England's best and worst players in Euro 2024 final

It wasn't to be for England in Sunday's Euro 2024 final, as they were beaten by Spain 2-1 in Berlin.

The Three Lions kept the slick Spaniards at bay for the first 45 minutes, but their usage of the ball simply wasn't of the requisite quality. They then had to play from behind after Nico Williams handed Spain the lead, and England desperately needed another moment to get back into the game.

Once again, though, Gareth Southgate's substitutes paid dividends as Cole Palmer levelled the scoring with a pinpoint finish. Spain, however, swiftly wrestled back control and Mikel Oyarzabal's finish from close range with just minutes remaining proved to be the dagger.

England, for the most part, were excellent without the ball, but they simply didn't do enough to win the final. They failed to seize on the momentum gained from Palmer's equaliser, although Spain did show their class to come again. Luis de la Fuente's side were deserved winners, and they became the first team since France in 1984 to win all their games at a European Championship.

Here were England's best and worst performers in the Euro 2024 final.

England's best player vs Spain

Luke Shaw - 8/10

Southgate made just one change to his starting XI from Wednesday's semi-final, with Shaw coming in for Kieran Trippier for his first start of Euro 2024.

The full-back's assignment was tough against teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, but the recently-turned 17-year-old got no change out of Shaw in the opening 45 minutes. Shaw won the first duel, then the second, then the third. He defended superbly against the spritely wide man early on, offering serenity in possession to help England progress at times, too.

He was the standout first half performer, but Yamal did have more success after the restart (although he did drift into more central areas) - teeing up Nico Williams' opener before having two efforts saved superbly by a certain...

Honourable mention

Jordan Pickford - 8/10

Pickford was a contributor in England's possession woes, with the Everton shot-stopper often booting the ball aimlessly long which allowed Spain to regain the ball with ease.

However, Pickford, despite conceding twice, kept his country in the game. His first half was quiet, merely having to catch a deflected Fabian Ruiz effort.

His best save of the night came after Williams' opener, with Pickford stretching to his right to deny Yamal. The teenager was denied again by England's number one, although that was a save he would've been expected to make. Pickford's shot-stopping couldn't be faulted, and his decision-making was excellent when claiming the high ball.

England's worst player vs Spain

Harry Kane - 4/10

Kane has struggled through Euro 2024, yet he will get a share of the Golden Boot. He just hasn't been sharp, and that was also the case against Spain.

He notched just one touch in the box, but his influence in deeper areas was minimal. The Bayern Munich forward took too long to distribute on occasions, and was booked in the first half for a clumsy challenge.

Withdrawing Kane after 60 minutes, let alone in a final, would've once been regarded as unfathomable, but this England team functioned far better with a channel-runner.

Dishonourable mention

John Stones - 5/10

Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham struggled to have discernible impacts, but both worked tirelessly without the ball and Bellingham did set-up Palmer's equaliser with a clever lay-off.

Stones' night started with a superb bit of defending to deny Williams one-v-one, but England needed more from the Man City defender throughout. We all know how good he is with the ball, but rarely have we seen that brilliance manifest in Germany. Stones did produce an imperious first-half ball carry, but there were otherwise no moments notable quality with the ball.

He seemed rushed at times, and dishevelled when defending the box. This was no disaster performance from Stones, but one that was a considerable distance from his best.

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