“You’ll be home in no time” - Paul Merson explains why England have ‘no chance’ at 2026 FIFA World Cup after Euro 2024 assessment
Former England international Paul Merson has criticized the Three Lions’ performance in the Euro 2024 final, saying that they have “no chance” at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Spain beat England 2-1 in the final in Berlin on Sunday, July 14, to clinch a record fourth European Championship title.
Coach Gareth Southgate faced a lot of criticism throughout the tournament for his side’s passive style of play and for not getting the best out of their stars.
Merson underlined the Three Lions' inability to keep the ball in the final against Spain as their primary cause for concern. Speaking on Jeff Stelling’s podcast Football’s Greatest, the former Arsenal player said:
“I tell you what, we’ve got no chance in the next one [at the 2026 World Cup]. This is the reason, we can’t keep the ball for toffee. How many times did we keep the ball the other night [vs Spain]?”
He added:
“All we kept doing was kicking it long and they kept losing it. If we kept the ball for five passes and it was a goal every five passes, we still wouldn’t have scored. You’ve got to remember we’re going to America now. It’s going to be 90-odd degrees [there]. It’ll be absolutely baking. If you can’t keep the ball and play at a lesser pace, you’ll be home in no time.”
England are currently looking to appoint their next coach following Southgate’s decision to step down from his role on Tuesday, two days after the defeat in the Euro 2024 final. Mauricio Pochettino, Jurgen Klopp, Eddie Howe and Graham Potter are rumored to be among the candidates being considered.
Paul Merson slams England’s route one tactics in Euro 2024 final loss to Spain
Paul Merson also criticized England for not playing out from the back in their loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. The former Arsenal forward said that the Three Lions did not make proper use of ball-playing defenders like John Stones to help move the team up the pitch and create chances.
“How many times did we lump the ball [up the pitch] in the final? Come on, Pickford’s better than that. We’re playing with one of the best ball-playing centre halves in the world of football in John Stones,” Merson said.
He added:
“I haven’t seen a struggling Premier League team do it that many times in the last 10 years. I watch a lot of football, every Saturday. I watch relegation teams, sides that are struggling like a Burnley even they didn’t kick the ball upfield like we did. It was mind-blowing.”
This was England’s second consecutive defeat in a European Championship final, following the penalty-shootout loss to Italy in 2021 at Wembley.