And here’s what you could have won. The trophy lift. One big happy family. One foot out the door? England striker Ollie Watkins praised Southgate, telling BBC Radio 5 Live: “He brings a real togetherness. It is a tight-knit group, so close. Since he has come in, he has been the most successful England manager there is. I think he deserves a lot more praise than he gets. Back to back finals. He deserves a lot of credit - his record speaks for itself. I would have loved for us to win tonight because he deserves it more than anyone, him and Steve Holland. I am really gutted.” Spain midfielder Rodri: “Surely the best day of my sporting career. We have built a family, we are European champions, as difficult as it is, and now we are the most successful team in the European Championship. We have beaten everyone.” Alvaro Morata: “Positive messages lead to positive things, and we have seen how Spain believed in us and well, I hope they are proud of this team, of everything that is coming in the future, because you have seen it.” More reaction from the Spanish camp. Lamine Yamal: “Very happy and looking forward to coming back to Spain and celebrating with all the fans. It is really the best present there is. It’s a dream. When we were drawing it was difficult. They pushed us hard, but I don’t know what this team is made of, but we always come back, we always win.” Marc Cucurella: “We deserved it from the start. Not many people backed us, but we kept quiet and did our job, which is to play football. We know how to suffer as a family.” All that time, money and effort to get to Berlin for England fans. Was it worth it? Barney Ronay on regrets and there are plenty. This was at least an excellent final, a full-throated affair against the team of the tournament. Spain has been the dominant football culture of the last quarter century, a tactical atelier that has fed the universal global coaching style, not least the Premier League’s own age of Guardiola-imprint possession football. Josh Halliday went to join fans at Manchester’s Nynex/MEN/AO Arena. Pints and sadness aplenty. Get your player ratings. England speak. Cole Palmer didn’t look to eager to speak to Gabriel Clarke but he got some words out: “Spain have been brilliant all tournament, they are great team. Congratulations. “We hoped to get back into the game but we didn’t do that. Gutted. “We got to another final, there are positives to take but everyone wanted to go one step further. Gareth has been amazing for the group, he’s got to back to back finals. The World Cup is in two years time, hopefully the players will remember this feeling.” Rodri: “It is unbelievable, this is a dream. We are the best national team in Europe, it’s unbelievable. “We made history but we cannot stop here. We have the talent to keep going. It is important to celebrate this moment.” King Charles and Justin Welby have some words of wisdom for England. Gareth Southgate refused to be drawn on his future as England manager. He told ITV: “I don’t think now is a good time to make a decision like that. I’m going to talk to the right people and, yeah, it’s just not for now. “I think England are in a really good position in terms of the experiences they’ve got now, the age of the squad. Most of this squad are going to be around not just for the World Cup but the next Euros as well. There’s a lot to look forward to but at this moment that’s not any consolation.” Jonathan Liew on Southgate’s plan (or lack there of). “Honestly, apart from it coming home, I think this might have been the second best outcome for the country of England tbh,” reckons Samuel Dodson. “It provides limitless despondent argument and debate and further nostalgic pining for the past, which is what we seem to crave deeply. Plus it gives so much weight to both sides of the Gareth Southgate debate that sprang up this year. “On the one hand, we played terribly for most of the tournament, only actually playing really well for 60 minutes (25 against Serbia, 35 against the Netherlands). But the two claims against Southgate before this tournament were that he never reacted well to the flow of the game – and that we lost to the first good side we played against after receiving very lucky draws. Yet in this tournament, all our best moments came from Southgate decisions – to stick with Kane and Bellingham against Slovakia; to bring on Trent and Toney against Switzerland; to bring on Watkins against Holland; to bring Palmer on in the final. What’s more, in beating the Netherlands (deservedly), we actually beat a good side at a crucial moment. “In short, nobody is totally vindicated. There are no clear answers. Everyone can claim they are right. Everyone can claim everybody else is wrong. The ideal thing for every person in England. And while football might not have come home; perhaps something more valuable and precious to us did: our ability to keep arguing, keep dreaming; and keep hoping.” Jude Bellingham sat in the England dugout, away from his teammates, while Spain were on the stage collecting their medals and trophies. Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente: “I couldn’t be happier. To see the fans, to see the players. A real team, European champions. I said I was proud and today I am even prouder. It confirms what we are. For me, they are the best in the world and today I confirm that definition.” Nick Ames looks at what Harry Kane did (and did not) do in Germany this summer. As Spain celebrated in the centre circle Kane stood impassively in the technical area, gathering his emotions before making his way around his stricken, desolate teammates. He had hoped to crown his life’s work here but instead all the goals and personal accolades that, the day before the final, he had offered to swap for collective success will have to stay put. A big season for three Athletic Bilbao players. They won the Copa del Rey and now this. Gareth Southgate: “We’ve competed until the very end of the final. Today we didn’t keep possession quite well enough, especially when we defended well, they pressed us well and we had to get out of it, which meant they had the best of the game. It is fine margins but Spain were the best team in the tournament and they deserve it. “There is a disadvantage to having a day less to prepare but we were in game up to 80 minutes. “Physically it’s been a tough period for Harry, he was short of games and didn’t get up to speed. Ollie’s freshness would allow us to pressure more and it did.” Some joyous scenes in Madrid. BBC were speaking to Southgate and then it cut away to Spanish TV … Reaction from the Spanish camp: Nico Williams: “Euphoric. All our people deserve it. We suffered a lot. They had a good team. They have players who can make the difference but we were able to counter their weapons and in the end we won the European Championship and we are very happy.” Mikel Oyarzabal: “I have done my job. I did what I had to do at every moment to try to help. I was lucky enough to give the victory. Just the fact of being in the 26, you value it a lot here. To have the moment to help as it has happened to me is the best. It happened to me but could have happened to anyone.” Lineker seems to think Southgate will depart now. That leads to the obvious question … who next? Give it a year and then try for Guardiola? Whisper in Klopp’s ear? Lee Carsley? Queen’s We Are The Champions blares out around the stadium. The England fans have made their exit. “Hi MBM team.” Hi Amanda Nielsen. “Thanks so much for your killer insights and good humour throughout the tournament. As a Dane, I have been Anyone But England (I’m not yet over 2021, and probably never will be with 2024 to now add insult to injury), but regardless of what has happened on the field, the MBM team are the real MVPs of the Championships for me.” You’re too kind, Amanda. Alvaro Morata is the last man up. He gets his golden medal around his neck before being handed the trophy by the king of Spain. The trophy is held aloft and there is confetti everyone, then comes a fireworks show. A less sombre occasion as Spain get ready to celebrate on stage. The head coach is up first and stops for a chat with the king. The stadium has been turned red and yellow, which is a cracking shot. Harry Kane leads England up to get hold of their silver medals. Will they use this as fuel for the next major tournament? No one wants to finish second. Nico Williams is given man of the match. He will get a few days off now before a summer of rumour around his future at Athletic Bilbao. His release clause is around €53m, I think, which seems a bargain. I’d quite like him to stay for a season though, if you wouldn’t mind, mate. Lamine Yamal and Rodri get a guard of honour from their teammates on their way to collect some individual trinkets. Harry Kane: “Losing in a final is as tough as it gets. We did really well to get back in the game and to 1-1. We could have used that momentum to push on but we couldn’t keep the ball and we got punished. “We didn’t keep the same intensity and pressure. It is the last game of the tournament, there are a lot of physically and mentally tired players out there. “It’s been a tough tournament, we’ve had to show a lot of resilience. We wanted to do it so badly for ourselves but also our fans. For now it is a huge disappointment. “We love the manager but that is his decision. This is not the time to talk about it. He will go away and think about it.” Jacob Steinberg’s report has landed. “Better players won,” says Gary Naylor. “Kane, Bellingham and Foden summed to about two players per game at most. Away from Pep’s instructions, Palmer is a much better player than Foden, a fit Watkins is better than an unfit Kane and Bellingham and Mainoo are too young to play seven matches in best form. We kept going one-down because the starting XI was weaker than the one that played the last 20 minutes.” The post-mortem has begun on BBC who look at