The biggest issue is we don't have a substitute for Kalvin Phillips.

If Trent defended like Walker this tournament, he would have been the scapegoat AGAIN.

> “We ruined a golden generation by forcing in big names out of position”. > Proceed to do the same 20 years later.

As a non Englishman, this is what happens when you keep relying on individual brilliance to bail you out with a defensive playstyle. After the equaliser, England had the whole stadium behind them and the momentum and they sit back. That is just mindblowing. England created about the same amount of xG as Croatia this tournament. Harry Kane doesn’t work in this team with two number 10s when he is dropping deep. For three tournaments, England lost to the first good opposition they faced. When will the FA realise that it doesn’t work anymore? Southgate will get another extension for the World Cup they will get to the semi and lose to a very good team again. They don’t play to win, they play to avoid losing.

In the semi final video people were saying “I owe Southgate an apology” embarrassing 😂 England will never win anything with him in charge

As an Aussie with no dog in the fight... Southgate is holding that team back. You need a new manager who has a clear identity, and will attack! You have a Ferrari of a team! Open the throttle and let it rip on the track! Press! Higher lines, keep the ball in the opponents half, attack with intensity! Rotate players cause they'll be exhausted... You have an amazing squad... It's wasted on this system

Kane was the weakest link today and I never want to hear Trent is a poor defender having watched Walker leave their left wing free for both goals

Our biggest mistake was not going full throttle after Palmer's goal. We had the momentum and we didn't use it.

There's been such waves of adoration and vitriol for Southgate, but you've said it best, James: "chemistry kills." No one wins a tournament without that spark. There's not been an England manager with that arrogant swagger in decades. Gareths done brilliant to reach back-to-back EURO finals, but Glen Hoddle was the last to believer in magic (lol he maybe believes in magic a bit too much off-pitch). Until England have a manager with some joyful irreverence, they'll always come undone to a more relaxed team. As a Newcastle fan I'd hate it, but I think Eddie Howe would be perfect

If England get an actual coach in people will quickly see how little Southgate was getting out of this talent pool.

Another bad performance from Walker. Genuinely don't understand why hes considered untouchable by Southgate

When it went 1-1 England could of had them they looked stunned for the 5-10 minutes after, but then for England to park the bus it was a disgrace. Southgate then should be making a change when England are getting hammered for 15 minutes straight. If he’s the manager at the next World Cup don’t bother cause it will be the same result.

Numb? We've played dogshite all tournament & lucked our way to the final through the easier side of the draw. This was inevitable. Don't get me wrong, when Palmer smashed it in to make it 1-1 a part of me genuinely believed it could smash & grab it with the momentum but of course we parked the bus & got punished. The best team of the tournament won & well done to Spain, you were fantastic.

That should be Walker’s last game for England. Absolutely no reason whatsoever for him to be considered ahead of Trent or White now. He’s been *at least* partially responsible for more goals himself in this tournament than we conceded in total in the last Euros Kane has absolutely stunk this tournament out and has been as frustrating as ever for England. Night and day between club Kane and country Kane, the one consistency is he’s never leading a team to trophies, Bayern will probably lead him to some though Don’t think Southgate did anything majorly wrong tonight (aside from his loyalty to the two I mentioned but good he hooked Kane at least)

Game was calling out for Gordon to come on with Watkins and start to press them. Their press was amazing, we were fearful and stood off

Gordon could have changed the game, frustrating that the poster boys have to have their egos stroked ahead of putting out a balanced squad. Congratulations to Spain

I love JLA's channel, but he (along with many other England fans) has a complacent mentality. He defended Southgate when voices with his influence should have been calling for his sacking years ago. England went into the tournament the favourites, they have arguably the best squad in the tournament. There is no excuse for them to play the way they have. The best managers out there are ruthless, and don't give two shits about what others tell them. Ferguson, Guardiola, Mourinho. They're all lads who could stare you down into submission. England played as if they were underdogs against big teams, when in reality their opposition were nowhere near their level. They played like that because that attitude represents Southgate. He is an underdog, which is perfectly fine, but he'd be more suited to an underdog team. England should have a coach with an ego, with character, playing attacking football. If you lose, so be it, but you'll lose proudly. Losing while being one of the worst teams to watch is so much worse. It's a good thing England didn't win. They'd have been looked at as one of the worst teams to ever win the tournament, something that plagues that Portugal reputation. It's so much better to win and deserve it. Come on you Lions.

