Neville: England Falls Short Again Due to Lack of Game Control; Discussing Southgate’s Future Now Would Be Strange

In the 2024 European Championship, England once again stumbled in the final, despite Palmer’s goal that briefly sparked hope, ultimately failing to alter their fate.

Former England international Gary Neville emphasized in his post-match commentary that England exposed a long-standing issue in the final – a lack of ball control and inability to dictate the pace of the game.

In his post-match analysis, Neville remarked, “We can focus on many aspects, but Southgate’s explanation about our inadequate ball control should be the headline in English football. Every England manager has said the same thing, every England player has felt the same way, because we’ve all experienced it firsthand on the pitch. Our legs were drained, and we ended up exhausted towards the end of the match while the opposition grew stronger.”

“It’s a repeat, over and over again. These guys have been exceptional, reaching the final, doing more than any previous generation, but some old problems persist,” Neville pointed out that England has consistently faced an obvious disadvantage against opponents with superior ball-handling skills, such as Spain. In the Berlin match, England had only 35% possession.

“We managed to level the score at one point, but before that, we could have been two goals down. The inability to control crucial matches has always been an issue for England in many major tournaments.”

Neville expressed concerns about England’s future, particularly considering the potential psychological impact of consecutive final losses on the players. Recalling a previous conversation with England players, he said, “I wonder if you’ll ever come back here,” and now that England reached the final again, he lamented, “They’re back here again, I’m speechless, they must be utterly devastated. The fans behind the goal are devastated; we’ve endured so much. The fans are wondering, how long will this go on?”

Regarding head coach Gareth Southgate’s future, Neville believes he needs time to reflect: “It’s a big question, and it feels strange to discuss Gareth’s future right now, given everything he’s done over the past seven or eight years.” Neville speculated that Southgate might take a week to ponder before deciding whether to continue in a position he’s held for many years.

Neville concluded, “Throughout this European Championship, his situation has been challenging, and he mentioned earlier that it was a different scenario.”