On a night where England needed to conjure magic for 90 minutes, only one moment of brilliance stood out for Gareth Southgate’s team. And that moment arrived through necessity, as has been the case for this English team at the European Championship. Every regulation time goal scored by England in the Euro 2024 knockout stage came after they went behind. On Sunday it was no different.
The situation
Spain’s wingers, rightfully termed as the difference between Europe’s best and La Roja, once again delivered, this time on the big stage. The second half saw a sustained period of pressure on England, and the Three Lions, who had preserved their shape in the first half, were suddenly overrun by wave after wave of unrelenting Spanish attacks. Nico Williams took his chance just two minutes after the half began, scoring in a period of transitions between both teams.
The substitution
As has been the case with England and Gareth Southgate, team selections are largely hit and miss. It took England 70 minutes to bring on Cole Palmer. The Chelsea winger, an ex-Manchester City academy graduate, gives away the control that Southgate appreciates vastly, but brings an added dimension of attack that has often troubled teams at this European Championship. He was brought on in place of Kobbie Mainoo, who struggled to help defensively in the second half and was taken off for a direct goal scoring threat.
The Assist from Jude Bellingham to Cole Palmer was beautiful. Saka, Jude and Palmer combined so well in that goal. pic.twitter.com/sxtBHBVr6J
— Maxwell (@iam_brau) July 15, 2024
The scorer
England’s best moments of the game came as their best moments have come at this tournament – when chasing an equaliser. It took a while to show glimpses of what their football can look like when playing a transitional game, but it finally happened in Berlin. A Bukayo Saka entry into the Spanish final third was followed by an incisive pass into the feet of Jude Bellingham. The Real Madrid man, instead of trapping the ball, or attempting a turn, decided to lay off the ball in a first-time pass to Palmer, who was running towards goal. The 22-year-old took a first-time shot to match the pass, and instead of power, went for precision. The pass-esque shot took a slight deflection of Martin Zubimendi but continued on its trajectory to slip into Unai’s Simon’s right in the 77th minute for the English equaliser.
It wouldn’t prove to be enough as Gareth Southgate and England suffered yet another European Championship loss in the final, having fallen to Italy in 2021.
