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Euro 2024: England can’t blame fatigue for losing final, says Kieran Trippier

Euro 2024: England can’t blame fatigue for losing final, says Kieran Trippier

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Video caption, ‘We have to hold our hands up’ – Southgate says Spain were deserved winners

Kieran Trippier says England cannot use fatigue as an excuse for failing to win Euro 2024.

After Sunday’s defeat, England manager Gareth Southgate said some of his players were “not quite at their physical best” during the month-long tournament.

But Newcastle defender Trippier, who started six of England’s seven games, said that was no excuse.

“The team we have is fit,” Trippier added. “If you look at the running stats, I think we are probably the highest in the whole tournament. So that’s no excuse.

“They (Spain) score the second goal and it is always difficult when you have to win the match against a team like Spain.

“Football is all about small margins. It’s one of those games where the boys gave it their all.”

England reached a second successive European Championship final despite failing to win two of their three group games, being booed off the pitch by their fans after draws against Denmark and Slovenia.

They were on the verge of being knocked out in the round of 16 by Slovakia but Jude Bellingham scored an acrobatic equaliser with England needing penalties to beat Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

Trippier, playing for his country in his fourth major tournament, said he was optimistic about England’s future.

Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 19, only made his England debut in March but played a key role in their journey to the final, while defender Marc Guehi, 24, also played in his first major tournament and impressed in the absence of Harry Maguire.

In addition, Cole Palmer, 22, scored in the final after coming off the bench.

“They will have learned a lot from his tournament,” Trippier added of the inexperienced players in Southgate’s ranks.

“The young players have come out for us at important moments. They can learn a lot from this. It will help them grow.”

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