Jamie Carragher launches huge defence of Gareth Southgate and points out ‘fact why England lost Euro 2024 final'

No, last night wasn't a dream - football did not come home.

England fell short in the Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday night (14 July), leaving football fans all over the nation heartbroken yet again.

In a cautious first half, both sides struggled to create a clear chance with the game looking to go either way, but it was Spain who struck first in the second half, with Nico Williams slotting home just over a minute after the restart.

Three Lions substitute Cole Palmer then nabbed an equaliser against the run of play, giving fans some hope but Spanish forward Mikel Oyarzabal put the dagger in English hearts in the final minutes, putting Spain 2-1 up and ensuring that they took the trophy home.

England kept fighting against favourites Spain though, having a late attempt headed off the line, as the country's wait for a major tournament win is set to extend to 60 years by the time the 2026 World Cup swings around.

There's no doubt that fans all over the country are gutted with what they saw last night, though many seemed to have turned on Gareth Southgate and his tactics, shifting the blame of the loss to him.

A lot of people felt that England could have built on their dramatic semi-final win against the Netherlands, but it wasn't to be - and though people may point their fingers at the manager, ex-footballer and pundit Jamie Carragher thinks otherwise.

Sven played 442, Fabio was too strict, Gareth is too defensive!
Funny how it’s always on the manager isn’t it?!!
The fact is our big players didn’t turn up in this tournament. And other tournaments going back years.

— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) July 14, 2024

The former Liverpool player was on X after the game last night, seemingly defending England's manager and saying that the loss was the player's fault.

During the game, Carragher particular spoke about England's lack of pace in attack, and how it needed to improve at half-time if they wanted a chance of winning.

Following the result, he posted: "Sven played 442, Fabio was too strict, Gareth is too defensive! Funny how it’s always on the manager isn’t it?!! The fact is our big players didn’t turn up in this tournament. And other tournaments going back years."

One account then lauded Spanish manager Luis de la Duente, to which the pundit said that international football isn't 'littered with top managers.'

"It’s about the players. Ours froze in that first half, allowing the keeper to go long & not demanding the ball & showing for it," Carragher claimed.

International football is not littered with top managers, it’s about the players. Ours froze in that first half, allowing the keeper to go long & not demanding the ball & showing for it. https://t.co/4TSRlToWhB

— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) July 14, 2024

He then replied to a post that showed that England's overall xG (expected goals) at the Euros were lower than that of Croatia, who were knocked out in the group stage.

The former England international said: "Exactly! Big players didn’t turn up!! We had about 60% possession until the final because we played average teams. You blame Southgate for some of the best attacking players in Europe not being able to break average defences down???"

Carragher later highlighted in a later post that he doesn't have a 'relationship at all' with the manager, and that he was great with his substitutions throughout the tournament.

"I have no relationship at all with Southgate. I feel he has been cautious from the bench throughout his time but in this tournament the substitutes have been great," he explained.

The pundit continued: "There is this idea though that he is holding back an amazing team. Is it any better than 1996/1998/2004??"

I have no relationship at all with Southgate. I feel he has been cautious from the bench throughout his time but in this tournament the substitutes have been great.
There is this idea though that he is holding back an amazing team. Is it any better than 1996/1998/2004??

— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) July 14, 2024

Below the tweet, he replied to a fan that said that there are plenty of managers that would have done a better job attacking-wise, to which Carragher referenced two former England coaches who also fell short: "Venables & Hoddle were not defensive managers!"

He then claimed that Southgate wouldn't win the Premier League title if he managed there, saying that international football is more about the players than the manager, claimed that people 'had never heard' of the Spanish coach before this tournament.

Carragher then shared an article he wrote on the final loss this morning, fully explaining why he pushed blame to the players.

None, international football is about players not managers.
You had never heard of the Spanish coach before this tournament!!

— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) July 14, 2024

Sunday's Euro final might have been Southgate's last game in charge of the England side as his contract expires this year, though the FA are keen for him to continue until the upcoming World Cup.

Following the match, he conceded that Spain were the 'best team in the tournament' and that his side were 'in it until the last'.

After saying that his players were 'incredible', he added: "Against Spain you have to keep the ball when you win it back. We were fine defensively in the first half but that takes it out your legs,

"There's no hiding from we have had a lot of issues. We have managed to deal with most of them but we have fallen short," he concluded.