Where it all went wrong for England: The behind-the-scenes grumbles at Jude Bellingham’s preferential treatment, dressing room tantrums… and Gareth Southgate’s controversial number two

In the immediate aftermath of England’s heartbreaking Euro 2024 final loss to Spain there were tears, tantrums – but eventually an air of acceptance.

England’s players genuinely believed that this was their moment. Their tumultuous route to the final: an injury time overhead kick equaliser, an extra time winner, penalty shoot-out glory and a last-gasp goal to book their place in the Berlin showpiece had them believing the stars were aligning. Name on the trophy vibes. Fate.

The stark reality of international football came home to roost in devastating fashion on Sunday as Spain passed their way to the European title. Death by a thousand cuts.

Indeed, very quickly after the final whistle and the outpouring of emotion that followed there was a rapid realisation that they were simply beaten by a superior team.

That doesn’t necessarily make the loss easier to swallow, of course. But it has amplified to England’s crestfallen players that any sense of fate counts for nothing.

Belief is one thing. Executing is another. That was the difference here in Germany’s capital.

Indeed, the players would be the first to admit that their tournament performances have been underwhelming.

Yet a third semi-final in four tournaments, in relative terms, is some achievement.

If this was to be Gareth Southgate’s last game in charge, he’ll bow out with his head held high, although his detractors will be quick to point out that England fell at first sight of an elite nation.

Nevertheless, England are respected, if not feared, once again after decades in the international doldrums.

Yet with all that said, the wait for a trophy will extend to 60 years. That, ultimately, is a major disappointment.

Tipped to lift the trophy, they flew home on Monday, having fallen short again. For many, that won’t cut it.

In the fullness of time, Southgate will be viewed as one of England’s most successful managers.

But that will arrive as scant consolation right now as the 53-year-old considers his next steps. It’s been a seven week journey riddled with some big lows. But also some peak highs.

Here, Mail Sport takes you inside England’s Euro 2024 campaign.

Southgate’s big calls 

Southgate, in the face of mounting scrutiny over his position, has made some big calls.

May 21, 2024. No Jordan Henderson or Raheem Sterling in a provisional squad of 33.

On paper it was a wise decision. Neither pulled up any trees with younger players more deserving of their spots.

But there are intangibles to consider here; big tournament experience – Henderson and Sterling have that by the case load.

The eventual omission of Harry Maguire, too, smacked of tempting unnecessary disruption, not necessarily because of his ability on the field but leadership off it.

Maguire believed he could prove his fitness following a calf injury. Southgate decided it wasn’t a gamble worth taking, much to Maguire’s private frustration.

Henderson, Sterling and Maguire are players with gravitas. There was no way for Southgate to predict how his refreshed squad would react without his stalwarts.

He trusted his judgement, their hunger and ability. In the fullness of time his decision to replenish the squad has been rewarded.

New leaders are emerging. Kobbie Mainoo, ‘Uncle’ Marc Guehi and Bukayo Saka have all dragged England forward in tough moments.

This is a new and vibrant England. They are creating everlasting bonds, ones different to what Henderson and Co helped nurture but no less important to the future of the national team.

Indeed, from the very start of camp when they convened at their north-east training base at Rockcliffe Park there is said to have been a noticeable shift in atmosphere.

Not necessarily negative, but not one in keeping with previous camps.

Southgate’s decision to pick 33 players made for an apprehensive feel at first. For some, the delight at being selected was dampened by the threat of being cut. Just ask James Maddison and Jack Grealish.

Indeed, the decision to axe Grealish from his original extended party is understood to have particularly unsettled the squad.

The Manchester City forward is a popular figure – but first and foremost, England’s senior players see Grealish for what he is: a footballer capable of magical moments.

That isn’t a slight on Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen and Cole Palmer, who have all played here in Germany.

But we forget Grealish is a Champions League winner. A three-time Premier League winner. That’s some pedigree to leave behind.

Grealish took the news emotionally. A number of players made their way to the attacker’s room to console him and convey their shock at Southgate’s decision.

Senior players were concerned about Grealish’s omission. Sources suggest that captain Harry Kane even raised some of those concerns with Southgate such was the angst.

Finding the right balance in camp 

Southgate called a team meeting at Tottenham’s training centre on June 6, after all of his axed players had departed, calling on his final squad to compartmentalise those emotional farewells and focus on the job at hand.

