Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Spain2 - 1England

sportsmole.co.uk, 15 July 2024, 13:33
Former England manager Sam Allardyce has suggested that current boss Gareth Southgate may conclude that he has taken the Three Lions as far as he can following another defeat in the European Championship final.

Three years on from losing to Italy on penalties in the final of the Covid-delayed Euro 2020 tournament, England battled their way into the showpiece event at Euro 2024, despite a string of underwhelming performances.

However, England's luck ran out on Sunday at the Olympiastadion in Berlin where Spain deservedly won 2-1 to clinch an unprecedented fourth European Championship title, inflicting further pain on the Three Lions whose wait to win their first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup goes on.

Substitute Cole Palmer equalised for England in the 73rd minute to cancel out Nico Williams's opener just 69 seconds into the second half, but Spain snatched victory four minutes from time when Mikel Oyarzabal slotted a close-range finish past Jordan Pickford.

Southgate's future is now the subject of much speculation having been heavily criticised for his tactics and not getting the best out of a highly-rated squad that was dubbed favourites to win Euro 2024 prior to the tournament.

Allardyce suggests Southgate may call time on England job

The 53-year-old has won 61 of the 102 games he has managed for England and has taken the Three Lions to at least the semi-final stage in three of the last four major tournament since his appointment in 2016.

However, Southgate's predecessor Allardyce believes a change in the dugout could now be on the cards, telling Good Morning Britain: "The one thing Gareth has to think of is (he's been manager for) eight years. Who was the last England manager to last longer than eight years?

"It's a long time to soak up the pressure that's upon you and maybe it's the time where he thinks that his tenure has been long enough."

Commenting on the criticism Southgate has faced at Euro 2024, Allardyce said: "We seemed to not be able to find the right system for the talent pool we had, which is very difficult when you've got so much talent.

"It was a little disappointing but overall Spain were the better side. The other matches where the opposition weren't as good as we were, you could maybe criticise a bit more about our attacking play."

Terry wants Southgate to continue as England boss

Meanwhile, former England defender John Terry hopes Southgate can continue as England manager, as he believes he has done an "incredible job" during his eight-year reign.

"Gareth has been so composed and dealt with the criticism really, really well throughout," said the 78-cap England international.

"A lot of ex-players have been really critical of Gareth and the team - these are players that didn't get further than a quarter-final and they criticise a manager who has done an incredible job.

"I'm sure there will be offers for Gareth in the Premier League or around the world but I think he believes there's a trophy to win with this group of players. I really hope he stays because he's been fantastic."

Southgate's contract is due to expire in December and he refused to comment on his England future in the immediate aftermath of Sunday's defeat to Spain.

Top News

5 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has revealed that Christian Norgaard will be available for Saturday's Premier League home clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers. 5 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fresh off the back of a comfortable victory in their Conference League opener, Vitoria de Guimaraes play host to Boavista in round eight of the Primeira Liga on Sunday. 5 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has provided a positive injury update on Richarlison ahead of Sunday's Premier League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fortuna Sittard and AZ Alkmaar draw the curtain on round eight of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season with a meeting at the Fortuna Sittard Stadion on Sunday evening. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Kai Havertz will have the opportunity to achieve impressive feats in Saturday's Premier League home meeting with Southampton. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich will look to bounce back from their defeat in the Champions League on Wednesday when they travel to face Eintracht Frankfurt at Deutsche Bank Park in the Bundesliga. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will have the chance to equal a club-record unbeaten run when they play host to Fulham in Saturday's Premier League clash. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Heidenheim will hope to make it three victories in a row when they host Champions League-regulars RB Leipzig on Sunday at Voith-Arena in their sixth Bundesliga fixture. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City Women and Crystal Palace Women will both be keen to claim their win of the season when they face off in Sunday's Women's Super League contest. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women will attempt to record a third consecutive victory in all competitions when they welcome Everton Women to Emirates Stadium. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both looking to respond following defeats on their continental travels earlier in the week, Nice and Paris Saint-Germain will lock horns for a Ligue 1 clash at Allianz Riviera on Sunday night. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur Women will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign when they play host to Liverpool Women in Sunday's Women's Super League fixture. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The penultimate match of gameweek eight in the Eredivisie will come from Amsterdam's Johan Cruijff Arena, where Ajax will be playing host to Groningen on Sunday evening. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be aiming to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they welcome high-flying Villarreal to Bernabeu on Saturday night. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arguably the pick of the gameweek eight fixtures in the Eredivisie this weekend will see Feyenoord facing off against FC Twente at Stadion Feijenoord on Sunday afternoon. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon has reportedly agreed a new six-year contract with the Magpies, ending speculation over his future amid interest from Arsenal and Liverpool. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has reportedly seen his doping ban reduced from four years to 18 months, meaning that his return to football is imminent. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly received a firm response from Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi after offering him the chance to take Erik ten Hag's job. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Strasbourg will be out to extend their unbeaten streak in the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season when they welcome Lens to Stade de la Meinau for a gameweek seven clash on Sunday afternoon. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly suffered a transfer blow in their pursuit of Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The late kick-off in the Premier League on Saturday sees Everton welcome Newcastle United to Goodison Park. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool expert David Lynch has told Sports Mole that the club is unlikely to move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi next summer. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Turkish Super Lig leaders Galatasaray will be aiming to return to winning ways when they host Alanyaspor at Rams Park on Sunday. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gaziantep will hope to end their five-match winless streak in the Turkish Super Lig when they host Besiktas at Gaziantep Stadyumu on Sunday. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Squaring off after contrasting results in Europe, Fiorentina and AC Milan will meet at Stadio Artemio Franchi for Serie A's Sunday night showdown. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jose Mourinho has emerged as potential candidate to replace Sean Dyche as Everton manager, according to a report. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler has delivered a "positive and negative" injury update on his first-team squad ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur at the Amex Stadium. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will have Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Dani Ceballos available for Saturday's La Liga contest against Villarreal in a quadruple injury boost for the European and Spanish champions. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Eddie Howe has provided a fresh update on the fitness of his first-team squad ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Everton at Goodison Park. 4 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that it is too early to decide whether Kobbie Mainoo will be fit to start Sunday's Premier League clash with Aston Villa.