why England have come second once again. Basically, they have decided that England need to be less conservative which is what a lot of people said at the start. Being brave is a great quality in football. What a night for the Basques with the goals coming from Williams and Oyarzabal. I am sure those in Euskadi will be ecstatic to know the rest of the country have them to thank for a European triumph. The stat lives on In time, I think England will regret the 2021 final more than tonight. There were times during the game I thought England weren’t imposing themselves enough in attack, but the more it marinates, the clearer it becomes that Spain were just too good. The best team won, the end. I’m going to take a break, but Will Unwin is wiping away the tears, ready to bring you all the reaction. Thanks a lot for your company and emails. Gareth Southgate has been so gracious, making a point of seeking out people like Rodri. He takes a few seconds alone, pressing his forehead, then beckons all the squad over to thank the England fans. His decency and dignity almost bring a lump to the throat. BBC 1-2 ITV Spain now sit alone with four European Championship wins. This might be the most impressive of the lot, which is saying something given how good they were in 2008 and 2012. They were much the better team tonight, even without the injured Rodri in their second half. Fabian Ruiz and Nico Williams in particular were brilliant, and we’ll be talking about Lamine Yamal’s tournament forever. It’s a desperate night for England, who become the first side to lose successive men’s European Championship finals. Gareth Southgate and Kieran Trippier are going round consoling the England players; Southgate, dignified to the last, made a point of seeking out Luis de la Fuente in the celebratory Spain huddle. Full time: Spain 2-1 England Lock the door, close the curtains: football won’t be home for another couple of years at least. But Spain are European champions, and no team has ever deserved it more. 90+3 min Saka catches Cucurella, who goes down holding his face to waste a bit more time. The offside technology confirms that the knee of Guehi (I think) was playing Oyarzabal onside. 90+1 min Watkins is booked for a high tackle on Nacho, who takes the opportunity to get the physio on. 90+1 min Four minutes of added time. 90 min: Off the line by Olmo! Palmer’s outswinging corner is met by Rice, whose powerful header is pushed away by Unai Simon. Guehi’s follow up is headed off the line by Olmo and Rice’s second attempts goes just over. 89 min: Spain substitution Mikel Merino replaces Lamine Yamal. 88 min Bellingham’s through pass is miscontrolled by Watkins in the area. That was half a chance. England substitution: Phil Foden off, Ivan Toney on. Oyarzabal played a simple pass out to Cucurella and got on his bike. Cucurella guided an immaculate low cross back towards Oyarzabal, who got away from Guehi and slid the ball past Pickford from seven yards. There’s a check for offside but I think he’s okay. Yep, the goal stands. And it was a terrific goal too. GOAL! Spain 2-1 England (Oyarzabal 86) It’s been coming, and it might not be coming home. 86 min “Since Watkins came on, his closing down of Simon and the center backs has unsettled the Spanish buildup play,” says Kári Tulinius. “If Rodri was still on the field, they could just pass it to him and he’d sort it out. It took a while, but Spain are really missing him now.” GOAL! Spain 2-1 England (Oyarzabal 86) It’s been coming, and it might not be coming home. 86 min “Since Watkins came on, his closing down of Simon and the center backs has unsettled the Spanish buildup play,” says Kári Tulinius. “If Rodri was still on the field, they could just pass it to him and he’d sort it out. It took a while, but Spain are really missing him now.” 85 min England have up to four more substitutions available, if it goes the distance, and they’ll need them because they look really tired. There’s every chance Spain will nick this in normal time. 84 min Spain are starting to pin England back again. They’ve been the better team, had the better chances, played the better football. I think we all know what that means. 83 min: Spain substitution Nacho for Robin Le Normand. 82 min: Good save by Pickford! Lamine Yamal has missed a terrific chance. Palmer lost the ball to Zubimendi on the halfway line and Spain went straight at England. Olmo played a slick one-two with Williams on the edge of the area, then dummied the ball to allow it to run across to Yamal. His first-time curler was too close to Pickford, who got down smartly to his right to make a crucial save. 81 min Nothing much is happening. Spain are passing the ball around in the middle third, both teams readjusting mentally to the state of the game. 79 min The corner is cleared, so there’ll be no controversy about the challenge on Stones. 