England were so close – denied by an 86th-minute winner in the final – and yet perhaps also so far away. They were the second-best side in Euro 2024 in the sense they stretched their participation right to the end; not in others, though. But for Jude Bellingham’s magnificent overhead kick against Slovakia, they would have exited early and ignominiously. Perhaps Germany were the second-finest side over the month.
England finished their tournament with a lower xG than Croatia, who went out in the group stages. They only won two matches in 90 minutes, and were only ahead after 89 in one. Nor did the naked eye suggest that, for all the talent of their players, they were superior to most of their opponents. For six games, the ends justified the means; then the end was sudden, emphatic and yet deserved. Spain were Euro 2024’s outstanding side. England veered between dullness and drama.
Uefa’s technical observers, some of the great and good of the game, believe England managed games well. Maybe they did; maybe they were just experts in escapology. They were behind for 111 minutes in the knockout stages, ahead for only 25 in extra time, plus moments of injury time. Gareth Southgate can be a meticulous planner but did his team get to the final by accident or design?
Esta historia es de la edición July 16, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición July 16, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Carse justifies England faith as the archetypal bold pick
If you won a boxing match after your opponent continually punched themselves in the face, how much credit can you take?
Tenacious Diallo the key to Amorim pressing machine
Old Trafford has not seen anything like this before.
Gold King Cole packs the Bridge with merry old souls
In the 83rd minute, the ball rolled to the feet of Cole Palmer in a bubble of space outside Aston Villa's box, and the crowd snapped to attention.
Vibrant Anfield marks the changing of the Guardiola
There was a lull in the noise, a break in the Anfield atmosphere, when a defiant chant emerged from a corner near Stefan Ortega’s goal.
What is so daunting about Spain's new data checks?
Q You have written about the new “red tape” for visitors to Spain. So, as well as your usual passport details you will give a contact number, address and email. Not exactly the Spanish Inquisition, is it?
Sectarian clashes claim at least 130 lives in Pakistan
At least 130 people were killed in deadly sectarian clashes in Pakistan's northwestern Kurram district in spite of a tentative ceasefire, days after gunmen opened fire on a convoy of vehicles carrying Shia Muslims, local officials said.
Coalition government likely in Ireland as count proceeds
Fianna Fail say decisions on power-sharing for another day’
How Syria's forgotten war is back on the world's agenda
Many believed the country was lost in an unsolvable conflict, until everything changed in a matter of days, writes Bel Trew
Assad regime scrambles to halt Syrian rebels’ advance
Civilians reportedly killed by Russian and Syrian airstrikes
Mother of poisoning victim says she knew she would die
Lawyer Simone White succumbed to the effects of methanol while backpacking in Laos with two of her childhood friends
