EXCLUSIVEWhere 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

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In the aftermath of England’s Euro 2024 final loss to Spain there were tears and tantrums - but eventually an air of acceptance.

England’s players believed this was their moment. Their tumultuous route to the final - a stoppage-time overhead-kick equaliser, an extra-time winner, penalty shootout 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.

But the reality of international football bit in devastating fashion on Sunday at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, as Spain passed their way to the title. Death by a thousand cuts.

Very quickly there was a realisation that England had been beaten by a superior team. It doesn’t make the loss easier to swallow but it has reminded the players that a sense of ‘fate’ counts for nothing. Belief is one thing; executing is another.

The players will admit their performances were underwhelming, but two finals and a semi-final in four major tournaments is some achievement. If this was Gareth Southgate’s last game as head coach he will leave with his head held high, though his detractors will point out that England fell at the first sight of an elite nation.

Harry Kane (left) and Jude Bellingham (right) cut despondent figures after Sunday's final

England believed it was their moment, but they were ultimately beaten by a better Spain

England are respected, if not feared, again after decades in the doldrums and in time, Southgate will be viewed as one of the national team’s most successful managers. But that will be scant consolation now as the 53-year-old considers his next steps.

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It has been a seven-week journey full of highs and lows.

Southgate rolls the dice

Southgate made some big calls. First, he opted to pick a 33-man provisional squad, which meant he would have to cut seven players for his final group. Then came May 21, when he announced the 33 and there was no Jordan Henderson or Raheem Sterling.

On paper it was a wise decision. Neither had pulled up any trees last season with younger players more deserving of their spots. But there are intangibles such as tournament experience and Henderson and Sterling both have that.

The omission of Harry Maguire, too, smacked of unnecessary disruption, not because of his ability on the field but because of his leadership off it. Maguire believed he could prove his fitness following a calf injury but Southgate decided it wasn’t a gamble worth taking, much to Maguire’s private frustration.

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

James Maddison (right) and Jack Grealish (left) were the big-name omissions from Southgate

The decision to axe Grealish is understood to have particularly unsettled the squad

When Southgate named his final 26 a week before the tournament, his decision to axe Jack Grealish unsettled the squad. The City forward is popular and England’s senior players see Grealish for what he is: a footballer capable of magical moments. He is a Champions League winner and a three-time Premier League champion. That’s some pedigree to leave behind.

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Grealish took the news emotionally. Players went to his room to console him and convey their shock. Sources suggest captain Harry Kane even raised their concerns with Southgate.

Keeping calm behind the scenes 

Southgate called a meeting at Tottenham’s training centre on June 6, after his axed players had departed, calling on his squad to compartmentalise those emotional farewells and focus on the job. The England boss has never shied away from making tough decisions, though he has always been conscious of the risk of unsettling the collective. He is also approachable and amiable.

Southgate’s No 2 Steve Holland, according to insiders, doesn’t have the same warmth. Holland’s way with the players has been under the spotlight since Ben White left England’s 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar due to their strained relationship. A well-seasoned coach, Holland has been central to Southgate’s reign, but that isn’t to say his hardline demeanour doesn’t irk players.

Southgate and his No 2 Steve Holland (right) had a good cop, bad cop routine going on

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

Holland’s way with the players has been under the spotlight since Ben White left England’s World Cup campaign in Qatar

Nevertheless, it is a good cop, bad cop routine that has served England well. Football is about sacrifice and Holland preaches those principles. He deserves his dues for his role in England’s re-emergence on the world stage.

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But as Southgate said ahead of the semi-finals: ‘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 concerns dissipated thanks to the euphoric manner of England’s victories.

We should also not underestimate the role of Southgate’s support staff in breeding a sense of togetherness. Ben Stokes, Ed Sheeran and Ian Poulter were all allowed into camp to boost morale. Conor Coady, a popular former member of the squad, also made a surprise appearance. Beers after England’s wins over Slovakia and Switzerland gave players a chance to let their hair down, though some indulged more than others.

Darts, golf, basketball, chess and Connect Four were among the activities on hand to tackle boredom but also provide players with a chance to build relationships.

Padel has taken the camp by storm, too, particularly with Southgate’s backroom team. The England boss and his partner, kit man Pat Frost, reached the final of the in-house tournament where they faced chief executive Mark Bullingham and technical director John McDermott. The ongoing game of ‘Wolf’, which has been a feature of England camps under Southgate, also went down a storm — Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold were engrossed.

Music icon Ed Sheeran was given access to camp over the past seven weeks to help moral

Sheeran performed at England's camp in a special show for the players and backroom staff

Darts, golf and basketball have been among the activities on hand to tackle boredom

An ominous portent in London 

England’s 1-0 loss to Iceland at Wembley in their final warm-up game was 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 close to the team has told Mail Sport the issues that characterised England’s performances in Germany were first exposed in that match.

‘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 doubt Southgate was dealt a difficult hand in terms of his players’ physical conditioning. ‘They are either undercooked or overcooked. Knackered or missing sharpness due to a lack of game time,’ added the source.

The best example is Luke Shaw. His unavailability until the semi-finals due to a hamstring injury was the team’s most crucial loss due to the balance he offers. Kieran Trippier worked admirably to fill in but the implications of a right-footer playing on the left are far-reaching.

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

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

Fatigue set in; the players openly discussed it among themselves.The tempo of Premier League football, coupled with the number of games, has taken a toll. Kane, Bellingham, Phil Foden, Conor Gallagher, Declan Rice and Kyle Walker have all played at least 60 matches since the start of last season. That’s burn-out territory.

Kane’s fitness was an issue after he suffered a lower back injury last season. England staff have had to manage it. The narrative from the camp was that Kane’s contribution were more than goals and his leadership qualities are key too. But justifying Kane’s selection, when it was clear he was short of his best, became an issue. He was substituted in five of England’s seven games.

