Gareth Southgate and his England side suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat by Spain in the final of Euro 2024 on Sunday night.
The loss came after a largely underwhelming campaign, though optimism rose around the country following the Three Lions’ series of dramatic knockout stage wins.
Their semi-final win over the Netherlands also saw the side put together their best half of football not just in Germany but for some time. Yet, the frailties in the team that were evident in their early matches, could not be hidden against Luis de la Fuente’s complete side.
England leave Germany with plenty of positives, having reached their second major tournament final in only three years. But the Berlin showpiece may prove to be a full stop on the international careers of a few in the England camp – most notably the manager himself.
Following the conclusion of the tournament, Mail Sport’s CRAIG HOPE takes a look at the Three Lions roster.
England suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat by Spain in the final of Euro 2024 on Sunday
Now that the dust has settled after full-time in Berlin, Craig Hope runs the rule over the side
Gareth Southgate refused to comment on whether or not he will stay on as England boss
England’s most consistent player. The notion of him being an excitable presence is surely put to bed now. That is nonsense. Pickford has matured and, allied to leadership qualities, he makes big saves at big moments. He kept them in the final and semi-final.
He’s the penalty king, too. Only disappointment for him was losing a three-putt challenge to myself…
MINUTES PLAYED 690
DISTANCE COVERED 25.8miles
CONCEDED 6 SAVES 7
Kyle Walker 4.5
Poor tournament. He’s been a very good England player, but it feels like the end. I wrote throughout the tournament that he does not see danger quickly enough – and both goals came from his area in the final.
And where was the attacking threat? Alexander-Arnold would have been a better bet at right back.
MINUTES PLAYED 690
DISTANCE COVERED 46.4miles
PASSES COMPLETED 448 (90.6%)
Jordan Pickford was Southgate’s most consistent performer and helped keep England in play
Kyle Walker had a poor tournament, and although he has been a very good England player, it feels like the end of the line
John Stones 6.5
Got better with each match – no surprise given game-time issues at Man City – and produced his best in final. That is the real Stones, the one who is this country’s best centre-back by a distance. It’s a frustration he wasn’t able to show that class earlier, when England needed his ball-playing skill stepping into midfield.
MINUTES PLAYED 690
DISTANCE COVERED 44.6miles
PASSES COMPLETED 526 (94.2%)
Marc Guehi 7
I’m conflicted here. He did very well early on and was England’s best coming out of the group stage, but you always suspected he might struggle against opponents with sharper and cuter movement, and so it proved in final.
Still, he’s 24 and will improve for the experience. Could be an England regular for years to come if learning from those mistakes.
MINUTES PLAYED 570
DISTANCE COVERED 38.4miles
ASSISTS 1 PASSES COMPLETED 415 (92.7%)
Kieran Trippier 6.5
Sacrificed the best of himself for the team and there is an argument to say Southgate should have stuck with him in final. Did not let anyone down and it’s not his fault the team lacked balance for him playing left back. His strongest quality, his right foot, was neutralised by position, and that’s a shame.
MINUTES PLAYED 453
DISTANCE COVERED 32.9miles
PASSES COMPLETED 290 (88.3%)
Marc Guehi did very well early on, and was England’s best coming out of the group stage
Kieran Tripper (right) saw his threat somewhat neutralised by playing at left back for England
Declan Rice 5
Is he as good as we think he is? I don’t know the answer, because I came into this tournament believing him to be a superstar. We did not see that here. His feet aren’t quick enough to get out of tight situations against the very best – see the final – and he did not control games as we might expect. One good game, and that’s not good enough for a £100m midfielder.
MINUTES PLAYED 690
DISTANCE COVERED 53.2miles
PASSES COMPLETED 490 (91.3%)
Kobbie Mainoo 7.5
Came up short in final, but that’s the negative out the way. That apart, he was a breath of fresh air. At 19, he was braver, brighter and more incisive than any of Foden, Bellingham or Kane. He’s a star, but also needs to learn how to impact over 90 minutes and control games. He’s good enough, and that will come.
MINUTES PLAYED 370
DISTANCE COVERED 28.5miles
PASSES COMPLETED 190 (92.5%)
Conor Gallagher 5
His midfield audition lasted just 45 minutes and, while he didn’t play well, you felt for him, because he seems a very decent type. He was useful when then coming on later in games.
MINUTES PLAYED 118
DISTANCE COVERED 10.1miles
PASSES COMPLETED 46 (73.6%)
Trent Alexander-Arnold 4.5
Two midfield starts were a disaster. Should never have been played there by Southgate, as Mail Sport declared on eve of tournament. He’s a right back, and would have been better than Walker, you suspect. Misused, so there is sympathy, but did not play well. He’ll always have that winning penalty, though.
MINUTES PLAYED 134
DISTANCE COVERED 10.7miles
PASSES COMPLETED 86 (87%)
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s midfield starts caused some problems but he did put away England’s winning penalty versus Switzerland
Kobbie Mainoo may not have dazzled in the final, but showed his quality throughout the Euros
Bukayo Saka 7.5
A patchy start, playing in moments. He lacked intensity off the ball and it felt as if team were carrying him. Then, in quarters versus Switzerland, he caught fire. Brilliant again in semi and did well enough in final. He put Foden and Bellingham to shame for energy and adventure. Showed why he is a top England player.
