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Original poster

To feel really gutted for England tonight?

210 replies

Acapulco12 · 15/07/2024 01:28

This Euros tournament has been quite a crazy ride for England and it’s a tournament I’d rather forget (partly because of the way that Gareth Southgate and the team have been treated by the British press and their own fans).

I think that whilst the team has loads of fantastic world-class players, they haven’t consistently played well as a team, either in the run-up (e.g. in the Iceland or Bosnia games) or in the tournament itself.

I really feel that the team only managed to get through to the final because of moments of individual brilliance (Jude Bellingham’s goal, Ollie Watkins’ goal, Pickford’s absolutely top-notch goalkeeping).

I’m also quite disappointed with elements of Gareth Southgate’s management even though I still really admire his leadership style, his achievements as England manager and his attitude. Southgate has - undeniably - produced consistently excellent results with this team, but they haven’t yet won anything with him, and ultimately they will be judged on winning. They have got close to winning on two occasions now with him, and he and they obviously care for and respect each other, but I don’t think that’s enough anymore (feels harsh to write that).

I think it’s time for the team to find a new manager and go in a new direction, but equally I think it will take time for a new manager to find their feet with England and I worry that the new manager will not be able to create the same sort of culture that Southgate did, which I think really helped to shape this current team and make them so successful.

I know that there can only be one winner in the Euros - just like in any sports competition - but I just really feel for the England players. I’ve followed them for a few years now, they come across as a really nice team and I feel really sorry that it didn’t work out for them tonight.

Focussing on the final tonight, Spain were clearly the better team tonight - and throughout the Euros. Having said that, I do feel quite sad that the England players couldn’t achieve the win they wanted. They obviously really really wanted to win, and I think the team’s performance has overshadowed the individual achievements and excellence of the England players that I mentioned earlier in the post.

I know there will be many more tournaments to come, probably for most players in the team as most of them are still very young and are full of potential, but they had so much expectation riding on them and they came pretty close to winning, having got to the final.

They should feel really proud of themselves for getting to the final and coming close to winning, but I know that they would rather have won than been runners up.

OP posts:
goodkidsmaadhouse · 15/07/2024 08:18

KnickerlessParsons · 15/07/2024 02:28

England didn't lose. They came second out of the 20 (?) teams in the tournament, not to mention all the others that didn't make it that far.
If your child won a silver medal at the Olympics you'd be delighted.

It's all the media hype and the "coming home" crap that winds everyone up that makes you feel like a loser. Coming second is brilliant. If Wales came second I and the rest of the Welsh nation would be over the bloody moon.

Agree! Spain were the better team but England put up a really good show against them. There was some brilliant football on both sides in last night’s match. The players should feel really proud of themselves but there was such a ridiculous amount of pressure on them.

PianPianPiano · 15/07/2024 08:17

GPTec1 · 15/07/2024 07:15

England lost, they have never won a major tournament in the modern era, compare to other European nations who have multiple world and Euro cup wins.

Someone said "we have plenty of world class players" do we really? one or two perhaps.

We have to face facts, we are (relatively) poor at football, a large nation, huge number of people to pick a team from, yet we cannot win, regardless of the manager (Southgate is a world class manger) or the players.

I think its the arrogance that we think we invented the game and have some sort of "right" to these tournaments, then there is the money in the game, football, seems to attract kids/families who love the idea of becoming millionaires rather than being the very best.

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Someone else has already pointed out that second out of 32 hardly equates to "poor at football", but I also wanted to pick up on "large nation"! We're a small island - far smaller population than France or Germany...

Noosnom · 15/07/2024 08:17

We did really well. Coming second shows how hard they've worked.
I think our old demons are long behind us, hopefully we'll be consistently up there with the top teams from now on. We'll win again one day.

maudelovesharold · 15/07/2024 08:15

I don’t know a lot about it, but does anyone think Spain’s football success is anything to do with their strong ‘Academy’ structure? I was hearing last night that Yamal has been with Barcelona since the age of 7 and at their boarding training school from age 12.

tigger1001 · 15/07/2024 08:15

UtterlyOtterly · 15/07/2024 08:07

I know nothing about football but presumably when you do it for a job you realise you might not always win.

If they are "gutted" or whatever they need to build some resilience. They are certainly paid enough.

I disagree with this.

If you are not gutted when beat, then your heart isn't in it and you shouldn't be there.

Sports people take that gutting feeling when beat and use it to hopefully turn it into a win the next time. Gives them fire in their belly. And shows the desire to win. When they lose that, it's a sign they've lost heart.

Zanatdy · 15/07/2024 08:13

I don’t know a lot about football but England has some top class players, they just don’t gel that well as a team, and that falls to the manager. They were bloody lucky to get to the final and Spain 100% deserved to win, best team in the tournament.

thegrumpusch · 15/07/2024 08:10

They clearly weren't the best team playing last night

DanielGault · 15/07/2024 08:08

UtterlyOtterly · 15/07/2024 08:07

I know nothing about football but presumably when you do it for a job you realise you might not always win.

If they are "gutted" or whatever they need to build some resilience. They are certainly paid enough.

If they weren't gutted they'd be in the wrong job.

UtterlyOtterly · 15/07/2024 08:07

I know nothing about football but presumably when you do it for a job you realise you might not always win.

If they are "gutted" or whatever they need to build some resilience. They are certainly paid enough.

SupportRobin · 15/07/2024 08:03

It was disappointing, but Spain were the better team. I doubt the FA will sack Southgate, but I would not be at all surprised if he resigns, as the commentary from the pundits has become increasingly tedious. Yes, it would be nice to see us play more flowing attacking football, but that comes with the risk of getting caught on the break, especially if your passing is not absolutely top notch, and your midfield and defence aren't 100% focussed. Given how good Spain are, we probably would have just lost 4-2 instead if we'd gone with the suggestions of Lineker and co.