The England boss has never shied away from making tough decisions, although the risk of unsettling the collective is a consequence he has always been aware of.

Disaffected footballers, who know they have little of chance of featuring, must be handled with care.

That is among Southgate’s strengths. He’s approachable and amiable.

His No 2 Steve Holland, according to insiders, doesn’t possess the same warmth. Holland’s way the players has been under the spotlight since Ben White left England’s World Cup campaign in Qatar owing to a strain in his relationship with Southgate’s No 2.

A well-seasoned coach and tactician, Holland has been central to Southgate’s reign.

But that isn’t to say his hardline demeanour doesn’t irk certain individuals. Nevertheless, it is a good cop, bad cop routine that has served England well over the years.

Football is about sacrifice and Holland will preach those principles to anyone who will listen and he deserves his dues for the role he has played in England’s re-emergence on the world stage.

Nurturing a feeling of inclusivity during tournaments can make or break campaigns. For a while here in Germany, those close to the squad sensed a lack of harmony.

But as Southgate so poignantly described ahead of the semi-final against Holland: ‘Nothing can bond players quite as much as heading a ball out of the box in the 90th minute.’

And so it proved as those early concerns gradually dissipated thanks to the euphoric manner of England’s victories.

We shouldn’t underestimate either the role Southgate’s support staff have played in breeding a sense of togetherness.

Ben Stokes, Ed Sheeran and Ian Poulter have all been given access to camp over the past seven weeks to help moral.

Conor Coady, a hugely popular former member of Southgate’s squad, also made an unexpected appearance into camp one day.

Beers post-Slovenia and Switzerland provided the players, within reason, a chance to let their hair down – although certain members indulged more than others.

Darts, golf, basketball, chess and Connect Four have been among the activities on hand to tackle boredom but also provide players an opportunity to build relationships.

Padel has taken the camp by storm too; particularly with the backroom team. Southgate, and his doubles partner kit man Pat Frost, reached the final of the in-house padel tournament where they faced chief executive Mark Bullingham and technical director John McDermott.

The ongoing game of ‘Wolf’, which has become a feature of England camps under Southgate, also went down a storm – with Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold, in particular, engrossed.

One of the subtleties of England’s refined penalty approach here in Germany that wasn’t widely noticed during the tense win shoot-out over Switzerland was the edict for one player to be a designated ‘buddy’ for the take as he made his way back to the half-way line after executing the kick.

Kyle Walker met Palmer, Luke Shaw embraced Bellingham, John Stones greeted Saka, Declan Rice hugged Ivan Toney before Alexander-Arnold smashed home the winning penalty to spark unforgettable scenes of jubiliation.

One of the quirks of the methodology was for England to exude an air of calm during the anxious processes of a shoot-out.

But it also underlines the deep-rooted connections that this new set of players are establishing.

Tired bodies and tired minds 

The loss to Iceland at Wembley in the final warm-up game arrived as a wake-up call.

At the time, we were told not to worry; that the team were going through the motions before the real business started.

But someone very close to the England team has told Mail Sport that the issues with performance that have characterised England’s stay here in Germany were first exposed in the loss to Iceland.

‘You could see then the patterns were wrong, the body language was poor,’ said an insider.

‘We tried to gloss over that loss, when we really shouldn’t have.’

There can be no doubting Southgate has been dealt a difficult hand in terms of his players’ physical conditioning.

‘They are either undercooked or over-cooked. Knackered or missing match sharpness due to a lack of game time,’ added the source.

The best example of that is arguably Shaw’s selection. Absent for the majority of the tournament due to a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for approaching six months, his unavailability was the team’s most crucial loss.

The balance he offers was missed. Kieran Trippier has worked admirably in filling Shaw’s shoes but the implications of a right-footed player playing on the left are far-reaching.

Yet Shaw’s absence cannot solely explain England’s stuttering displays, though the issue of player welfare will take you closer to the truth.

Fatigue set in; the players openly discussed it amongst themselves.

The frantic tempo of Premier League football coupled with the sheer number of games has taken its toll.

Phil Foden, Conor Gallagher, Rice and Walker have all played at least 60 matches this season, while Trippier played his 51st game against Holland last Wednesday.

