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Henry Winter: Gareth Southgate deserves our thanks but must move on – Spain victory was triumph for football and is a lesson for England
As gut-wrenching as defeat was for England, as difficult as this is for an Englishman to write, the European Championship needed a Spanish victory to be remembered as a good tournament.
Away from the narrative of ending English years of hurt, Spain’s victory was a triumph for attacking football, for intelligent football, for being bold with the ball and with youngsters. Nobody lit up Germany like the Spanish. England have to look and learn. Too soon? Too painful? England have to if they are to get over the line one day.
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Just look at who Spain would contribute for team of the tournament, certainly from my observations having been here in Germany throughout: their full-backs Dani Carvajal and Marc Cucurella definitely, arguably even Aymeric Laporte at centre-back. Certainly Rodri and Fabian Ruiz from midfield, and possibly Dani Olmo too. And then add those exuberant fliers down the flanks, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. So that’s eight contenders for team of the tournament. And from England? Jordan Pickford in goal, Marc Guehi possibly although he was caught out for Spain’s second, and maybe Kobbie Mainoo with a nod to Bukayo Saka.
England enjoyed an easier route to the final in terms of opponents but made such hard work of it and were a hard watch, too. Spain basically had a tour of Germany taking on the elite, Croatia, Italy (holders), Germany (hosts), France (favourites).
Spain focused on using their attacking talent relentlessly, especially Yamal and Williams. England didn’t. Spain sustained their pressure and their attacks. England offered only moments. We talk of England’s strength in depth but Spain were without Rodri, Pedri or Gavi by full-time. Spain had better balance than England. They looked better coached. So as Gareth Southgate contemplates whether to stay on as England manager, it is worth noting the influence of Luis de la Fuente. He’s delivered a trophy. Already. And he entertains.
Southgate has had four attempts, four tournaments, and reached two finals but failed to land the big prize. He has transformed England’s mood, restored their pride after the nadir of Nice in 2016 and the strange episode of Sam Allardyce as manager but he has still won as many international trophies as Steve McClaren. His legacy is secure in terms of the welcome cultural reset for England, and his successful work on the penalty process, but he cannot be compared to Sir Alf Ramsey, who actually won a trophy. He really cannot be compared to De la Fuente.
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In the painful aftermath of a crushing tournament disappointment, the criticism will fly from all quarters. Was Southgate too loyal to Harry Kane? Could he have given Cole Palmer more game-time? And Anthony Gordon? Do Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham get in each other’s way? Would Trent Alexander-Arnold have been caught out at right-back as Kyle Walker was against Spain? Hindsight is, of course, at work here. As the debate rages, certain positives need mentioning such as Southgate’s inspired subs against the Dutch, the trust he placed in Mainoo, and the penalty shootout against the Swiss which carried the hallmarks of Southgate’s influence back-stage.
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Southgate also delivered some life lessons in his dignity in adversity. He needs to move on but with the nation’s thanks. He was non-committal on his future after the match, saying, “It’s hard to reflect so soon after a defeat like this. I need to have those conversations with important people behind the scenes.” The FA is totally supportive, and wants him to continue after his contract expires in December.
If Southgate is culpable for a lack of adventure with England, the FA will surely note that deeper-lying issues still hold England back against truly elite sides like Croatia in 2018, Italy at 2020, France in 2022 and now Spain. When England went out of the 2014 World Cup after only two games in Brazil, Wayne Rooney sat a group of us down and explained that England had to be more “streetwise”. Rooney’s words have clearly not been properly heeded.
Spain were savvier than England. They knew how to disrupt any attempt England made to build some rhythm, subtly time-wasting, medics even running on before summoned by the referee. Rodri, during his first-half involvement, put in some tactical fouls, to nobody’s great surprise. Carvajal, too. They also gave a lesson in keeping possession, an English flaw dating back decades. “We didn’t keep the ball well enough,” Southgate said. “We didn’t have enough control.” And so paid for it.
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Or concentration. Such fine lines often define finals. Kyle Walker was caught out by Williams’ arrival for Spain’s first. Guehi was initially with Mikel Oyarzabal but then let the substitute get away from him to score the winner. That’s not Southgate’s fault. That’s the need for even more determined, focused, responsibility-taking defending. Spain managed more of that.
Spain were the team for all reasons at Euro 2024 and England have to learn otherwise will remain condemned to be the nearly men of Europe.
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