England deservedly beaten by Spain in UEFA Euro 2024 final, but is there something special brewing for the Three Lions?
Spain deserved their 2-1 triumph over England in the final of the 2024 UEFA European Championship, which was held at the Olympiastadion on Sunday night, but there is a growing sense that something special could be on the horizon for the English side they vanquished under the Berlin night sky.
Although my musings here are about the English and their journey to becoming a force to be reckoned with once more in international circles, they would not be worth penning without paying homage to the victorious Spanish first.
Lifting their fourth European Championship crown in front of a sell-out crowd at the iconic 75,000 capacity venue in the German capital was the culmination of the hard yards put in by the Spanish since head coach Luis de la Fuente’s appointment in December 2022.
Success under the 61 year-old mentor has been quick in coming, with a maiden UEFA Nations League gong secured in the Netherlands in June 2023 following a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over a Luka Modric inspired Croatia, now followed by their third Euro victory in the last five editions of European football premier nations tournament just a year later.
Having dismantled the last few remnants of the old guard, including Cesar Azpilicueta, Jordi Alba, Koke, and Sergio Busquets, Mister de la Fuente set about infusing players mainly based with clubs across Spain’s La Liga and a sprinkling of talent based in England, Germany, France, and even Saudi Arabia, into one cohesive unit that has now delivered yet more glory for the Iberian Peninsula nation.
Spain’s football throughout the tournament has been nothing short of exhilarating, mouthwatering, captivating, and any other superlative you might want to throw in.
By all accounts it has been a summer to remember for a resurgent La Furia Roja, following a decade of misery which came after their period of international dominance which in the era of the late Luis Aragones with success at Euro 2008 ended with more success in the glorious era of Vicente Del Bosque at Euro 2012 while there was also the small matter of the 2010 FIFA World Cup triumph sandwiched in between.
As far as memories go, it goes without saying that the losing English will quickly want to forget about this final defeat particularly given that it is their second successive defeat at this stage of the tournament having narrowly lost out 3-2 to Italy in a penalty shootout in front of an expectant home crowd at the EURO 2020 tournament played in 2021.
However, the English ought not lose hope because theirs has been quite the meteoric rise from major tournament laughing stock to serious title contenders in the past two World Cup and Euro tournaments.
Memes such as the famed “keep the engine running, we won’t be long” as the members of the Three Lions disembark an airplane as they arrive at a major tournament, are now a thing of the past as the English push the envelope and contest to win a first major international tournament since their home World Cup victory over the Germans in 1966.
Yes, they are currently subject to internet trolls over their fabled “it’s coming home” chant but there is a feeling in the football world that England have over the years built a strong enough talent base to finally win a major tournament in the foreseeable future.
The fruits of their stellar work at age group level is beginning to show with several faces from their recent wins in both continental and world international youth tournaments now constant features in the senior men’s team.
Three members of their 2017 Under 17 FIFA World Cup triumph in India, namely Phil Foden, Marc Guehi and Conor Gallagher, were part of Gareth Southgate’s 26 man travelling party for the just ended showpiece Germany.
From the Under 21 UEFA European Championship winning cast of July 2023, Southgate picked Newcastle United’s fleet footed Anthony Gordon and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer who came off the bench to net England’s 73rd minute equaliser.
From that group of 21 which did duty in Romania and Georgia, England and Southgate, or whoever becomes head coach should Southgate and the FA part ways, still has the pick from serious talents such as James Trafford, Jarrad Braithewaite, Levi Colwill, Max Aarons, Noni Madueke, Emile Smith-Rowe, Angel Gomes, Oliver Skipp, Curtis Jones, Morgan Gibbs-White and Harvey Elliot.
There is no doubt that the English have a serious conveyor belt of talent with talents spread across the Premier League and Europe ready to make the step up into an already hyper competitive Three Lions set up.
At just 19, Kobbie Mainoo, who starred for England in Germany, is already a starter while Adam Wharton, another member of the squad in Germany this summer is on the wanted list of German giants Bayern Munich and is expected to push for a regular berth in the first XI.
Talents such as Lewis Hall and his Newcastle United teammate Tino Livramento, Rico Lewis, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Samuel Iiling-Junior are fast emerging while the talents of established internationals like the the 24 year-old Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho, who starred for Borussia Dortmund en route to the 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League Final, should also not be forgotten.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America is just two years away, meaning the Three Lions will not have long to wait before enjoying another tilt at international glory and what a story it would be should they win it on the 60th anniversary of their solitary major honour.
* Thulasizwe kaMantshinga is a freelance writer.
** The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of IOL or Independent Media.