MINUTES PLAYED 635
DISTANCE COVERED 43.4miles
GOALS 1 ASSISTS 1 PASS COMPLETED 215 (88.4%)
Phil Foden 4.5
Two good halves out of 14 – plus extra-time – and leaves without a goal or assist. You cannot overstate how big a disappointment he was. Came here as Premier League Player of the Year but did not play with that confidence. Failed to click with Bellingham – they can’t play together – and only briefly looked to seize the initiative. Should have been dropped.
MINUTES PLAYED 622
DISTANCE COVERED 49.3miles
PASSES COMPLETED 314 (89.7%)
Jude Bellingham 6
Without his genius intervention versus Slovakia, England would not have made final. He also scored super goal in opener and got assist in final. But apart from that? A petulant passenger at times, not running as hard and as fast as he should. Tired? Or weighed down by believing his own hype? Body language was not good. A disappointment.
MINUTES PLAYED 671
DISTANCE COVERED 46.7miles
GOALS 2 ASSISTS 1 PASS COMPLETED 311 (85.6%)
Phil Foden (left) and Jude Bellingham (right) failed to perform for England at their club level
Harry Kane was England’s worst player among those who started regularly in Germany
Harry Kane 4
How can the Euros joint top scorer be given that rating? Well, he was England’s worst player from those who started regularly. Immobile in every game, barely touched the ball and, when he did, lost it too often. Was he selfish by playing, if not fit? Or was Southgate too scared to drop him? He should NOT have played. The team looked much more fluid when he went off.
MINUTES PLAYED 605
DISTANCE COVERED 43.7miles
GOALS 3 PASS COMPLETED 68 (73.6%)
Luke Shaw 6
Had a decent final on first start, even though he was caught out for Spain opener. Was brought on against Holland to exploit space on their right, and he didn’t. But, on the whole, he did OK in the minutes he got, given four-month absence.
MINUTES PLAYED 177
DISTANCE COVERED 12.4miles
PASSES COMPLETED 67 (96.3%)
Cole Palmer 7.5
What would England have looked like if he’d played from the start? Deserved to be in ahead of Foden. The young man is a star and has the self-belief needed to thrive on this stage, so why didn’t Southgate see that? He was fit and in form, unlike others. Super goal in final and laid on winner in semi.
MINUTES PLAYED 144
DISTANCE COVERED 12.2miles
GOAL 1 ASSIST 1 PASS COMPLETED 52 (80%)
Ezri Konsa 6
Came in for quarter-final and did well. He will be a good squad player for years to come.
MINUTES PLAYED 94
DISTANCE COVERED 6.1miles
PASSES COMPLETED 46 (55%)
Ollie Watkins (centre) was impactful off the bench and stole the show in England’s semi-final
Cole Palmer (centre) deserved to be in ahead of Foden for his star power and raw self-belief
Ollie Watkins 7
His tournament boiled down to three chances – two missed, one taken. The one he put away in the semi versus Netherlands will forever be an iconic England moment. He missed one when coming on versus Denmark and then, in final, a poor touch robbed him of equalising chance in 90th minute. Still, the team looked better for his pace and willingness to run in behind.
MINUTES PLAYED 59
DISTANCE COVERED 5.3miles
GOALS 1 PASS COMPLETED 3 (66.7%)
Ivan Toney 7
Came on to help rescue last-16 tie and then took cool penalty in quarters. Always looked dangerous and likely to make thing happen. We should have seen more of him.
MINUTES PLAYED 43
DISTANCE COVERED 3.9miles
ASSIST 1 PASS COMPLETED 3 (66.7%)
Jarrod Bowen 5
Flashes of promise when coming on but, ultimately, did not make that one telling impact needed.
MINUTES PLAYED 35
DISTANCE COVERED 3.2miles
PASSES COMPLETED 9 (81.5%)
Eberechi Eze 5.5
He did well as a sub and showed quality on the ball. But he wasn’t what England needed in those moments, when pace to break the lines and tedium of their play was necessary. That’s not his fault, though.
MINUTES PLAYED 99
DISTANCE COVERED 7.9miles
PASSES COMPLETED 28 (79%)
Southgate has put in years of work in changing mindsets and instilling tournament resilience
Anthony Gordon 6
Five minutes on the pitch and showed what he can do in that brief period, dribbling by his man on the left and playing a killer ball through the middle. Why on earth was he not used more? It’s a mystery, given his skillset was exactly what the team needed. He will leave here thinking it was all a waste of his time.
MINUTES PLAYED 4
DISTANCE COVERED 0.4miles
PASSES COMPLETED 2 (100%)
Gareth Southgate 5
He took England to the final, and much of that was a result of his previous work in changing mindsets and instilling tournament resilience. But, in truth, he had a poor tournament selection wise and tactically.
His team played well for less than 90 minutes cumulatively and relied on ‘moments’ to progress. They should be better than that. Feels like the end of his reign, and good luck to him. He’s done a very good job over eight years.