England staff tried to reduce the impact of the players’ gruelling schedule. The luxurious Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort was chosen due to its relaxation facilities. The sauna and steam rooms were regularly used, Bukayo Saka often in the spa.

England’s staff installed a cryochamber in the hotel grounds, hired yoga expert Rebekah Jade and breathing coach Stuart Sandeman. But some players were dead on their feet. That said, Southgate’s reluctance to rotate — he only made five changes to his starting XI in seven matches — would suggest he didn’t share that view.

FA's decision to choose the Weimarer resort as their base was due to its relaxation facilities

The spa at the camp was regularly frequented by players, including Arsenal's Bukayo Saka

England also recruited yoga expert Rebekah Jade and breathing coach Stuart Sandeman

Star of the show?  

You wonder what England could have achieved had they been more expansive. Southgate and Holland had a conservative plan that didn’t play to the strengths of the team’s attacking core and there was a sense of that within some of the squad.

Midfielders and defenders were instructed not to risk losing the ball, which led to ex-Netherlands forward and TV pundit Rafael van der Vaart making a scathing attack on Rice. ‘Rice, £100million? What does he do? He comes to collect the ball only to pass it back to John Stones,’ he said on Sunday. ‘If you are worth £100m you should be able to play the ball forwards.’

Rice was reluctant to play forward passes because, according to sources, he was carrying out instructions. He showed his class as a No 8 for Arsenal last season, driving into the opposition’s half or pinging balls into forwards. But he seemed stifled here as Southgate and Holland opted for stability rather than adventure.

Declan Rice seemed restricted in the role he was asked to play for England under Southgate 

The refusal not to play Trent Alexander-Arnold in his regular right-back role has also confused

Southgate’s refusal to play Alexander-Arnold at right back also led to confusion. His doubts over the Liverpool man’s defending are clear but some players felt he should have been tried there given his ability to unlock teams when playing as a full back.

The uncertainty around Rice’s midfield partner hasn’t helped. Alexander-Arnold started twice. Gallagher’s audition lasted 45 minutes before Kobbie Mainoo started all four knockout games.

Experimenting at tournaments is hardly ideal, and the players feared their midfield quandary would restrict them. Alexander-Arnold is a beautiful footballer but isn’t an England midfielder. Gallagher is high-energy but isn’t the dictator of play Southgate has craved. Mainoo may be the long-term answer but he is 19.

The logical answer would have been to move Bellingham next to Rice, freeing up Foden to play at No 10, but sources say Southgate was reluctant to explore that option. Bellingham’s defensive work when playing in an advanced role has also provided food for thought behind the scenes.

The Madrid star’s influence has grown. His induction into the leadership group of Walker, Kane and Rice was a significant move.But 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.

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, to be with his family

Bellingham’s growth will serve England well, yet there is a view that without guidance he could become overpowering.

He cut a despondent figure on Sunday night, appearing even to turn his frustration to Southgate in the second half. At full time he stormed off 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 with tears in their eyes.

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England star Jude Bellingham is mobbed by fans at an Italian restaurant

Bellingham kicked a drinks bucket. 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 left the team’s base to visit Erfurt, the town a 40-minute drive away, with his mother and father on a day off. Other players were in Erfurt that day but didn’t create the frenzy generated by Bellingham, who sat in full view at the La Piazzetta restaurant in the main square.

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

Bellingham slumped to the floor before picking himself up to acknowledge his team-mates

The England star kicked a drinks bucket en route to the dugout after Euro 2024 final defeat

There can be no doubting the importance of the Madrid man to England, but it cannot become the Jude Bellingham show.

Stoking a seige mentality

Having started the tournament with a 4-2-3-1 system, Southgate hatched a plan to play three at the back for the quarter-final against Switzerland, who used a similar formation. It made sense to mirror the Swiss, especially amid concerns about England’s difficulties in pressing sides who played with three centre backs.

Mail Sport were among the outlets to break the story of the tactical switch on July 7 and Southgate hit the roof, showing his annoyance internally and externally. England were much improved when playing 3-4-2-1 and their semi-final performance against the Netherlands, their best of the tournament, was also built on using three centre backs.

England's performance against the Netherlands was their best of the tournament

England deployed a 3-4-2-1 system the Netherlands and were much improved as a result

Perhaps, Southgate’s angst at our story was amid a growing frustration at the coverage England were receiving.

Word of Gary Lineker’s ‘s***’ jibe spread like wildfire. Players say they don’t listen to ‘noise’ but this lot did. They thought it was unfair. Indirectly, the ‘haters’ — a word used by some players — helped fuel their progress. A siege mentality was fostered.

With or without Southgate, this group should emerge stronger from this rollercoaster seven weeks. Bonds have been formed: Palmer and Mainoo, Gallagher and Marc Guehi, Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold and Rice and Ivan Toney have grown closer. They have got to know each other and have met each other’s children and partners.

They have also gossiped about transfers. Insiders insist that didn’t result in a lack of focus, but you do wonder. Anthony Gordon’s preparation for the last-16 clash with Slovakia, for instance, was dominated not only by him falling off a bike but also the collapse of what would have been a dream move to Liverpool. Gordon did not play a minute thereafter.

Gary Lineker’s (pictured) now infamous ’s***’ jibe spread like wildfire in the England camp

While Euro 2024 doesn’t represent a disaster, it does symbolise a missed opportunity

Other players have contacted team-mates from rival nations at Euro 2024 to get the lowdown on potential transfer targets. Soon, the heartache of England’s latest exit will subside and club football will resume dominance.

Although Euro 2024 doesn’t represent the disaster that for so long it looked like it might, it is a missed opportunity.

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