Morning all.
Spain are European champions after a 2-1 win over England in Berlin final evening. The primary half is barely value speaking about, so little occurred, however the second started with a flourish. Lamine Yamal acquired away from Luke Shaw, and performed a ball throughout the field to the bubbling Nico Williams (pls Edu, get the BBQmobile on the street to Bilbao), the primary time end together with his left foot left Jordan Pickford stranded and it was 1-0.
The aim got here minutes after Spain emerged for the second half with out Rodri, one thing which must have given England a lift, however as he has been all through this match, Harry Kane’s presence up high was a extra important handicap than the opposition shedding one of the best defensive midfielder on the planet. I took lots of stick on Twitter this week after I recommended Ollie Watkins ought to begin the ultimate in Kane’s place, and it’s not that I give a fish’s tit about salty Sp*rs followers in my mentions, however England wanted Gareth Southgate to be courageous together with his workforce choice and he wasn’t.
When the Aston Villa man got here on, he made a distinction. Kane was turgid, gradual, previous, most likely unfit – and the proof of that was apparent to anybody with eyes all through this match. I perceive loyalty, I perceive his stature and status and historical past, however these issues are good to speak about in books after a profession is completed. They don’t enable you to win matches at main tournaments when it’s clear a participant just isn’t on the required stage.
Spain may have scored extra, Pickford made a few good saves, however then Bukayo Saka burst down the best, he discovered Jude Bellingham whose layoff to substitute Cole Palmer was pretty, and the end unerring. Impulsively it was 1-1, and sport on once more. It appeared as if we had been heading for extra-time however Kyle Walker was too gradual once more (how Trent Alexander-Arnold barely acquired a look-in at right-back is astonishing to me), Marc Cucurella put in a superb ball from the left hand facet, and Mikel Oyarzabal (on for Alvaro Morata) utilized the end – preserving himself onside by the tightest of margins.
Declan Rice compelled Unai Simon right into a save which Marc Guehi adopted up with a header that was cleared off the road, however there was no late drama this time. No second of magic or particular person inspiration to rescue England. I believe it’s truthful to say that Spain have been one of the best workforce at Euro 2024, wining all seven matches, and so they had been one of the best facet final evening too. They deserved to win it.
As for England, little question there can be loads of evaluation, however if you take a look at the pool of expertise Gareth Southgate had at his disposal, there must be questions requested concerning the total stage of performances. That 45 minutes towards the Netherlands apart, there wasn’t a lot to write down house about. Bellingham did a superb factor, Saka did a superb factor, these issues saved England, and whereas getting to a different remaining is clearly commendable, Southgate’s security first method doesn’t get one of the best out of the standard he has, and leans too closely into gamers who’re within the workforce due to their identify, fairly than on advantage.
From an Arsenal perspective, it was unhappy to see Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice on the remaining whistle. An extended, gruelling match ends with extra ache and heartache, so as to add to then lengthy, gruelling season they’d with Arsenal which additionally ended with disappointment. Pipped to the title by Man Metropolis, pipped to the Euros by a late Spain aim. They’re going to really feel each minute they performed, all these exhausting yards they put in, and I believe Mikel Arteta goes to must assume very rigorously about what they now want.
A break, a vacation, a while off to reset and recuperate: that’s apparent. No one expects them again anytime quickly, however once they do return, how do they go into a brand new season with out feeling the results of 11 months of usually excellent performances with nothing to point out for it by way of silverware? It may be a motivating issue, to be truthful, however they appeared shattered on the finish final evening, and it’s exhausting to not fear a bit. Let’s hope they, and Aaron Ramsdale, get the remaining they want and take a couple of weeks away from the general public gaze to unwind correctly.
So, all in all, I believe it’s been a reasonably satisfying match. It feels prefer it all started a long-time in the past, nevertheless it’s accomplished and dusted now. Let’s hope the Arsenal information picks up over the approaching days, and that the wheels begin turning within the switch window.
Stand by for an Arsecast Further a bit of later this morning. Hold a watch out for the decision for questions on Twitter @gunnerblog and @arseblog on Twitter with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or in case you’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, go away your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Pod must be out by lunchtime. For now, have one.
