July 15th 2024.
England's national football coach, Gareth Southgate, has openly acknowledged that his team's inability to maintain possession of the ball was a crucial mistake in their recent match against Spain. The two teams faced off in the Euro 2024 final, where England suffered a 2-1 defeat, making them the first team to lose in consecutive European Championship finals.
Although midfielder Cole Palmer scored a brilliant equaliser for England, their opponents secured a deserved victory with Mikel Oyarzabal's goal in the 86th minute. Throughout the tournament, England struggled with a lack of fluidity, and this issue was evident once again in the final as they were constantly under pressure from Spain.
According to Southgate, Spain was the best team in the tournament, and their ability to maintain possession was a key factor in their success. He praised his own players for their incredible effort, determination, and character throughout the tournament but acknowledged that their inability to keep possession ultimately cost them the game.
"When we were a goal down, we started to use the ball better, but by then, the physical demands of the tournament had taken a toll on us," Southgate explained. "The extra-time periods in previous games and the lack of possession in this match definitely affected our players' energy levels, and as a result, we made some mistakes towards the end."
One of the most notable moments of the match was when England's star striker, Harry Kane, looked dejected on the bench after being substituted in the 61st minute. Southgate admitted that it was a tough decision to make, but he had to consider the team's overall performance and the physical condition of his players.
Despite the disappointment of losing in the final, Southgate was proud of his players for giving their all until the very end. "They pushed themselves until the 85th minute, and I couldn't ask for more from them in the final game of the tournament," he said.
In a separate interview, Southgate reiterated that possession of the ball was the key to the game, and England failed to control it enough. He also praised Spain for their excellent pressing, which made it challenging for England to break through and create opportunities.
"In my opinion, Spain was the best team in the tournament, and they deserved to win. We had some good moments, but they were able to maintain control for most of the match, which ultimately wore us down," Southgate explained.
Despite the defeat, Southgate remains optimistic about England's future and believes they will learn from this experience and come back stronger in the next tournament. "We will analyze our performance and work on improving our possession game in the future," he said. "But for now, we have to give credit to Spain for their well-deserved victory."
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