To feel really gutted for England tonight?

[Acapulco12]

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.

When will a win happen? Plenty of wins happen we came runner up in the Euros, twice, under his watch!

They all play an awful lot better when they are being paid £100k a week for their clubs. They look like they can’t really be arsed when they don an England shirt and doing it for the glory rather than the £££.

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.

I like Gareth Southgate but I am questioning whether Harry Kane can continue.

I agree that some players looked like they couldn't care less and doddled about like it was a Sunday knockabout. The young bloods were more motivated and fired up As for Kane he looked as though his fantastic club season had drained all.energy from him . Ditto Bellingham.who.didnt live up to billing overall. I would have liked to see Oli Watkins , Palmer and Toney given more game time . Foden was also disappointing on the whole imo but I thought Saka was the best England player overall.

England did really well, we can second i the tournament which is decent.

Spain were simply a significantly better team. It happens.

All the hurt and heart break stuff is such bollocks. Lads its a game, no more not less. We have no more right to win than any other country. No one go one about other sports like this, it's deeply embarrassing and childish.

Gareth Southgate is a fantastic manager, it would be ridiculous to get rid of him when the team have done so well

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

Honestly I'm just glad it's over.

The hooliganism and intimidation from loud worked up men around here has been horrendous.

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

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

Look up the Mayo Gaelic football team 'curse' 😬

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!

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.

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'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.

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'.

Because England invented football.

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

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

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.

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.

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

Exactly. At least we didn't have penalties

Are you my husband 😂😂😂