By Mark Gleeson
BERLIN (Reuters) – England were hoping success at the European Championship in Germany would earn them respect from the footballing world and while they fell short in Sunday’s defeat in the final against Spain, they went a long way to winning wider acclaim.
Manager Gareth Southgate spoke before the final about the need to “win the respect of the football world” with a major triumph as England were competing in their first major final on foreign soil and chasing a first title since the 1966 World Cup.
The did not have their name embossed on the trophy after losing a second straight Euros final as Spain snatched a late 2-1 victory at the Olympiastadion, but Southgate can take solace from the significant progress made in his eight years in charge and must feel England are edging closer to elusive silverware.
They came desperately close at Wembley three years ago when Italy edged England in the COVID-delayed Euro 2020 final on post-match penalties at Wembley, and got to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and the last eight in Qatar two years ago.
It is a drastic improvement on barren years for the team of a country revered for its domestic league but the subject of countless disappointments at international level for decades.
They had their opportunity to put that to bed on Sunday, but came undone when it mattered most.
England looked to have the measure of Spain in the first half, nullifying the twin threat of Nico Williams and 17-year-old Lamine Yamal on the flanks and creating the only chance of the half for Phil Foden at the back post.
LIGHTNING QUICK
But they were caught by a lightning-quick Spanish attack soon after the break as Williams swept in the opening goal.
Southgate had been criticised for being slow in making changes during the tournament but this time had no hesitation in taking off his ineffective captain Harry Kane. His second change saw Cole Palmer come on and level in the 73rd minute.
It was the fourth successive game at the tournament in which England had fought their way back after going a goal down and there would have been many supporters believing they could engineer another come-from-behind triumph.
But unlike the other three, this time it proved a bridge too far.
While always in the contest, England lost shape at critical junctures in the second half and this ultimately proved their undoing.
“I’ve travelled to World Cups, European Championships and watched highlights reels before the matches on the big screens and we weren’t in any of them – because they only show the finals. So we needed to change that,” Southgate had said on the eve of the game.
They are now to be seen on those highlights packages but, much to the disappointment of Southgate and the rest of England, that trophy-lifting picture has yet to be taken.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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