England had been desperate for success at the European Championship in Germany to make themselves respected by the soccer world and while falling short on Sunday’s final against Spain, they did a lot more besides.
England, playing their first major international final on foreign soil and seeking a maiden title since the 1966 World Cup, lost despite manager Gareth Southgate saying before kickoff “we have to win tonight … I can’t hide from that.
Spain secured a 2-1 victory at the Olympias to ensure their name was not added after England also lost what had been their second successive final but Southgate can find comfort in the leaps made during his eight years in charge of this age group and must know he has moved England closer to that long-sought-after international cronoissance.
The closest they have come in recent years was at Wembley three summers ago when Italy squeezed past England on post-match penalties after the COVID-delayed Euro 2020 final and that World Cup semi-final berth four years before Qatar, plus a quarterfinal run there two winters back.
