News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/15th July 2024
After England’s heartbreaking loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final, Jude Bellingham has been advised to take a holiday to recuperate. The foreign press has speculated that Bellingham, along with his teammates, will be eager to move past the disappointment of this defeat. The match saw goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal secure Spain’s 2-1 victory, prolonging England’s 60-year trophy drought.
England’s hopes were briefly revived when Cole Palmer equalized shortly after being introduced in the second half. However, Oyarzabal’s close-range finish from a Marc Cucurella cross in the 86th minute sealed England’s fate, delivering another European Championship final setback for Gareth Southgate’s side.
The aftermath of the match saw international media outlets revel in England’s misery. French newspaper L’Equipe focused on Jude Bellingham, who was moved to a left-sided role for much of the game to accommodate Phil Foden. The publication described Bellingham as a symbol of England’s frustration and suggested that he would be eager to leave the disappointment of the tournament behind him.
Spanish outlets, unsurprisingly, celebrated their team’s triumph. Marca hailed Spain as the “Invincible Armada,” featuring a large photo of the trophy lift on their front page. AS also celebrated the victory with a headline that translates to “Spain is in glory,” accompanied by a photo of the Spanish players, coaching staff, and royal family members celebrating on the podium.
L’Equipe was particularly critical of England’s performance, highlighting the struggles of key players. Harry Kane, who was substituted off in the 61st minute after another lackluster performance, received a brutal rating of 3/10. The publication noted that the Bayern Munich striker was clearly tired, made poor decisions, missed several passes, and earned a yellow card for an avoidable foul. Kane’s substitution by semi-final hero Ollie Watkins was seen as a logical decision given his ineffective performance.
Other England players also faced criticism. Kyle Walker, Luke Shaw, and Kobbie Mainoo each received a rating of 4, while the highest rating given to any England player was a 6, awarded to Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Bellingham.
In contrast, the Spanish media was full of praise for their team. Sport celebrated the achievements of both the Spanish football team and tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, who defended his Wimbledon crown by defeating Novak Djokovic in straight sets. Mundo Deportivo similarly split their front page to highlight both Spain’s Euro 2024 victory and Alcaraz’s Wimbledon triumph, referring to them as “super champions.”
England’s manager Gareth Southgate acknowledged Spain’s superiority, stating, “Congratulations to Spain, they were the best team in the tournament and the best team tonight.” Despite the disappointment, England’s journey to the final and their determined performances throughout the tournament earned them respect.
For Jude Bellingham and his teammates, the focus now shifts to recovery and future challenges. The young midfielder, tipped to head off for a summer break, will undoubtedly reflect on the lessons learned from this experience. As England continues to chase their elusive major title, the resilience and growth displayed by the team throughout Euro 2024 will be crucial in their ongoing quest for international glory.
