The English national team’s journey to the Euro 2024 final was filled with hope but ended in heartbreak. England reached the final for the second time in a row, but once again, they couldn’t win the trophy, losing 2-1 to Spain.
The last time England won a major international competition was in 1966, when they won the World Cup by defeating West Germany 4-2. Since then, they have come close many times but always fell short at the final step.
In Euro 2024, England had a strong performance in the group stage and fought through tough knockout matches, beating teams like France and Germany to reach the final. However, Spain proved to be the better team on the day. Nico Williams scored first for Spain in the second half. England’s Cole Palmer managed to equalize, but Mikel Oyarzabal’s goal in the 87th minute secured Spain’s victory.
This loss was particularly hard for the England players and fans. Captain Harry Kane said he was “heartbroken” that they couldn’t win the trophy.
This defeat shows the ongoing struggles of the English national team. Despite having many talented players, they haven’t won a major tournament in over 50 years. A big issue is their difficulty performing under pressure. They often struggle in the final stages of tournaments, failing to handle the high expectations.
Another problem is their tactical approach. Manager Gareth Southgate’s conservative style has faced criticism. Although the team has shown moments of attacking brilliance, they haven’t been able to consistently succeed on the big stage.
England’s recent history in major tournaments includes a similar disappointment in the 2021 European Championship, where they lost to Italy in a penalty shootout. Despite coming close on several occasions, including the heartbreaking losses to Diego Maradona’s Argentina in 1986 and Germany on penalties in 1990 and 1996, the English national team has been unable to end their long wait for international glory. This pattern of coming close but not winning has frustrated fans for decades.
The England women’s team, the Lionesses, won the European Championship in 2022, providing some joy for English football fans. However, the men’s team’s failure to win continues to be a sore point.
To finally win a major trophy, the English national team needs to address these issues. They have the talent, but they need the mental strength and better tactics to succeed at the highest level.
