ENGLAND legends criticised Gareth Southgate for his “conservative” approach as the Three Lions once again fell short in a final.
Mikel Oyarzabal’s late strike saw Spain crowned champions of Europe and extended England’s painful wait for a major trophy.
The Three Lions have now failed to land a trophy since 1966 despite reaching two finals in three of their past three tournaments.
Former England defender Rio Ferdinand blasted: “We said after the group stages, if you’re going to play the conservative side of things with the amount of talent we have in this squad, you have to win.
“Otherwise it will come down to it being absolutely dissected and looked at as being a negative approach.
“That falls on the manager’s toes. He sets this team out in a particular way to play.
“That’s his style of football and you have to win playing like that because these players are too good.
“They play too well for their clubs to come here and look a shadow of themselves. We were a team when the game was in the balance — but we were held back on a leash and that’s the disappointing thing with the quality of players we have in this squad.
“The top teams get control and are aggressive from minute one and take games off opponents.
“Every fan watching would have thought, ‘Why have we waited to go a goal down to let the shackles off and start going at them?’.
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“It wasn’t until Ollie Watkins came on and he started hurrying them.
“We have waited so long, why should we wait for so long to be on the front foot when we’ve got quality players all over the park.”
Alan Shearer was another ex-England ace to question the tactics of Southgate and reckons the Berlin final will be his last game as manager.
He said: “He will know that they haven’t performed. They didn’t have enough energy or quality on the ball.
“We would have loved to have seen him play more front-foot football.
“They have had another taste of it but you have to get over the line.
“First is first and the rest are nowhere, I’m afraid.
“I suspect it will be Southgate’s last game. From where he took over and where they are now.
IT now seems as though he really is cursed. Along with the rest of us, writes Charlie Wyett.
Tragically, unbelievably, Harry Kane’s agonising search for a trophy still continues and you know have to wonder whether he will ever actually manage it.
Certainly for England, in any case.
Kane has now suffered defeat in three major club finals and two finals of the European Championships.
Last night, the Three Lions captain was so ineffective that he was replaced by Ollie Watkins just after the hour.
Like much of this tournament, he really struggled to make the impact when England needed him, not that he had much service.
He had one shot in the first half and that was Rodri, who subsequently injured himself and went off at the break.
When Cole Palmer struck that brilliant equaliser, Kane was off on his feet from the bench, only for the national team to get another kick in the bo**ocks at the end.
Kane was substituted in both the games against Switzerland and Holland which England went on to win but on this occasion, he could only witness a gut-wrenching twist just when it looked as though Gareth Southgate’s team had dug their way out of trouble.
The Bayern Munich striker suffered the World Cup 2018 semi-final loss against Croatia, endured heartbreak against Italy in the Euro2020 final and then missed from the spot in the World Cup 2022 quarter-final against France.
He really thought that this was his time, even though England did not play well in Germany.
Kane will know that he will have more opportunities with England. But not many more.
The World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico seems a long way away and it will surely be under a new manager. Will England be better than they are now? Probably not.
And we are all left to wonder how much better England would have been with a fit and firing Kane at his very best.
Read the full verdict on the curse of Harry Kane…
Or check out all of Charlie Wyett’s Euro 2024 stories…
“There will be great disappointment at home. Yes, we could have played more attacking football but they have got to the final.
“But when you are here, you have got to get over the line.
“The reality is he got us to a final three years ago and got us to a final here and hasn’t won.
“That will hurt him and maybe he will think it’s time for someone else.”
Former Three Lions striker Gary Lineker said: “It is a heartbreaking defeat for England to take but in some ways, it is a victory for attacking football.”
COLE PALMER came off the bench to be England’s star man – but his heroics were unable to stop heartbreak against Spain, writes Tom Barclay.
Mikel Oyarzabal struck a late dagger through the hearts of the Three Lions to seal a 2-1 Spanish victory.
And that ensured that 58 years of hurt will go on.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated each England player in the crushing defeat:
Jordan Pickford: 8
Carefully controlled a blast of a backpass from John Stones on his line in the first half. Could do little to stop Williams’ opener but made two terrific stops to deny Yamal, only for Oyarzabal to poke home at the death.
Kyle Walker: 6
Had his hands full with Williams but managed the Spanish livewire pretty well but could not get near his powerful opener.
John Stones: 8
A colossus again as he played every single minute of this Euros, despite lack of Manchester City game-time. Superb block on early Williams shot, was often in the right place at the right time and at one point dribbled all the way up the pitch.
Marc Guehi: 6
Solid alongside Stones and overall it has been a brilliant first tournament for the Crystal Palace star. But Oyarzabal nicked in front of him for the winner.
Bukayo Saka: 7
Most consistent attacker for England across the tournament and had a good battle with pantomime villain Marc Cucurella here. It was his cross that Bellingham laid off for Palmer to work his magic.
Declan Rice: 7
Went past his boss Gareth Southgate’s cap haul by winning his 58th here and he is still only 25. Was in the thick of it in the midfield battle throughout.
Kobbie Mainoo: 5
Just 19 and starting a major final for England in the middle of midfield. Fewer bursts forward though than in recent games as his side struggled for possession and was subbed for Palmer as Southgate searched for a leveller.
Luke Shaw: 7
Looked so sharp for a player making his first start since Luton away on February 10, winning his battle against Lamine Yamal in the first half. But Yamal got the better of him after the break to tee up Williams’ opener.
Phil Foden: 6
Out of possession it was his job to man-mark Manchester City colleague Rodri, until the Spanish maestro went off injured at half-time. Had a half-chance just before the break but could not beat Unai Simon.
Jude Bellingham: 7
Shunted wide left when England did not have the ball – which was a lot of the time. Riskily flew into a few tackles, but it was his clever lay-off that teed up Palmer.
Harry Kane: 4
His lack of involvement was summed up by England fans calling for Ollie Watkins in the 57th minute. They got their wish on the hour.
SUBS:
Ollie Watkins: 6
Semi-final hero was introduced far earlier here to get some legs in behind, though he did not have too much impact this time.
Cole Palmer: 9
What an impact after emerging with just twenty minutes to go. Yet another of Southgate’s subs paid off handsomely as Palmer curled a peach of an equaliser with 17 minutes remaining, sending most of the Olympiastadion potty.
Ivan Toney: 6
Thrown on right at the end but could not make an impact.
Gareth Southgate: 7
The game was a chess match for the first half and Southgate was never going to go early with his bold moves.
His subs were excellent to be fair, with Palmer brilliantly getting his team back into it.
Critics will say England did not play attacking enough but Spain are one hell of a side – and Southgate’s men pushed them all the way.
