July 14th 2024.
In a highly anticipated match, England faced off against Spain in the final of Euro 2024. Despite a valiant effort, England was ultimately beaten 2-1 by a strong Spanish team. The defeat left a bittersweet taste for England and their fans, as it was their second consecutive loss in the European Championship final.
Gary Lineker, a former England player and current football pundit, expressed his disappointment in the team's loss. He also predicted that it would be Gareth Southgate's last match as the manager of the Three Lions. Southgate's contract with the Football Association was set to expire at the end of the year, and Lineker believed that it would be an easy decision for the 53-year-old to step down.
The match itself was a tense affair, with both teams playing at a high level. Cole Palmer's equalizer for England seemed to set the stage for an exciting extra-time, but Spain had other plans. Mikel Oyarzabal, a substitute for Spain, scored the winning goal in the 86th minute, securing the victory for his team. Lineker noted that it was another instance of a super-sub making a significant impact in a crucial match.
As the dust settled on the final, the focus shifted to Southgate's future with England. Lineker acknowledged that the manager had brought a sense of unity and likability to the team, which had reengaged the English public with football. However, it was another near-miss for Southgate and his captain Harry Kane, who was taken off after an hour of play. Lineker, who had previously criticized Kane's performances in the group stages, attributed his struggles to Southgate's tactics.
In Lineker's opinion, it was challenging for Kane to excel in a team that played defensively with a low block. He believed that Kane's style of play did not suit this tactic, and it would have been more effective to have another player alongside him, like he did at Tottenham, or a player in his prime, like Dele Alli. Southgate's decision to replace Kane with Ollie Watkins in the final had an immediate impact, as England's attack improved.
Overall, it was a heartbreaking defeat for England and Southgate, who had come so close to winning their first European Championship. The loss also raised questions about Southgate's future and whether he would continue as the manager of the Three Lions. Only time would tell, but Lineker was convinced that this would be Southgate's last game in charge.
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