In the final of the UEFA European Cup which ended on July 15, Beijing time, Spain successfully won the championship with a score of 2-1 over England. After the match, England manager Gareth Southgate accepted an interview with the media and gave an in-depth analysis and reflection on the match.
Talking about the difficulty of the reversal in the game, Southgate admitted that having one day less preparation time was a disadvantage, but the team stayed competitive for most of the game until the end, when they were sorry to lose. He emphasized that it will take some time to thoroughly analyze the game and find ways to improve.
On the decision to substitute Kane, Southgate explained that it was due to the physical state of the player. Kane was not at his best physically due to the lack of game time going into the Europa League and the demands of the game were very high. Therefore, in order to keep the team competitive, they decided to replace Watkins, who was fresher, to tighten up the pressing at the back. Southgate was satisfied with the performance of the substitutes, believing that they accomplished the tasks set out by the team.
Southgate appeared cautious when asked about his future. He said that now is not a good time to make a decision and that an in-depth discussion with the right people is needed. He emphasized that the most important thing now is to focus on the future of the team and how to learn from it for the coming games.
Talking about the opponent, Spain, Southgate gave high praise. He thought Spain was one of the best teams in the tournament, and although England didn't do enough in possession, they competed hard until the last ten minutes. Southgate was proud of his players' performance and admitted that they were just a little bit short of a comeback.
Speaking about Palmer's equalizing goal, Southgate said that it was an important momentum gained by his team during the game. He acknowledged that the team may not have been at full strength throughout the 90-minute game, but also recognized the players' fight at key moments.
Finally, Southgate looked at the future of the England team. He believes that the team is currently in a good position, with many young and talented players who will play an important role in the future World Cup and Euro. Southgate said that although the loss at this moment can't bring any consolation, the team and the fans should have confidence in the future and look forward to more brilliant results.
