England winners and losers as verdict reached on 26 players after Euros heartbreak

Things ended painfully for England at Euro 2024, with Mikel Oyarzabal’s late winner for Spain breaking their hearts at the end of a mixed tournament for their 26 players

England’s Euro 2024 stars have woken up thinking of what might have been, having come close but not quite close enough in the final against Spain.

With five minutes to play, it looked as though we were set for extra-time once more and a chance for Gareth Southgate’s team to redeem themselves after their Euro 2020 heartbreak. Then Marc Cucurella found space out wide and slid the ball in for Mikel Oyarzabal to slide the ball home, and there was precious little time for England to respond.

Make no mistake, this wasn’t a repeat of the last Euros. This England team was less coherent as a whole, while plenty of individuals – be it due to injuries, not enough 2023-24 minutes or too many minutes – weren’t able to replicate their club form.

This was a squad with a fair amount of inexperience, especially in attacking areas. Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka are the only members of the 26 with more than five senior international goals to their name, thanks to the absence of Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire.

It’s also a squad with some experience of winning things, though. Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon were European Under-21 champions last summer, while Marc Guehi and Phil Foden are among those to win world titles at age-group level.

“We came to Germany to win the tournament, and we didn’t want it to end this way,” FA chief Mark Bullingham said after the tournament. “We are all hurting tonight, but we should be incredibly proud.”

Who impressed you most for England? Have your say in the comments section

England suffered a painful defeat in thr Euro 2024 final ( 
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It remains to be seen whether Gareth Southgate remains in his role as manager. He indicated after the game that now was not the time to discuss his future, after two finals in his four major tournaments in charge.

There might also be questions on which members of the squad should keep their place for the next international break, whoever it is picking the squad. Here, Mirror Football picks out the winners and losers from an eventful month in Germany.

Jordan Pickford – Winner

Had England won the final on Sunday, it would have been largely down to Jordan Pickford. The goalkeeper kept his team in the game with some big saves, adding to the crucial penalty stop from Manuel Akanji in the quarter-final. 8/10

Jordan Pickford saving Manuel Akanji’s penalty ( 
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Aaron Ramsdale – Jury’s Out

No minutes for the Arsenal keeper, but he wasn’t expecting many. However, his status as England’s number two was confirmed by Southgate in the lead-up to the tournament, standing him in good stead for the future regardless of where he plays his club football next term. N/A

Dean Henderson -Jury’s Out

While other players without minutes won’t be happy with their lot, it’s a different story for Henderson. After a horrible time with injury, simply making it onto the plane counts as success. N/A

Kyle Walker – Jury’s Out

An up and down tournament, but Walker showed his durability. The oldest player in the squad showed his value as a senior figure, but won’t be happy that both Spain goals in the final came down his side. 6/10

There were highs and lows for Kyle Walker at Euro 2024 ( 
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Luke Shaw – Jury’s Out

It’s hard to say much about Shaw, given the fact that he came into the tournament carrying an injury. His ability to return in time to play a part in the latter stages counts as a win, and the bigger questions surround the absence of another orthodox left-back in the squad. 6/10

John Stones – Winner

Arguably England’s best player in the final, and one of the best in the tournament as a whole. The Manchester City man wasn’t always first pick at club level this season, but six years on from Southgate’s first tournament he remains as important as ever for his country. 8/10.

Marc Guehi – Winner

Centre-backs John Stones and Marc Guehi impressed for England ( 
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Every major tournament has a breakout player, and that was Guehi for England this time out. Harry Maguire’s injury left questions over a player without a single major tournament appearance to his name, but he answered them superbly. 9/10

Kieran Trippier – Loser

It’s evident from this tournament that Trippier should no longer be considered an option on the left for England’s biggest games. The attacking patterns were remarkably lopsided for much of the tournament and, while the Newcastle man didn’t ask to be shunted left, his unsuitability to the role was a clear problem. 5.5/10

Ezri Konsa – Winner

Villa defender Konsa only had one start, deputising for the suspended Guehi against Switzerland. He impressed enough for us to call him a winner, though, and it will be interesting to see how he adapts to Champions League football at club level. 6.5/10

Lewis Dunk – Jury’s Out

Lewis Dunk and Joe Gomez didn’t play a single minute ( 
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There was a feeling Dunk came along to add experience to the group rather than with any expectation to play. An injury worry in the lead-up to the tournament may or may not have played a part, but the Brighton man didn’t play a single minute. N/A

