England’s ambition to overcome their long-standing wait for major silverware was cruelly extinguished by a dominant Spain team in a compelling encounter in Berlin.
The stadium, a celebrated venue in football history, was awash with a sea of white shirts as England’s supporters significantly outnumbered the Spanish contingent, fueled by the optimism that years of near misses were finally about to end at Euro 2024.
When Palmer’s composed strike, against the run of play, leveled the score with just 17 minutes remaining, a wave of belief swept through the England fans. Many felt Gareth Southgate’s team was on the verge of replicating comebacks seen earlier in Euro 2024 against nations like Slovakia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
However, this time, there was no dramatic turnaround. Spain, with clinical precision, exposed England’s defense, allowing Oyarzabal to score the decisive goal. This strike was a just reward for Spain’s superior performances throughout the Euro 2024 tournament.
Adding to England’s heartbreak, two late headers, first from Declan Rice and then Marc Guehi, were desperately cleared off the goal line. Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simon and defender Dani Olmo, respectively, made these crucial clearances, celebrating as if they had secured a trophy – which, in essence, they had.
The final whistle confirmed England’s fate. Despite the undeniable progress and heightened expectations during Southgate’s eight-year tenure, tangible success remains elusive. This defeat marks their second consecutive loss in a European Championship final – following the painful defeat to Italy three years prior – in addition to a World Cup semi-final loss in 2018 and a quarter-final exit in Qatar in 2022.
Questions now arise about Southgate’s future as England manager. This latest disappointment might prove to be a setback too significant for him to overcome as he considers leading the national team into the next World Cup cycle.
