England midfielder Jude Bellingham shouldered the weight of disappointment after their agonizing 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
Speaking to the BBC after the match, Bellingham acknowledged the frustration of falling short again: “It’s really disappointing because at some point we do have to deliver.”
However, the young star remained optimistic, highlighting the importance of taking positives alongside the negatives. “There are experiences and things we can take from this tournament going forward,” he said. “Supposing we look at everything negatively, nothing will ever change. So it’s important we pick the positives and negatives together and find a way to one day get England over the line.”
Bellingham himself was a shining light for England throughout the tournament, contributing two goals and an assist in his seven appearances. He played a key role in England’s equalizer, setting up Cole Palmer after Spain had taken the lead through Nico Williams. However, Mikel Oyarzabal’s late strike sealed victory for Spain, securing their fourth European title.
This defeat marks England’s second consecutive Euros final loss, having also fallen short against Italy in 2020. The Three Lions will now turn their attention to their upcoming Nations League fixture against Ireland on September 7th. Before then, Bellingham will return to his club side Real Madrid to prepare for the new season.
England may have fallen short again, but with young talents like Jude Bellingham leading the charge, their quest for Euros glory might just be a matter of time.