Kane and Bellingham, who play outside the Premier League, have also participated in approaching 60 games. That’s burn-out territory.

Kane’s fitness, specifically, has been an issue of significance. Having suffered a lower back injury towards the end of last season, there was an acknowledgement that the captain would be far from optimum fitness.

It’s an issue that England staff have had to manage. The narrative being pushed from within the camp was that Kane’s contribution extended to more than goals. Players and Southgate have been quick to point out that Kane’s leadership qualities have come to the fore.

But those soundings may offer just a hint that justifying Kane’s continued selection, when it was clear to see that he was short of his brilliant best, became an issue.

The fact Kane was substituted in five of the seven games speaks for itself. Nevertheless, Kane is likely to continue playing a lead role in England’s future with sources insisting he has no plans to step away from international football.

England staff have done all they can to reduce the impact of the players’ energy-zapping schedule.

Part of the reason the FA selected the luxurious Weimarer Golf and Spa resort as their base was due to its relaxation facilities.

The sauna and steam rooms were regularly frequented by players; Saka among those who used the spa religiously.

England installed a temporary cryochamber in the hotel grounds; they also recruited the services of yoga expert Rebekah Jade and breathing coach Stuart Sandeman.

Their nutrition, thanks to hotel head chef Danny Schwabe, was on point. But some of these players are dead on their feet – and they know it.

Yet, Southgate’s apparent reluctance to rotate his team suggests he doesn’t necessarily share the view.

Five changes in seven matches – one of which was enforced due to suspension – hardly representative of a manager overly concerned by weariness.

Unlocking England’s star power 

You can’t help but wonder what England may have achieved here in Germany had they been more expansive.

Southgate and Holland formulated a conservative game plan that didn’t necessarily play to the strengths of the team’s attacking core.

Indeed, there is a sense within sections of the squad that the team’s tentative approach contributed to the general consensus that they were far from their best.

Midfielders and defenders were instructed not to risk the ball. For instance, former Holland attacker Raphael van der Vaart was damning of Declan Rice’s performances during the tournament.

‘Declan Rice for £100m? What does he do? He comes to collect the ball only to pass the ball back to John Stones,’ said the ex-Tottenham man on Sunday night.

‘If you are truly worth £100m then you should be able to play the ball forwards.’

But what Van der Vaart doesn’t realise is if Rice was reluctant to play passes into forward colleagues then it is because, according to sources, he is carrying out instruction.

Rice exhibited his abilities as a burgeoning No 8 for Arsenal last season. Driving forward into the opposition’s half, or wrapping balls into forward players – Rice is well on his way to becoming a complete central midfielder.

But Van der Vaart is right, he has seemed stifled here. But there are well-placed indications that Rice’s approach is of the design of Southgate and Holland, who have opted for stability rather than adventure in midfield. Given England reached the final it’s hard to reproach the strategy.

The refusal not to play Alexander-Arnold in his regular right-back role has also confused. Southgate’s doubts over the Liverpool vice captain’s defending are clear; many would concur with his view.

But the 25-year-old’s ability to unlock teams from full-back, some players feel, should have been allowed greater room to breath, particularly in light of the team’s attacking issues.

There’s been an over reliance on England’s forward quartet of Bellingham, Foden, Saka and Kane to win games on their own.

But Rice and Alexander-Arnold are match-winners, too.

The uncertainty surrounding the identity of Rice’s midfield partner didn’t help during the group stages.

Alexander-Arnold started two games. Gallagher’s audition lasted all of 45 minutes against Slovenia before Mainoo started all four knockout matches.

Experimenting at major tournaments is hardly ideal, particularly in an area as crucial as central midfield.

England muddled through, though the players feared all along that their midfield quandary would restrict their output.

Alexander-Arnold is beautiful footballer but isn’t an international level central midfielder.

Gallagher is a player of high energy, adept at winning the ball high up the field – but isn’t the dictator of play Southgate has craved.

Mainoo maybe the long-term answer to England’s midfield conundrum – but he’s only 19.

The logical answer would have been to move Bellingham next to Rice, in a switch that would have allowed Foden to play at No 10.

But sources have indicated Southgate has been reluctant to explore the option of playing Bellingham in deep central midfield during shape sessions, while the 21-year-old’s defensive output when in an advanced role has also provided food for thought behind the scenes.