Joe Gomez – Jury’s Out

It’s a slightly different story for Gomez, who at 27 will feel he can still be in the mix for the 2026 World Cup. He’ll have been frustrated by a lack of minutes, especially after showing an ability to deputise at left-back at club level, but we can’t say a lot about someone with no tournament minutes. N/A

Declan Rice – Jury’s Out

Rice was one of England’s stars at the last Euros, but this time he suffered from the lack of a regular midfield partner in the early rounds. Later on, a long season appeared to take its toll at times, but he still had his moments and was desperately close to scoring a late equaliser in the final. 6/10

Trent Alexander-Arnold – Loser

The ‘Trent in midfield’ experiment was worth trying, especially given the inexperience in midfield, but it didn’t work. All would have been forgiven if his penalty against Switzerland ended up setting up a tournament win. 5/10

Jude Bellingham – Winner

Jude Bellingham’s equaliser against Slovakia was one of England’s moments of the tournament ( 
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A baffling tournament for Bellingham, and one that’s hard to score. He was anonymous during some key moments, but also delivered one of the most dramatic and accomplished moments of the tournament, and tournament football is all about moments. 7/10

Conor Gallagher – Loser

There’s an argument that Gallagher’s style of pressing suits club football more than it suits England’s specific approach to internationals. His energy from the bench didn’t have the impact some desired, and his one start ended after 45 minutes. 5/10

Adam Wharton – Jury’s Out

Wharton’s inclusion was a curious one, given his lack of action, and it’s hard to see him having made a 23-man squad. However, the experience gained with this group will hopefully work in his favour if he’s involved for the next World Cup. N/A

Kobbie Mainoo – Winner

Kobbie Mainoo impressed at his first major tournament ( 
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Mainoo’s calmness on the ball and positivity left some asking why he wasn’t introduced earlier. He was found lacking at times, and wasn’t able to assert himself in the final, but it’s worth remembering this is a teenager we’re dealing with and he’s shown he’s the future. 6.5/10

Bukayo Saka – Winner

When England impressed going forward, it was largely due to Saka. The Arsenal man’s goal against Switzerland was the highlight, but it’s also worth recognising that – for swathes of the tournament – no one but him looked capable of unlocking opposition defences. 7/10

Harry Kane – Loser

It seems odd to say England’s top scorer had a poor tournament, but this wasn’t the Harry Kane we know. It often felt that the injury he picked up in the spring was hampering the England captain. 5.5/10

Harry Kane scored three goals but had a tough tournament ( 
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Phil Foden – Loser

The Premier League’s player of the season was unable to replicate his club form at international level. There were bright sparks, not least in the semi-final, but he was a factor in England’s largely underwhelming front-line. 5/10

Ivan Toney – Jury’s Out

Toney made a vital impact from the bench against Slovakia, but his opportunities were severely limited. He would have wanted a lot more than the 42 minutes he played, but we’ll always have the shoot-out penalty against Switzerland. 6/10

Anthony Gordon – Jury’s Out

Gordon was picked ahead of Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford, but barely stepped foot on the pitch. While he’ll no doube be frustrated, one wonders whether Southgate might have backed more experienced players from the bench in those moments when he didn’t call on the Newcastle man. N/A

Ollie Watkins – Winner

Ollie Watkins staked a claim for more England starts going forward ( 
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You can only do what’s asked of you, and Watkins did just that in the semi-final with his dramatic winner. One wonders how England might have fared in a set-up built around the Aston Villa star, but that was never going to happen when his rival for a starting spot was the skipper. 7/10

Jarrod Bowen – Jury’s Out

Just the two substitute appearances for Bowen in the group stage. Like Gordon, the West Ham man appeared to be called up on form but not given much of an opportunity to get up a head of steam. 5/10

Eberechi Eze – Jury’s Out

No starts for Eze, but he did better than some others as far as impact from the bench is concerned. At times, one might have been tempted to ask why one of the players most capable of threading the eye of the needle was given so few opportunities to do so. 6/10

Cole Palmer – Winner

Palmer’s impact from the bench in the earlier rounds was perhaps overstated by those mistaking eagerness for good decision-making. He showed his worth in the semis and the final, though, marking himself out as someone who ought to have a part to play for England going forward. 7/10 .

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