England’s quest for a maiden Euro title resulted in heartbreak Sunday when Mikel Oyarzabal netted a sensational 86th-minute aim to give Spain a 2-1 victory.
A win would have marked a historic evening for the Three Lions, giving them their first European Championship and solely main event victory for the reason that 1966 World Cup.
England made historical past regardless, changing into the primary nation in Euro historical past to lose consecutive finals following its loss to Italy at Euro 2020. As a byproduct of the consequence, Gareth Southgate turned the primary supervisor in Euro historical past to finish up on the dropping aspect in two finals, per Opta Analyst.
The one nation that got here near the undesirable feat was Germany in 1996 when Oliver Bierhoff’s 95th-minute golden goal saved the day towards Czechia. The Germans had been 4 years faraway from a loss to Denmark within the 1992 Euro closing and dangerously near back-to-back defeats.
Most Euro video games with no title
England’s loss Sunday additionally prolonged one other Euro streak that illustrates its incapacity to finish the mission. The nation has now performed 45 matches on the occasion with out profitable the title, 19 greater than every other nation to have by no means gone the space. Belgium, at 26 video games, is second on the record.
The drought should really feel all of the extra excruciating for England followers as a consequence of their nation’s incapacity to shut the deal in huge moments. Even England captain Harry Kane could not include his feelings after the loss as he sulked together with his teammates on the sidelines of the Olympiastadion.
“Dropping in a closing is as robust because it will get. It is as painful because it might be in a soccer match,” Kane said, just some years faraway from the heartbreak of Wembley against Italy.
All England can do is trudge on and check out once more on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After which once more at Euro 2028. The drought has to finish finally, proper? It will imply all of the extra if and when it does.