Gareth Southgate acknowledged it was a "gamble" to bring on substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho to take penalties in the Euro 2020 final.
England suffered a 3-2 defeat to Italy in the shootout, after the match finished 1-1, with Rashford striking the post before Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved from Sancho and Bukayo Saka.
England have won just 22 per cent (two out of nine) of their major tournament shootouts, the lowest ratio of any European nation to have been involved in three or more.
When asked if Rashford and Sancho, both brought off the bench in extra-time a few minutes before the shootout, might have been "cold", Southgate said the decision was one fraught with danger.
"That is the risk you run but they have been the best in the lead in, and to throw all those attacking players on you have to do it late," he told ITV.
"You have got to have balance to the team. You can't just throw on attacking players earlier, or you lose your shape and don't have a foothold in the game.
"It was a gamble but if we gambled earlier in the game, we maybe lose the game in extra time. I chose the guys to take the kicks."
Southgate revealed England's order for the penalty kicks had already been decided in advance of the Wembley final, and said the decision to let Saka take one was his alone.
He added: "It's my decision to give him that penalty so that is totally my responsibility. Not his.
"The same with Marcus or Jadon. We work together, worked through them in training, that was the order that we came to.
"I said afterwards that nobody was on their own in that situation [missing a penalty].
"We decided to make the changes late in the game and we lose together as a team. The players have been tight throughout and that's how it will stay."
Southgate said he was proud of England's overall display in the tournament although felt they were poor in possession in the final.
"In the end we were not quite able to see the game through in normal time and Italy showed the outstanding team they are with 30 plus games unbeaten," he explained.
"Our players have to be proud of themselves. Every one of them has been exceptional. First time we have to a final and we are very disappointed not go on a step further.
"Italy have some outstanding players but we didn't keep the ball well enough in that initial period in the second half. We changed the shape to get more of a grip. It was a lack of composure in possession which turned the game."
England will now switch their focus to next year's World Cup in Qatar, although Southgate needs time to let the wounds heal from this defeat.
"It's hard to reflect at this moment because the disappointment is enormous for all us," he said.
"The players have done us proud. The way the nation have got behind us. I know tonight has burst the balloon. But I hope everyone remembers what this group has given them.
"We have given everyone some fantastic nights and we wanted to give them one more and came close to having done that. It's hard for me to put that into words at the moment.
"At this moment it is hard to look that far ahead. This was a wonderful opportunity and we need let that sink in before thinking about Qatar."
Manchester City captain Steph Houghton signs one-year contract extension
Manchester City captain Steph Houghton has signed a one-year contract extension with the Women’s Super League club.
The 35-year-old has been with City for almost a decade since joining from Arsenal and her new deal will extend her stay until the summer of 2024.
Houghton is City’s all-time record appearance maker, having featured in 233 games across all competitions, and has helped the club win the 2016 Women’s Super League title as well as three FA Cups and four Continental Tyres League Cups.
The England international, who started her career at Sunderland before joining Leeds, expressed her delight at the “easy decision” to sign a new deal.
“I’m over the moon to have another year to look forward to at this amazing club,” Houghton told the club website.
“Manchester City has been my home for almost 10 years, and I love everything about it– it’s my club, and to sign for another year, I’m absolutely buzzing.
“When I first joined, I just wanted to be here as long as I could, and to play at the top level, so I never really put a number on it. Once you get closer to that decade mark though, you do think about the idea of hitting that milestone.
“I feel good in myself and my body, and I’m really enjoying my football, so it was an easy decision for me in all honesty.”
Houghton suffered an Achilles injury in January 2022 which ended her season but she returned to help the team finish fourth this campaign, making 24 appearances.
City head coach Gareth Taylor said: “She is such a huge part of the club as a whole and the impact she has had during her time here so far– whether it be on or off the pitch- is testament to that.
“Steph is such an important member of our squad and her experience is invaluable. She is the consummate professional, with her team mentality at the forefront of everything that she does.
“Her hunger and desire to win and succeed is something that makes her one of the game’s legends, and having the opportunity to work with her for another year is something we’re all thrilled about.”
Ange Postecoglou: Who is he and what can Tottenham fans expect?