It is clear the Real Madrid star’s influence has grown. His induction into a tournament leadership group alongside Walker, Kane and Rice was a significant move by Southgate.

But, by the same token, Bellingham’s apparent refusal to participate in the vast majority of England’s media operations is viewed as preferential treatment by many within the camp – former England captain Wayne Rooney inferred as much earlier in the tournament.

Bellingham’s growth will serve England well in the future, yet there is an alternative view that without the appropriate guidance he could become overpowering.

He cut a despondent figure here on Sunday night. At one stage during the game he even appeared to turn his frustration to Southgate during the second half.

At the full-time whistle, Bellingham stormed off alone to take a seat in the England dugout away from the majority of his team-mates who were consoling each other on the pitch, Saka and Stones among those with tears in their eyes.

He kicked a drinks bucket en route to the dugout. Later he walked back towards the opposite end of the pitch where his disconsolate colleagues were standing.

He slumped to the floor again before picking himself up to acknowledge his team-mates. At first glance, not everyone appeared overly keen on Bellingham’s advances.

Earlier in the tournament Bellingham was mobbed by locals as he took the decision to leave the team’s Weimar base to Erfurt, the quaint town around a 40-minute drive from the team’s base, with his mother and father on a designated day-off.

Other England players were in Erfurt that day, too, but didn’t create the frenzy Bellingham, who sat in full view at the La Piazzetta restaurant in the town’s main square, generated.

It was noted behind the scenes that he was only England player that created such a kerfuffle that day. That he was dressed in a Nike tracksuit on his day off also didn’t go unnoticed by certain folk at rival sportswear firm Adidas, who pay Bellingham millions in an endorsement contract.

There can be no doubting the importance of Bellingham to England’s future. The talent is boundless.

Yet, with all that said – England’s future cannot be allowed to become the Jude Bellingham show.

A missed opportunity in Germany 

Having started the tournament with a 4-2-3-1 system, Southgate hatched a plan to deploy a three-at-the-back system in the days leading up to the quarter-final win over Switzerland, who used a similar formation.

It made sense to match the Swiss up, particularly amid internal concerns about the team’s difficulties in pressing opposing sides who played with three centre-backs.

Mail Sport were among the selected outlets to break the story of the plans of a tactical switch on July 7.

Southgate hit the roof, exhibiting his annoyance internally and externally. The story was accurate, England deployed a 3-4-2-1 system against the Swiss and the team were much improved as a result.

Their performance against the Netherlands, their best of the tournament, was also built on the platform of three central defenders.

Perhaps, Southgate’s angst at our story was the straw that broke the camel’s back amid a growing frustration at the coverage they’d received during the tournament.

Gary Lineker’s now infamous ’s***’ jibe spread like wildfire. Players often say they don’t listen to the ‘noise’. But this lot certainly did.

They thought the coverage was unfairly critical. On balance, they may have a point – a silver medal isn’t to be sniffed at.

Indirectly, the criticism, or the ‘haters’ as some of the players would describe, helped fuel their progress here. A siege mentality was fostered. Us against the world – a shared sense that took them so close to immortality.

Moving forward, with or without Southgate, this group should emerge stronger from what has been a rollercoaster seven weeks.

Bonds have been formed: Palmer and Mainoo, Gallagher and Guehi, Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold and Rice and Toney in particular have grown closer. They’ve got to know each other, meet each other’s children and partners.

They’ve gossiped about transfers, although insiders insist such chatter didn’t result in a lack of focus, although you wonder how much affect the machinations of potential deals has on the mental conditioning of players – particularly in the age of social media when every deal is played out in public.

For example, Anthony Gordon’s preparation for the game against Slovakia were not only dominated by him falling off his bike but also the collapse of what would have been a dream move to Liverpool.

Gordon, despite the clamour for him to play, hasn’t played a single minute since news of his failed move to Anfield emerged.

Other players have even taken to contacting club team-mates from rival nations involved in Euro 2024 to get the lowdown on potential deals.

Indeed, before too long, the heartache of England’s latest tournament exit will subside and club football will resume dominance.

But while Euro 2024 doesn’t represent a disaster, that for so long it looked like it might, it does symbolise a missed opportunity.

England were good enough to win here. They haven’t and they’ll have to live with that.