Southgate needs to move on. He's done well to get us to a semi and two finals. However, while we still have the quality of the players we currently have, I would like a fair more competent manager to take control and prove this country's worth.

Well, that's Kane's international career done. The guy was dreadful all tournament.

People saying Kane was terrible this tournament must not have seen the other two tournaments! he’s been shocking for us since Southgate took over, just scores pens to make it look like he’s been half decent. Time to leave him out of the next squad.

Kane and Walker were massive problems all tournament, but people kept saying you can’t drop them. WHY? Also, the two #10’s system hasn’t worked at all. Foden has been anonymous and didn’t create a thing all tournament, as always for England. We sacrificed having a LHS for him to thrive, and he repaid us with nothing

the use of unai simon’s ball playing was a major factor in the game. The amount of times they bypassed the press with one ball and they immediately on a dangerous transition

Rodri deserves ballon d or after this tournament

Sitting back after the 1-1 whilst Spain had lost their midfield general and best player and England very very clearly gained momentum was such an incredibly bad piece of game management

Let's be real. Spain played three "finals" in a row, and England was the weakest team they played over those three matches.

It has been a huge disappointment tonight but it was inevitable, Spain were the better team and deserved it. We have an exciting, young team who can take the next step, I just feel we need a new and fresh progressive manager who can take them there. No disrespect to Gareth, as we has taken us to a World Cup semi final and back to back Euro finals but I feel we need someone new to take us to the next step. Harry has had a relatively poor tournament for his high standards, but the level of abuse he seems to be getting on social media is truly unwarranted and ridiculous, a true servant to our country the last decade, and we wouldn’t have gotten to the final without his goals. A new and fresh perspective with this current generation is an exciting prospect that we can look forward too. Love your openness and I echo your feelings James.

England equalized and had Spain on the ropes for about 5 minutes. Walker took a throw-in near their corner flag, Spain retreating, crowd roaring, and decided to throw it way back to a defender. Then, the whole team visibly decided, "Nah, let's all just sit back and invite pressure."

Foden was manmarking Rodri and this was key to stifling the first half. As soon as Rodri went off they adapted and we didn’t. They had a tactical plan B, whereas England’s is throw on the subs and hope that works.

Spain were a team, a unit, a brotherhood... We liked to think we were!

If you play kane you need two direct wingers

Spain is the GOAT of this century in international and club. Put some respect on La Liga and Spain. Hardest road to Final and still deserved winner in every game.

England are the only footballing nation where a generation is deemed "golden" without winning any silverware for the nation.

Why wasn’t Kyle walker tighter to his man like everyone said he should be? Why did Pickford keep kicking it long? Unreal

James, you fell for it. 40 mins of decent football all tournament, the rest was absolute gash.

Things England MUST do to win the 2026 world cup: 1. Bring talisman Kalvin Phillips 2. Need an easier group draw 3. Need an easier path to the final 4. Need an easier final matchup 5. Defense formation, 3-5-2 (basically a 4-4-2, but with Walker out of position in midfield) 6. Offense tactics: hoof it long, Foden to hold up play, but all other players must be right footed, nick a goal against the run of play and then defend 7. English DNA sequencing removal and replacement with literally any other nationality 8. Moar "Its coming home"

Luck, individual moments and being on the right side of the draw got us to a final that, quite honestly we were very fortunate to get too. From game one there was a clear lack of chemistry and overall cohesion with the structure and tactics. Spain were brilliant throughout the entire tournament and fully deserved the win.

This has to be Kyle Walker last major tournament

I do feel like England looked like a team that has played a lot of football over the last 12 months

I remember saying, why are we just kicking it long and giving them possession. Then they scored.

