Alan Shearer says England showed Spain ‘too much respect’ in Euro final
Alan Shearer felt England had shown Spain “too much respect” as Mikel Oyarzabal’s late winner secured a Euro 2024 triumph in Berlin.
Cole Palmer came off the bench to cancel out Nico Williams’ second-half opener, but Oyarzabal struck in the 86th minute and England could not find an equaliser despite late chances for Declan Rice and Marc Guehi.
Speaking on the BBC, former England captain Shearer said: “I felt we just stood off them, showed them too much respect. We didn’t have enough energy.
“But having said that, it is really difficult when you go up against good players who are good under pressure and punish you when you make mistakes, that is exactly what happened.
“(Spain) were the better team. Seven out of seven (wins), the best team in the tournament by a mile.”
Rio Ferdinand also praised Spain but regretted that, not for the first time, England had needed to go behind to Williams’ strike just a couple of minutes into the second half before finding a response.
“We played with a low block and never really threatened from a low block with any runners or directness playing forward with pace until we went behind,” he said.
“When the game was in the balance, we were always a team held back on a leash. That is the disappointing thing with the quality players we have in this squad.
“Until we go a goal down, wake up and go on the front, start pressing high, we make teams look nervy, but it seems we have to wait until we go a goal behind to be able to do that.”
Chris Sutton, capped once by England, said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “I don’t think anyone could argue that Spain didn’t deserve it.
“They were the dominant team, they have been the outstanding team in the tournament. It’s Spain’s deserved title.”
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