Three Lions were much less than the sum of their parts

They got to trudge past the trophy, given an immediate illustration of what they could have won.

- RICHARD JOLLY

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?