Spot on. Lack of chemistry was the big problem for us.

James fella, top analysis generally but lets start calling it as it is, your normally so on point and astute. This fella managing us is grim, we have crawled ourvway through europe for years now.

What I’m wondering is why no RB can see any game-time other than Kyle Walker. He had a very bad tournament, and for Southgate to bring 3-4 people that can play in that position, only to use none of them when problems arose was puzzling.

Found out by a technically superior midfield. England didn't properly utilise their squad. Key players weren't rested/dropped (Kane, Bellingham, Rice, Foden, Walker) when it was clearly required. Gordon, Palmer, Trent at RB, Watkins, Toney - all should have had at least one full game. The 4-2-3-1 formation should have been binned after Denmark and Bellingham played as an 8.

One of my main takeaways was if you’re going to play defensively, you have to be set up in a defensive formation and know your role. What it looks like Gareth has done is focus all the energy in how to set up defensively but focused on the attacking side of the game. Meaning for example, Saka and Walker seemed to be the ones more focused on attacking than defending, that meant both lacked discipline that meant both were out of position and easy to exploit by Spain. 8 attack minded players, playing a defensive/conservative way, without clear instructions of what was expected, it was never going to work.

Thing with luck is, it eventually runs out. You can’t keep relying on moments and luck all the time with that brilliant set of players.

I think it’s only been Goldbridge that called this one correctly. I don’t understand how anyone could justify still playing Kane after the group stages. For whose benefit was it that he got another 60 minutes, thus putting England down to 10 players against the best team in the tournament?

If you keep your best players of the squad in the bench (not the best individual players, but the best for your system and style of play) and put them in 70 minutes into the game, when you're 1 goal down and then equalize you the game, you're going to look like this mastermind tactician when in reality you had 6 games barely scraping by, not learning anything because you continue to play with the same players

When I saw the same English line up once again, I knew Spain was going to win. And when Palmer got his chance, I told my friends he will score the equalizer. They mocked me and then bang it came true. Sorry for tooting my own horn but man that felt good. Congratulations Spain, it's well deserved. See you all at the next world cup!

Gareth Southgate has made a beautiful baby over the last few years but now we need someone to deliver that baby

As a Swiss and a big fan of English football, i strongly feel it is time for the English FA to consider a new manager. 2 World Cups & 2 Euros have shown to me that England has all the ingrediencies to produce a team with quality and competitiveness. A new manager can take England to a new level. How about Klopp? Cheer up England....you can be very proud of your boys!!

I love you James, thanks for all your coverage over not just this euros but for England over the past few years, heart is broken but we will do it one day

I don't agree that Gareth deserved to be a champion. Fortune favours the brave, and he's rarely been brave in big games in his entire England career. We sit back as soon as we're winning or even drawing now. We had the players to really get at that Spain team.

It doesn't even hurt anymore. It's not a surprise.

I enjoyed the game, very entertaining. Congratulations Spain; good game England, all the best next time

I think pundits had a lot of affect on Southgate’s decisions. We saw it with the Saka lb, Saka/Palmer, Mainoo, Trent bench, and Watkins>Kane. One thing never changed their desire for England to win with Foden, more than England to win without him. The absolute need to have him in there at the expense or sacrifice of players who have delivered for England in the past and present is just classic English name over team. Foden had to be there, everyone had to do everything to make him play, Rice/Mainoo play forward to him, Kane stay up front don’t drop in, Jude go out left, Saka go Rwb, Palmer bench, Gordon just go home. He had to have the perfect environment, while others in sacrificial positions delivered.

We got this far because of individual moments. Other than a couple of plays, we’ve looked like a team of individuals. Rice is so good off the ball but sometimes I feel he doesn’t have the bravery to break lines with his passing. Bellingham gets the ball and wants to carry but it’s always like he wants to take 2 men on before releasing. Kane looks like he’s got a TV on his back. He’s always dropped back but he’s not been able to get forward after his outlet pass. Got it right. 0 chemistry and no identity.

