England coach Gareth Southgate stated that he will contemplate his future with the national team following their 2-1 loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday, which left him once again pondering why success has evaded his squad. This marks the second consecutive time England has fallen in the tournament's final under Southgate's leadership, with Spain clinching victory thanks to a goal by substitute Mikel Oyarzabal in the 86th minute. When questioned about his continuation in the role, Southgate responded to journalists: "I fully comprehend the inquiry and why it must be posed, but I must engage in discussions with key individuals behind the scenes before addressing this publicly."
He further noted, "Undoubtedly, England boasts some exceptional young talents. We have consistently reached significant matches, yet we have not managed to take that final step." Since Southgate's appointment in 2016 when the team was in a slump, England has risen to prominence in major tournaments, including reaching semi-finals and quarter-finals in the last two World Cups, the final of Euro 2020 (lost to Italy on penalties), and now Euro 2024.
Reflecting on the immediate aftermath of such a defeat, Southgate commented, "It's challenging to reflect so soon after such a loss." Regarding his potential role in the 2026 World Cup, he added, "While guiding England to two finals is unprecedented, our goal was to win, which we were unable to achieve." Southgate extended his congratulations to Spain, acknowledging them as the tournament's top team. He attributed England's inability to maintain control or capitalize on momentum, despite Cole Palmer's equalizer in the 73rd minute, to fatigue and injuries.
Expressing his pride in the team's remarkable journey to back-to-back European Championship finals, Southgate concluded, "However, at this moment, none of that seems significant because we had a chance to win and failed to seize it."
