This loss will hurt for a long time: Harry Kane after Euro final
Berlin: England's captain, Harry Kane, expressed profound disappointment after his team's 2-1 loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final, marking England's second consecutive defeat in a major tournament final.
Reflecting on the match, Kane acknowledged the emotional toll of the defeat, stating, "It's hard to put into words how we're all feeling right now... We did well to get back into the game and struggled to build on that." Kane, who was substituted off after 60 minutes, highlighted the difficulty of dealing with another major tournament heartbreak following Spain's late winning goal.
The match saw Spain take the lead early in the second half, with Lamine Yamal setting up Nico Williams for a goal just two minutes after the break. Despite England's Cole Palmer equalising shortly after coming on as a substitute, Mikel Oyarzabal's goal in the 86th minute sealed Spain's victory.
Reflecting on England's performance throughout the tournament, Kane noted their resilience in coming from behind in previous matches but lamented their inability to clinch the title. "We've been coming from behind all tournament, we've got it in the locker. We didn't take the next step and win it," he said, emphasising the disappointment of falling short in the final.
Throughout his career, Kane has achieved numerous individual accolades but has yet to secure a team trophy. Before the Euro 2024 final, Kane had expressed a willingness to trade all his personal achievements for European Championship glory, underscoring the significance of the tournament for him.
Despite finishing as one of the tournament's top scorers with three goals, Kane faced challenges, including a back injury that affected his performance. "It's an opportunity missed. These finals aren't easy to get to. You have to take it when it comes and we haven't done it again," Kane reflected, acknowledging the pain of not seizing the chance to win the championship.
Regarding the future of England manager Gareth Southgate, Kane expressed support and respect, suggesting that Southgate would take time to evaluate his position. "We wanted to win it for him," Kane said, emphasising the team's desire to achieve success under Southgate's leadership.
Kane's reflections captured the disappointment and frustration of England's Euro 2024 campaign, highlighting the team's resilience, missed opportunities, and the enduring pain of falling short in another major final. AFP