Southgate has done great work for English football, he’s a honourable man who I absolutely respect but should step aside and let another manger inherit a great group of players he’s bought together ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Harry Kane was horrendous all tournament. Southgate miles off it. He should've played what your fans were crying out for. Gordon on the left, Saka or Palmer on the right and Kane or Toney through the middle. Such a poor tournmanet from England. Congratulations to Spain VAMOS! Great video Jim, sorry for you mate. Can't wait for JAFFN.

I think it’s mad this ‘England were underdogs’ narrative. The alleged value and talent in that England team dwarfs the Spain team. Southgate mentality has seeped into the fanbase.

First person on here I've seen notice that Carvajal pass. You only appreciate that pass if you've played the game. Good spot!

Walker at fault for both goals but at least he was there for his pace against Williams. Think thats why Klopp is one of the best managers in the world - he allows Trent to play and Liverpool are one of the best teams in the world and he is the playmaker in the team.

The comment about “how is this group of players not better than 3 Real Sociedad players” is extremely, extremely disrespectful and kind of symptomatic of the arrogance of English fans and why the greater footballing community does not like or respect England fans. If you actually watch Real Sociedad you will know that these are brilliant players, particularly Zubimendi and Merino. England have players who play for Crystal Palace, West Ham, and Brentford and they have the nerve to comment something like that? Shameful

James, how in the actual fuck can you defend Southgate?

You know mate, it's funny. I live in Spain now and ive been nothing but anxious since Thursday. The wait for the game has been awful. I'm glad we at least gave it an effort, but devasting nonetheless

The real final was the QF spain vs Germany

When you come out into the 2nd half and play like that, unfortunately the manager is at fault

As with all the matches this tournament we wasted way too much of the match with Kane on the pitch. Southgate needs to go, we can't celebrate reaching the finals from a gift of a draw if we flaked it when it counts. The England team needs to move on.

England play the same way German did...after scoring, you don't just give possession to Spain... england should have press more and continue to be in control

As always a perfect piece of analysis. Not reactionary, composed and respectful while being completely bang on the money at every point. That's why you're one of the only KZfaq analysts I watch. Thanks mate see you at the world Cup I guess 😂😩😭

Key pivotal moment of the game was when England scored, had Spain on the ropes, the momentum to keep pushing forward, then had a thrown in near the end of their half… and Walker goes and throws it to a defender, then to Pickford, and then he wastes the ball by kicking a long ball into the distance. Momentum was all lost at that point, and Spain came back. 🤦🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

A full tournament without cutting a team open once. A true Gareth Southgate tactical master class.

James…I’m an American who will never understand your pain, but I remember crying as a child when ashley young missed a pen in 2012, and I will always route for your nation. My mom had to drag me to school the next day and I’ve been desperate for England to bring it home since. I think that’s why I’ve been so drawn to your channel. I fell in love with the prem after that and your breakdowns are top tier. This tournament was a rollercoaster and in retrospect we should be happy for all the top 4s we’ve been in. I feel like England in national tournaments is similar to man city in the champions league. We know we can win but they just don’t believe it. It will come. Sadly the chance is every 2 years and not entry year. Edit: it does make me sad that Southgate has finally had a tournament where his subs have come in, and made huge impacts, and we still are calling for his head. The future is muddy. If you don’t believe that he can get over the hump next year bring in Jesse Marsch. If you do believe play the youngsters every game!

Gareth took us up a level but we need someone to take us beyond that now. There were players who weren't at it today and to be fair Kane and Walker have been fantastic for England but this tournament both weren't at it. It felt like tonight we were carrying at.least 3 players through the game and against a side as good as.Spain you'll have no chance.

Jim had the score line on his shirt all along

I just feel like we had a moment to put our boot on their throat and we didnt and they just got free. I think it’s more psychological than an instruction but Southgate creates that culture I suppose. Kane being injured does feel still starting him feels like a real misstep and I think today we could have really benefited from both Toney and Watkins sooner. But even with Kane fully fit, his hold up play and passing probably improves but we see a similar lack of quality and it just comes back to what you’ve said from early on “we need to decide who’s team this is” and if it’s not Kane we may well not need him

Thanks for all the tactical analysis James, enjoyed being on the journey with you.