MyPunnyTaupeShark · 15/07/2024 08:01

KnickerlessParsons · 15/07/2024 02:28

England didn't lose. They came second out of the 20 (?) teams in the tournament, not to mention all the others that didn't make it that far.
If your child won a silver medal at the Olympics you'd be delighted.

It's all the media hype and the "coming home" crap that winds everyone up that makes you feel like a loser. Coming second is brilliant. If Wales came second I and the rest of the Welsh nation would be over the bloody moon.

Exactly. At least we didn't have penalties

DanielGault · 15/07/2024 08:01

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 15/07/2024 08:00

I've said that all along, he doesn't seem to have a plan B.

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Are you my husband 😂😂😂

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 15/07/2024 08:00

DanielGault · 15/07/2024 07:58

I think part of Southgate's problem is that he's very reluctant to make changes to his team once he's decided on them. So keeps people in too long, despite injury/ poor performance. It's a pity, because he really does seem like a complete gent, but now is probably time to go.

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I've said that all along, he doesn't seem to have a plan B.

DanielGault · 15/07/2024 07:58

Anothershapeofapple · 15/07/2024 07:51

Very good point! I was a bit shocked when he made the lineup tbh.

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I think part of Southgate's problem is that he's very reluctant to make changes to his team once he's decided on them. So keeps people in too long, despite injury/ poor performance. It's a pity, because he really does seem like a complete gent, but now is probably time to go.

SwanSong1 · 15/07/2024 07:55

Well truth is England missed Kalvin Phillips in midfield. Without him they are shocking. Poor Declan was having huge battles in midfield and no one was helping him. At least Kalvin and Declan work well together in midfield and stop a lot of balls getting past.

I think Phil Foden and Harry Kane were invisible. Very overrated. Still at least our Lionesses can actually do the job properly.

Anothershapeofapple · 15/07/2024 07:51

DanielGault · 15/07/2024 07:25

I'm not sure he was fully fit was he?

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Very good point! I was a bit shocked when he made the lineup tbh.

Cocothecoconut · 15/07/2024 07:50

At lot of the problems stem with the new way of playing of ‘keeping possession’ but there’s no end product because you ( whoever) doesn’t want to be the one to potentially lose the ball so they just keep passing it about with no impetus to have a shot or 2

x2boys · 15/07/2024 07:42

KeirSpoutsTwaddle · 15/07/2024 06:40

I know nothing about football except it’s occasional domination of the media and everyone else organising their lives round last night.

Are we just not very good? Why do we have this fixation with ‘it’s coming home’ and never actually manage to do it?
If it’s been years since we have won, why do we keep thinking we might win, given we can’t be that good or we’d win more often?

I realise if you follow football the above must make no sense at all, but I’m just trying to grasp the context from a position of extreme ignorance 🤣

Because England invented football.

DanielGault · 15/07/2024 07:41

PurpleMat · 15/07/2024 07:37

I don't think anyone is going to be sacking Gareth Southgate. The players love him, he's got the best results for a generation. The question is whether he feels able to continue in what is an extremely difficult job, where everyone has an opinion on how they could do it better.
He may feel he's come to the end of the road after this.

Also - second place is the first loser.

I didn't realise he was there as long as he was tbh. To go into another cycle would be quite a long time. But no idea who you could get that's 'better'.

SallyWD · 15/07/2024 07:40

I'm really sad too. I'm gutted for the team, particularly Harry Kane who remains trophy less. However I take comfort from the fact that Spain were the better team and we didn't have to lose on penalties.
Spain dazzled throughout the tournament. Let's be honest, England did brilliantly to get to the finals but they never showed the same spark throughout. Moments of pure brilliance yes but they needed something more.

PurpleMat · 15/07/2024 07:37

I don't think anyone is going to be sacking Gareth Southgate. The players love him, he's got the best results for a generation. The question is whether he feels able to continue in what is an extremely difficult job, where everyone has an opinion on how they could do it better.
He may feel he's come to the end of the road after this.

Also - second place is the first loser.

the80sweregreat · 15/07/2024 07:31

Spain was the better team and at least it was a straightforwards win for them
Gutted for England being runners up again though. Always the bridesmaids , but at least they made the final.
World Cup in two years time and the Olympics soon where team GB might pick up a few medals.

Cheeseandpickleroll · 15/07/2024 07:31

GPTec1 · 15/07/2024 07:15

England lost, they have never won a major tournament in the modern era, compare to other European nations who have multiple world and Euro cup wins.

Someone said "we have plenty of world class players" do we really? one or two perhaps.

We have to face facts, we are (relatively) poor at football, a large nation, huge number of people to pick a team from, yet we cannot win, regardless of the manager (Southgate is a world class manger) or the players.

I think its the arrogance that we think we invented the game and have some sort of "right" to these tournaments, then there is the money in the game, football, seems to attract kids/families who love the idea of becoming millionaires rather than being the very best.

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Poor at football coming runner up twice at the Euros? Under what definition does that count as poor? When our rugby or cricket teams come second we, rightly, praise them to the hilt for doing so well!

DanielGault · 15/07/2024 07:31

davegrohll · 15/07/2024 07:29

England did well, we got to the final again, we just can't seem to get that win !! It's always the same story, it's like a curse on England !
I felt really sorry for the lads last night, they were genuinely devastated

Look up the Mayo Gaelic football team 'curse' 😬

DanielGault · 15/07/2024 07:30

Absolutely lovely fan called Dale interviewed on Sky news just there. A real gentleman. Fair play to him ☺️