July 14th 2024.
After the final whistle blew and Spain emerged as the victors of the Euro 2024 final, the England players and their manager, Gareth Southgate, were left devastated. They walked up to the podium to collect their runners-up medals from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, but it was clear that the defeat was still too fresh for them to bear. As soon as the medals were placed around their necks, they quickly removed them in an attempt to hide their disappointment.
Spain's win was secured by Mikel Oyarzabal's goal in the 86th minute, after Cole Palmer had equalized for England and cancelled out Nico Williams' opener. The England players were clearly distraught and inconsolable as they walked off the pitch. It was a tough loss to swallow, especially after such an intense and emotional match.
Some players, like Palmer and Jude Bellingham, didn't even wait to leave the podium before taking off their medals. Southgate, too, wasted no time in removing his. It was a stark contrast to the Spanish players, who proudly displayed their medals and lifted the European Championship trophy.
This was not the first time Southgate had experienced disappointment in the Euro final. He had also led England to defeat in the 2020 edition of the tournament. As for his future with the national team, questions were raised about whether he would continue as manager. Before the tournament, he had hinted that this could be his last major competition with England if they were not successful.
When asked about his future after the loss to Spain, Southgate remained non-committal. He stated that it was not the right time to make a decision and that he would discuss it with the appropriate people. However, he did express his belief that England had a bright future ahead, with a young and talented squad who would be around for the next Euros and even the World Cup.
Despite this optimism, the pain of defeat was still raw for Southgate and his team. They had given their all on the pitch, but in the end, it was not enough to secure the victory. As they left the stadium with their heads held low and their medals tucked away, they could only hope for a chance at redemption in the future.
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