Southgate has had 8 years. Thats more than 10% of my life probably. Give some else a go

We looked like a championship club who drew a Premier league team in the fa cup.

It is quite impressive to hear some thoughtful (and kind) commentary after what is obviously a devastating moment for you Jim. You continue to impress.

We didn't play a lw all tournament and it really affected how we stretched the pitch. Not to mention how we weren't even using a LB till Shaw got fit. A jumbled mismatch that lacked the cohesion to go all the way without moments.

Think the one good thing out of this tournment is to know there is no over reliance on Kane. They do have other strikers that can step up

Just delighted i wont have to listen to the England fans now tbh

On Kane, southgate said that they couldn’t get Kane fully fit and pair that with tactics that work against the way Kane plays it left him completely isolated. He needs people to run beyond and create space.

Can you do a video on creative choices for the next English manager.

Sometimes you gotta enjoy the ride, no matter what the result just enjoy the time with friends and family

The Spanish players are, as a majority, more technically gifted foofballers, able play the ball very quickly, but also, accurately. This seems to be a key ingredient of winning that English players lack and always have done, historically. Discuss...

Southgate has done what he was capable of and changed what was traditionally a toxic England set up. However it is unacceptable that we play the way we do now that we've actually got technical players which wasn't the case beforehand. It was also particularly disappointing that our younger players showed the levels required which was inexplicably not the case of our experienced ones. Stones, Walker and Kane were basically dreadful all tournament, as was Trippier. The 2 RBs are 34 and need to be retired. Kane should never ever play again if he isn't fit because he isn't an amazing athlete and is just a deadweight when less than 100%. How Stones was so bad is a mystery. All these players should've been those helping the Mainoos etc with their experience, they let everyone down I felt. Pickford was the only one of the 2018 bunch who emerges with any credit. Another mystery to me was how terrible Rice was throughout the tournament, day and night with his Arsenal performances. So basically, barring the excellent Guéhi, our vastly experienced defense + No 6 made us incapable of having a solid foundation to build on. Our defense needs a complete rebuild and fortunately the likes of Quansah, Branthwaite and Colwill are waiting in the wings, although it will take a braver manager than Gareth to jettison the older generation. The real positive of these Euros, aside from the resilience it took to get to the final, was that we also have some young, very talented players in the squad. Bellingham's only 21, as is Palmer, Saka is just 22, Foden and Guéhi are 24. And the standout player of England's tournament in my opinion was 19 year old Kobbie Mainoo who looks like he'll be a match for any midfielder in world football. So impressive. Add the likes of Gordon, Wharton, Livramento and the other defenders I mentioned and the future looks bright. We absolutely need someone more progressive to lead them though because we shouldn't be being outplayed this much by any team, including Spain. Time for Southgate to do the right thing and step down. His time is up.

I think Southgate has done well to stabilise the team and build a good foundation, but I think he's only capable of getting this team to hit 75% of it's ability, he's limited. But I think the FA will beg him to stay because they're not football people and will just look at a spreadsheet of results with understanding any of the context. I think the main reason we lost was because Spain were the best team in the tournament, but frustrating none the less as we look at the players Southgate has at his disposal and know we're capable of so much more. I don't think it helped that we went in to the tournament without knowing how we wanted to play. Spain did and that's why they hit the ground running and just got better as they developed. We kept chopping, changing and experimenting which is why we were always so turgid. Some performances didn't help either, the likes of Stones and Rice always putting their foot on the ball to slow it down only for it to eventually go back to Jordan Puntford who smashes it straight back to the opposition. We have Foden and Bellingham, smash it in to their feet whilst they have the time and space, not slow it down so the opposition can reset their positions. So frustrating! Another reason we struggled was because, as you said, they were knackered, but that's because, they were playing percentages football from game one! Puntford smashing it to the wings for Foden to win headers, pointless! Obvioulsy, we lose possession straight away then have to chase it again, unsustainable.

not bringing on Trent was a mistake

Think a difficult conversation needs to be had with Harry Kane. He’s had his time to be the national hero, but he is nowhere near fit to be starting for this team anymore, let alone to captain it. He doesn’t fit this system, and I don’t think he has the capacity to ever fit this system. We will not win a thing with Harry Kane as our captain.

