England lose Euro 2024 final: Gareth Southgate faces questions after defeat
What Comes Next For England's Southgate & Kane?
Key moments: Spain defeats England by a score of 2-1
Top football journalist in Berlin
England coach Gareth Southgate remained still and contemplative as a well-known scenario played out in front of him and his team at Berlin's iconic Olympiastadion.
The end credits played on another story of brave England's loss, as Spain celebrated a well-earned 2-1 victory in Euro 2024. Luis de la Fuente's exceptional team were the deserving winners of the match.
Southgate, who then went to comfort his devastated players, experienced his fourth consecutive major tournament where England came close, but fell short - a recurring pattern during his eight years as manager.
Some may find it unkind to label Southgate and the England team as almost reaching their goals, but the consistent failure to secure victories in crucial moments like these tournaments leave them vulnerable to such criticism.
Southgate Faces Harsh Reality: Spain Too Strong
Beside Southgate stood a disappointed Harry Kane, the captain of England, as their Euro 2024 journey came to an end. Despite winning the Golden Boot, Kane's performance seemed slow and tired, leading many to believe that age was finally catching up to the team's top goal scorer.
Kane, who had uncertain fitness before the tournament, managed to score three goals at Euro 2024. However, his performance was below the usual high level he has shown throughout his successful career. It was not unexpected when he was substituted by Ollie Watkins after 61 minutes. The England supporters had been eagerly calling for the Aston Villa striker to come on since the beginning of the second half.
Southgate has tried and failed four times to end a long streak for the men's team, which will reach 60 years by the 2026 World Cup. Unfortunately, Kane has missed another opportunity to win his first trophy.
Both teams will have a lot to think about as England goes back home at the end of a tournament where they didn't perform at their best. They barely escaped defeat against Slovakia in the last 16, came from behind to beat Switzerland in the last eight, and then overcame another deficit to defeat the Netherlands and make it to the final.
Southgate expressed his belief in the power of dreams the evening before the final match. However, he was confronted with the harsh reality as Spain proved to be superior to England. It is not a matter of shame, but there was a noticeable difference in skill and originality between the two teams that was apparent and humbling.
England was not able to make a comeback against Spain, who played a strong game. Despite substitute Cole Palmer scoring a goal to equalize Nico Williams' opener, Spain took the lead with Mikel Oyarzabal's goal four minutes before the end of the match.
This was a moment of potential glory and everlasting fame for Southgate and England - a opportunity to make up for their loss in the Euro 2020 final against Italy at Wembley. Unfortunately, it ended up being a familiar outcome.
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England's most recent letdown can be included in that defeat along with the World Cup semifinal loss to Croatia in 2018 and the quarterfinal defeat to France at the 2022 World Cup.
Southgate mentioned that it wasn't the right moment to talk about what comes next for him, but it would be unexpected if he decided to continue leading the team in another tournament since the previous four didn't end in success.
He should be praised and admired for how he has brought England to the later stages of big competitions and improved their reputation. However, it might be time for new voices to bring new energy to a team that has potential but has not been successful enough.
The Euro 2024 journey has been a challenging one for Southgate, even though his team made it to the final.
As a person who is always alert to the risks of creating conflict and spreading negativity in England, Southgate was visibly hurt by the insults he received, such as having three plastic beer cups thrown at him after the match against Slovenia.
The disagreements with England's fans were resolved by reaching the final, but this will be a factor in his decision-making in the days ahead.
"Questions Arise Over Kane, The Mainstay"
Unexpectedly, there is now uncertainty surrounding Kane, who has been a key player, captain, and source of motivation during Southgate's time as manager.
Was Euro 2024 just bad timing for a top player who's been struggling at the end of a tough season with Bayern Munich and dealing with an injury? Or was it a clear indication that his peak years may be in the past?
Kane's displays in Germany posed a strong argument for him to be benched against Spain following Watkins' impressive performance in the semi-final. However, benching your team leader, who has a history of winning matches, for the final of a European Championship is much easier said than done.
Because of Kane's past performance, Southgate still preferred him to be the one to take the important opportunity. However, Kane's inability to move quickly and his tired appearance made it difficult for him to get in good positions to score.
The player who has scored 66 goals for England only had possession of the ball 13 times in Berlin. This led Southgate to make a difficult decision that many would not have expected before Euro 2024 - he substituted the striker while the game was still closely contested.
Kane's poor endurance is evident in the concerning fact that he has been substituted five times while playing in Germany. He appears to be a player who would benefit from taking a break to regain his energy and form.
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England did not perform very well in Germany, but it is impressive how Southgate has motivated them and how players like Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Watkins have shown their talent to reach the final. Even though they didn't play their best, reaching the final is still a great accomplishment.
Southgate addressed the physical problems that impacted the England team, but he made mistakes with his midfield selection in the first three matches. This included trying out Trent Alexander-Arnold in a new position, as well as substituting Conor Gallagher at half-time during the game against Slovenia.
Changing to a three-man defense and then switching back to a four-man defense against Spain seemed to have some success but also showed some confusion in tactics.
Whether Southgate continues as manager or not, the England team might have to make some changes. Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier, who are both 34 and 33 years old, are likely approaching the end of their time playing for their country.
The young players like Bellingham, Phil Foden, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, and Adam Wharton show a lot of potential and optimism. Meanwhile, defender John Stones and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford performed exceptionally well in Germany.
It is questionable if Southgate will stay to keep working on England's progress, while Kane's health and impact will be carefully observed following a disappointing tournament.
Southgate confessed the day before the Euro 2024 final that he was desperate to win "so much it's painful" - but in the end, he and England experienced the familiar agony of loss once more.
