Fans spotted something cold about one English star who could have played his final game yesterday
England fans speculate that one veteran player may have played his last game for his country following their Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
The Three Lions experienced more final heartbreak on Sunday in Berlin, losing 2-1 to goals from Nico Williams and substitute Mikel Oyarzabal. This defeat comes three years after their penalty shootout loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final. Despite Cole Palmer’s 74th-minute equaliser, it wasn’t enough to spark another England comeback.
In the coming days, there will likely be in-depth analysis of what went wrong, including scrutiny on manager Gareth Southgate’s position after nearly eight years in charge. The 53-year-old and the FA will need to decide if he should continue leading the team into the 2026 World Cup or if a new manager should take over.
While questions about individual players may not be as pressing, given that many of England’s squad are either at the start of their careers or in their prime, fans are focusing on the reaction of one of their senior players. Right-back Kyle Walker appeared to be in tears at full-time, hiding his face in his shirt. The Manchester City defender, who will be 36 when the 2026 World Cup arrives and whose contract with City expires that same summer, was also seen staring into the distance after the match, with a member of the coaching staff attempting to console him.
Many fans interpreted Walker’s reaction as a sign that Euro 2024 might have been his final opportunity to win a trophy with England. One fan commented, “Kyle Walker is 100 per cent retiring from international duty in the coming months.” Another said, “Definitely see Kane and Walker retiring from international football.” A third fan declared, “Kyle Walker retires from international football for me.” A fourth agreed, “Fairly certain Gareth Southgate will announce his leaving and Kyle Walker will retire now too.”
However, Walker’s emotional reaction may simply be due to the intense feelings surrounding the match, especially given his pre-match comments. Speaking to talkSPORT’s Faye Carruthers, Walker expressed his deep desire to win a trophy with England, stating, “Not all the trophies that I’ve won for Manchester City – I’d like to keep one of each – but every other one I’d quite happily swap for this one. Without a question. I’d give it you now.”
As the dust settles on another painful defeat, the future of both Gareth Southgate and Kyle Walker with the England national team remains uncertain, with fans and pundits alike waiting to see what decisions will be made in the wake of their Euro 2024 journey.