England played shithouse all tournament. Didnt deserve to get past r16. They have the best players but while the fa is more concerned about being PC than having a proper coach then theyll win nothing-and im here for that.

England conceded all but one goals before changes made. England scored all but one goals after changes made. The issue was always too little too late from the bench

I remember Glen Hoddle saying we need to change the grass roots philosophy and go down a similar route to Spain and Germany. I’m a fulham fan but I’ve visited la massa (Barca’s academy) and it was next level! One coach to every 3/4 players, just young kids working on technique with quick one touch passing and moving, little flicks and always working on control. It was like the Serengeti with beautiful tiny pitches. So much more advanced than fulham have (a we have a great academy). More importantly I realised they have a style of play that all Spanish clubs are trying to play. That’s why Spain can press and have cohesion in a way I’ve never seen from England. I feel that’s why a average player from say Bilbao can fit seamlessly in a Spanish squad and beat our so called world class players. But we need to teach our kids to be able to pass and control a ball like the Spanish and Germans. We need to be able to beat a press. What player in the squad can really accept the ball in midfield under a heavy press and turn and pass the ball forward, not sideways and backwards?? Look at defenders and midfielders we produce, they are great but very few can beat a press without lumping it forward. Is Southgate a world class manager? No obviously not but we always blame the manager and it’s very convenient that we don’t actually have to look in the mirror. We are not good enough. We are a good team but to be a great team it takes more than just changing the manager in my opinion. I played Sunday league and also played with some semi pro Portuguese guys as well… they loved me for defending but I wasn’t able to comfortably pass it into the midfield under pressure and they always berated me for this, unfortunately I just wasn’t good enough to do that so had to clear it, but they were all small so couldn’t really win the headers, they always wanted in to their feet. But I was always taught ‘when in doubt, kick it out’ ‘row Z’. Now I know we have moved on from that somewhat but it’s still acceptable to ‘clear it and move up’, problem is we don’t actually move up, we get forced back and end up trying to clear it from our goal lines, ‘defend like lions’ and lose a late goal because we are knackered from chasing the ball the whole game! Anyway just my opinion sorry for the long speech

That was as bad as watching QPR! Southgate & Holland are a Championship level managerial team that has no understanding of the modern tactical styles of play

For england,this shows the day in history will never be forgotten but on paperwork, england football improved since they're in first euro final under south gates.

From a Scottish guy keep the chin up. At 1-1 it was England’s game. Your content and analysis is spot on.

We all need to look at we where 1 Olmo on the line clearance. One of our issues is that we have sso many players that all want to / play in the same position. Kane, foden, jude, palmer all want to play 10. We've then got rice, maino Gallagher, eze, French, Bellingham all want to play 8. Rw/rwb saka, palmer, TAA, bowen. We either play 1 subsystem.and players have to fit into it or we have plan A,B,C nd change it to what opposition we are playing. We shall see what happens. Southgate has done some great things for us and gave us great memories. World cups only 2 years away on we go.

Kane’s been injured for about 4 months. You might hear soon he’s gone for surgery.

Reminds of champions league final where Kane started over Lucas even though he wasn’t fit. Except here England did it for an entire tournament

Spain has a TEAM, England has a group of stars. Spain play with brain and heart, Englad seem no heart in the game.... Two differents aproaches to the game, it´s incredible to see the good play and the heart wins. Thank God!!!! Spain win all 7 times to the hardest teams ..... No penalties... The only thing that has England in the tournament is a good luck, but sometimes the luck is not enough.....