A former Liverpool midfielder brands England’s Euro 2024 campaign “atrocious” following their 2-1 defeat to champions Spain in the final on Sunday.
Former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Didi Hamann has branded England‘s Euro 2024 campaign “atrocious” following their 2-1 defeat to champions Spain in the final on Sunday.
Gareth Southgate‘s side were drawing 1-1 with Spain heading into the closing stages after substitute Cole Palmer scored a 73rd-minute equaliser to cancel out Nico Williams‘s opener just 69 seconds into the second half.
However, the Three Lions could not hold on and conceded four minutes from time when Mikel Oyarzabal slotted a close-range finish past Jordan Pickford to clinch an unprecedented fourth European Championship title for La Roja.
Spain have dazzled their way to glory, winning all seven matches without needing penalties while adopting an attacking, possession-hungry philosophy. In stark contrast, pre-tournament favourites England flattered to deceive.
Despite celebrating a number of euphoric last-gasp moments from his side in the knockout rounds, Southgate has received widespread criticism for his tactical approach to the tournament, playing a more defensive style of football, and for his use of substitutions.
A number of England’s key players, in particular captain Harry Kane, have also been the subject of criticism from Three Lions’ supporters who have watched their side lose a second successive European Championship final.
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Hamann slams “atrocious” England display
One of those who has slammed England’s Euro 2024 performance is ex-Liverpool midfielder Hamann, who claims that Southgate’s side participated in seven out of the 10 worst matches at this summer’s tournament in his native Germany.
“The football was atrocious,” Hamann told RTE Sport. “Out of the 10 worst games in the tournament, England was responsible for seven.
“With Kane, why he’s not moving, I do not know. They’ve been behind in all of their knockout games. If you had played Ollie Watkins, it’s dangerous. Palmer comes on and scores after five minutes.
“Now, imagine if this team goes ahead in one of their games. Imagine playing with [Phil] Foden, you bring [Eberechi] Eze on, you bring [Anthony] Gordon on. If this team is ahead, they won’t be pegged back because they’ve got players on the bench with ultimate pace.
“They never had the chance to show it because he (Southgate) insisted on starting with [Jude] Bellingham, with Kane, the same players who didn’t perform so they’ve never been given a chance to go ahead in a game in the knockout stages because he’s picked these players.
“If they had gone ahead, I don’t think there are too many teams who come back against England because the pace they’ve got, apart from France, no other team has.”
Speculation over Southgate’s future as England manager is rife, but the 53-year-old insisted after the match that it was not the time to discuss whether he will extend his stay.
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