Topics: Jamie Carragher, Football, England, Jordan Pickford, Gareth Southgate, Spain, Euro 2024
Jamie Carragher has admitted that he 'could not believe' what one England player was doing throughout the Euro 2024 final against Spain.
The Three Lions suffered a 2-1 defeat in Berlin, with second half goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal enough to end a 12-year trophy drought for the Spain men's team.
England's 58-year wait on the men's side goes on, despite reaching a second consecutive European Championship final.
Gareth Southgate's side had three shots on target against Spain - with one of those being Cole Palmer's 73rd-minute equaliser.
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They also came close when Phil Foden's effort on the stretch was hit straight at goalkeeper Unai Simon.
But England otherwise struggled to cope with the intense pressure that Spain applied, with Rodri, Martin Zubimendi and Fabian Ruiz winning the midfield battle.
The Three Lions often tried to bypass that midfield battle, with Jordan Pickford kicking long to try and find Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane or one of the wide players.
The tactic was often successful as Bellingham or Kane had the better of Spain in the air, coupled with the Everton goalkeeper's excellent distribution, but there were times in which it did not work out and England gave away possession easily.
Writing in his column for The Telegraph, Carragher stated that he 'cannot believe' that Pickford was asked to kick the ball long so often - although noted that other players should have been demanding the ball instead.
He wrote: "As Southgate conceded in his post-match interview, we did not keep the ball well enough against a side which is capable of starving you of possession.
"I cannot believe Jordan Pickford was under orders to keep giving the ball away with wasteful, long kicks upfield.
"We did not have enough players ordering him to stop while demanding the ball.
I've played in enough games where I could see players hiding and refusing to show themselves to take possession, hoping something will come from long, hopeful balls. Southgate is not telling them to do that.
"In those situations, you need the biggest players to show for it and say they will accept the ball in difficult areas. Again, that is all about football courage."
