Gareth Southgate’s post-match thoughts add to Spanish dominance as Spain lift UEFA Euro Cup 2024 title

It was nothing but a deserved victory for the Spaniards in Berlin as Spain beat England 2-1 to clinch the European title. From the first minute to the last, Luis de la Fuente’s side controlled the final and were lethal enough to convert their chances. England, on the other hand, suffered heartbreak for a second consecutive European Championship, with the country still waiting for the trophy drought to end.

One of the competition’s brightest prospects, Nico Williams opened the scoring moments after the restart. England can’t seem to come close to equalizing under constant pressure from Spain. However, Cole Palmer did the job with a great finish. As the game looked to be headed for the substitutes, Mikel Warzabal struck the killing blow in England’s dream. The win took Spain’s tally to four Euro titles, making them the most successful in European history.

Nico Williams is back for Spain

Athletic Club’s Nico Williams has been one of the most talked about players in La Liga in recent seasons. Still, his name was relatively unknown outside of Spain, which led the Euros. The 22-year-old managed to change that scenario with a breathtaking run in Germany. Along with fellow young winger, Lamine Yamal, Williams has become dangerous for opposition defences.

The left-winger opened the scoring for Spain with a clever finish with a weak foot from close range. Nico Williams is a testament to the revolution in Spain’s playing style under Luis de la Fuente. He finished his tournament with two goals and an assist which will surely have many clubs fighting for his signature in the coming weeks.

Gareth Southgate’s failed tactical plan

It was a fair argument considering that England had a good share of luck en route to the final. Despite some subpar tactical decisions by Gareth Southgate, individual brilliance saved the day three lions on several occasions. In the final, however, the coach needed to implement a strong setup to have a chance at glory, which he failed to do. “Spain deserve to win, they are the best team in the tournament”The English manager said after the game.

Harry Kane was visibly out against Spain due to a rumored back problem. Many argued that it would have been a wiser decision to rest Kane and start Ollie Watkins instead. The likes of Anthony Gordon, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ivan Toney and Jarrod Bowen are available at Southgate’s disposal but his stubbornness prevents him from using these options late in the game. English fans are desperate for a move away from the 53-year-old, which unfortunately looks unlikely in the near future.

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