The five crucial blunders in 20 seconds cost England the Euro 2024 championship. Spain’s winning goal, scored by Mikel Oyarzabal in the 86th minute, came from a string of errors made by Southgate’s team both with and without the ball.
Less than five minutes remained in the match, and England’s lack of attention and composure resulted in several minor tactical blunders that set up Spain’s goal to win the Euro 2024 championship. The score was knotted at one goal.
Here, Telegraph Sport breaks into England’s unlucky run of incidents.
**Error 1: Carelessly relinquishing control**
Throughout the contest, England struggled to hold onto the ball, managing just 35 percent of the possession. Marc Guéhi had no passing choices right before Spain’s game-winning goal, so he took a risky punt downfield that ended in a throw-in and gave Spain the opportunity to attack.
**Error number two: Allowing Spain to flee after becoming unfit**
It’s critical to stop Spain, a technically advanced team, from getting beyond midfield lines. England should have remained solid in the closing minutes, but they were too open. Fabián Ruiz quickly collected a pass in the middle of the pitch, evading four England players and exposing Southgate’s team because neither Cole Palmer nor Phil Foden marked him.
**Error number three: Midfield trapped in a no-man’s land**
Then Ruiz passed vertically forward to Dani Olmo, who turned and moved forward. Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice were positioned too high to stop Olmo’s ball to Mikel Oyarzabal, but too deep to attack him. England’s midfield was now exposed as a result. After Olmo passed, Oyarzabal headed the ball towards Marc Cucurella, the left-back who was moving forward.
**Error 4: Walker is hesitant to shut down Cucurella**
Kyle Walker, who is renowned for his quickness, appeared to be in possession of the ball before Cucurella sent in the game-winning cross. Walker, however, made a costly error of judgement by delaying his attempt to block the cross—possibly due to his concern about Cucurella’s ability to dribble.
**Error five: Guehi gives Oyarzabal an advantage**
Following Cucurella’s pass, Oyarzabal dashed in the direction of the goal. Guéhi was barely in time to react when he realised there was danger. This brief moment of hesitancy gave Oyarzabal a significant advantage, and it was this final error—one of several made in the span of twenty seconds—that finally set up Spain’s winning goal.