78 min After two or three wobbly minutes, Spain are back in control of the ball. Carvajal’s cross is allowed to bounce by Walker but clears Williams’ head as well. Williams retrieves and crosses towards Oyarzabal, forcing Stones to head behind for a corner. I thought Stones was fouled but the referee didn’t, so that’s that. 77 min “Was penning an altogether breezier missive when the goal went in,” writes Russell Yong. “Still cautiously positive that England could salvage something here, though it does, kind of like with India in the last T20 WC, feel a bit like everyone else in the tournament was just lining up for the privilege of getting beaten by Spain. If, as is likely, England lose, the history of Euro 2024 will firmly read that no side in history has ever presented as a more obvious candidate to win from the start. Though I guess they said the same about India in last year’s World Cup...” 76 min England are the horror movie villain that keeps coming back to life. It will be absurd if England win all four knockout games after going behind. Before Slovakia they’d only done that three times in 94 years! “I’m the only Englishman in a tent with 500 Spaniards,” reports Ben Roberts. “And I somehow managed to keep my gob shut for that goal.” 75 min Now England are rampant! Saka twists outside Cucurella are drives a low cross that is cleared by Laporte at the near post. Saka and Bellingham played really important parts in that goal, with Bellingham’s lay-off perfectly weighted. Cole Palmer has equalised with a fine goal! Saka broke away down the right and passed a low ball towards Bellingham near the penalty spot. He calmly laid it off first time to Palmer, who ran onto the ball, all in good time, and passed it nonchalantly into the far corner from 20 yards. It took a slight deflection, the hell Cole Palmer will care. He’s been on the field less than three minutes. GOAL! Spain 1-1 England (Palmer 73) The boy’s a superstar. 71 min These are the revised teams. Spain (4-2-3-1) Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Oyarzabal. England (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Shaw; Bellingham, Rice; Saka, Palmer, Foden; Watkins. 70 min: England substitution Cole Palmer for Kobbie Mainoo. That means Bellingham will drop slightly deeper. 70 min Fabian Ruiz rakes a half-volley over the bar from 25 yards. England are again struggling to get out. Spain were a bit guilty of sitting on their lead against Germany; tonight they’re going for the throat. 70 min Broadly, there are two ways of looking at England’s performance. They haven’t turned up. They’re being outplayed by the best team in the tournament, who could do this to anyone. 68 min: Spain substitution Mikel Oyarzabal replaces Alvaro Morata up front. 66 min: Fine save by Pickford! Spain cut England open on the break. Olmo plays in Lamine Yamal, who gets behind Shaw only to leaave the ball behind on the edge of the area. Lamine Yamal recovers and curls a low shot from the edge of the area that is pushed round by the diving Pickford. That’s a really good save. 64 min Bellingham turns Carvajal on the edge of the D and smashes a left-foot shot a few yards wide. England have been slightly better in the last five minutes. 63 min Saka is fouled on the right wing by Nico Williams, which allows England to send the big lads forward. Foden’s free-kick is headed away at the near post. 62 min A doff of the cap to Christian B, who sent this at half-time. As a United supporter, I’m really afraid Luke Shaw will lose concentration for a second, and will let Lamine Yamal in for a goal (or big chance). I’d like to see the goal again to see what Shaw could have done differently, but it’s certainly the first time Lamine Yamal got behind him. 61 min: England substitution: Ollie Watkins replaces Harry Kane Kane didn’t look fit – tonight or throughout the tournament. You have to feel for him as he would have been desperate to make up for 2018 and 2021. 60 min No team, men’s or women’s, has ever come from behind to win four knockout games at a major tournament. If you’re going to make history, you might as well do it in style. 59 min England have been battered since Rodri went off, so I’m confused. 58 min “Disappointed to see Rodri going off,” says Matt Dony. “Between him and Nico Williams, Spain at least sound a bit Welsh. And that’s good enough for me. Great to see Nico Williams living up to his namesake.” 57 min Ollie Watkins is about to come on. England look a beaten team right now, though we’ve said that before in this tournament. 55 min: Very good chance for Morata! Lamine Yamal slides a gorgeous pass down the inside-right channel. Morata gets behind Guehi, through on Pickford, but screws his shot off target. Stones clears it, just in case. England can’t get out, and moments later Williams rifles just wide from the edge of the D. That was a thrilling effort. 54 min Morata has a shot from 20 yards blocked by Guehi. I think Williams was in a good position to his left. England could be out of this in the next five minutes if they’re not careful.