing such a result can feel when the prize was so near – and will join me in sending heartfelt sympathy, even as we congratulate Spain.“But please know that your success in reaching the European Championship final is a really great achievement in itself, and one that brings with it the pride of a nation which will continue to roar for the Three Lions today – and in the many triumphs which I have no doubt lie ahead. Charles R”England missed the chance to win their first major trophy since 1966.The Three Lions had equalised after Cole Palmer came off the bench and scored.Most read in Euro 2024However, it wasn’t meant to be as Spain took the lead again with just four minutes of normal time remaining. Gareth Southgate’s men had strolled along a tightrope throughout this entire tournament, falling behind in all four of their knock-out ties.Heartache for England as Spain clinch Euro 2024 with late winnerEngland had been poor throughout most of this Euros and they were thoroughly outplayed for the vast majority of the final.There may have been late heartbreak but this was not a case of glorious failure. Spain was far superior over the past four weeks, whereas England survived on moments. The Three Lions’ captain and striker, Harry Kane, looked distraught after he was subbed just 61 minutes into the match.He was replaced by Ollie Watkins who bagged a 90th minute against Holland in the semi-finals.Kane 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.”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.”READ MORE SUN STORIESIt comes after a BBC commentator left Alan Shearer baffled after he spoke about Alvaro Morata’s career.And check out Jordon Pickford’s hilarious facial expressions ahead of England’s Euro 2024 final defeat.Exstacy to Agony for Wills and George By Harry Goodwin & Summer RaemasonPrince William and son George went from ecstasy to agony as the referee blew the final whistle at the Euros 2024 final.The Prince of Wales – President of the FA – and Prince George had earlier erupted with joy as Southgate’s side equalized with Spain in the nail-biting clash.The royal pair shot up and embraced as Cole Palmer fired a goal into the net, bringing the score to England 1 – 1 Spain.In their adorable bonding moments, George, 10, was also snapped appearing to strategize with his father.The young royal furrowed his brows and pointed towards the pitch amid the intense Euro 2024 final.Meanwhile, Wills was spotted with an equally invested expression and open hands as he watched on the edge of his seat.But, it all came crashing down at the full-time whistle, after a goal by Oyarzabal put Spain 2-0 up.The Prince and his dad had their heads in their hands as England’s dream of ending 58 years of heartache came crashing down.Gareth Southgate’s side had grown in confidence as the first half wore on and Jude Bellingham showed his quality to create an opening at the edge of the box.Cole Palmer scored just seconds after coming on for England to make it level.But then Real Sociedad winger Mikel Oyarzabal scored to put Spain ahead at 2-1.Both Wills and George looked devastated as the referee blew the final whistle and Spain were crowned victorious. 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