Ange Postecoglou appears set to leave Celtic and take over at Tottenham.
Spurs fans appear to be split on the selection with some questioning his pedigree, but that will not faze the single-minded 57-year-old.
So what do Tottenham supporters need to know about their prospective new boss?
– Who is Ange Postecoglou?
The Australian, who emigrated from Greece at the age of four, won two titles as a South Melbourne player, where he worked under Real Madrid great Ferenc Puskas, and won four Australia caps before injury forced him to move into coaching at a young age.
– What success has he achieved?
Postecoglou led South Melbourne to two titles as manager in his early 30s and then spent seven years coaching Australia’s youth teams.
He burst back on to the domestic scene, leading Brisbane Roar from finishing bottom of the A-League to consecutive Grand Final victories in 2011 and 2012, with the help of a record 36-game unbeaten run.
He took charge of Australia at the 2014 World Cup, won the Asian Cup the following year and led his country to 2018 World Cup qualification before taking charge of Yokohama F Marinos, guiding them to their first J-League title in 15 years in 2019.
– And how about in Scotland?
He won five out of six domestic trophies during his two years in charge of Celtic, including a treble in what appears to have been his final campaign.
European football was the missing piece of the jigsaw. However, Celtic generally performed well in the Champions League this past season – against Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk – while squandering chances that should have got them more than two points on their return to the elite stage.
– Does he have the experience for the Premier League?
Postecoglou addressed the fact there was a mixed response to his appointment as Celtic manager and was also unfazed by the fact a deal for Eddie Howe had fallen through.
“You’re assuming I was second choice, I might have been fifth choice, you never know,” he said at his unveiling. “It doesn’t really bother me. What’s important is that I have been given the responsibility and opportunity.”
He also dismissed suggestions he was making a “jump” in standard. “I have coached at a World Cup, I have coached against some of the best teams in the world,” he said.
He will not be concerned by the reaction to his Tottenham appointment given his total focus and belief in his process.
– What style of football does he employ?
Postecoglou has matched success with an attacking style and prides himself on building teams that get people talking and excite the fans.
Celtic scored a post-war club record 114 league goals this past season. His goalkeeper will need to pass the ball out, his centre-backs get on the front foot and are aggressive, while he employs inverted full-backs.
His team played with two attacking central midfielders and two wingers who have to get in front of goal when balls come in from the other flank, while the centre-forward can expect plenty of chances.
His mantra is “we never stop” and even the Celtic ball attendants are in tune with his demand to keep the game moving.
– What kind of manager is he?
Postecoglou has spoken of his love of a challenge and building something special from scratch.
“Just about every job I have had has been an extensive rebuild,” he once said. “Usually you come in when people are needing change. Secondly, the way I get my teams to play is challenging, and requires a major shift, usually both in playing staff and the way we work.”
He exerted control over a number of areas of the football department at Celtic and oversaw a massive rebuild while winning the title against a Rangers side who finished 25 points ahead the previous season and reached a European final in his first Scottish campaign.
He quickly won respect from Celtic players and fostered a culture of togetherness but also takes a step back from them and lets the dressing room run itself on match days. Australia international Ryan McGowan remarked how he sat next to Postecoglou on a long-haul flight in total silence as his manager does not want to be swayed by personal relationships when making decisions.
– What relationship can Tottenham fans expect to have with their manager-in-waiting?
Celtic fans bought into their manager’s style of play, how he represented the club and stood up for it in the media, although he very rarely talked about referee decisions.
He also understood how important the club is to people’s lives and used that as a motivation.
They gave him total backing in return, although success is obviously paramount to that.
Alexis Mac Allister edges closer to Liverpool transfer as agent arrives in UK
Liverpool are closing in on Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.
The 24-year-old’s father, Carlos, who acts as his representative, arrived at the weekend for talks regarding the World Cup winner’s future.
It is understood the Argentina international has a release clause, believed to be between £45million and £55m, in a contract he only signed in October and Liverpool are close to triggering that.
Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi admitted last month he is already resigned to losing a player who was key in securing their first European participation with a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League, just five points behind Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp is looking to rebuild a midfield which misfired this season and Mac Allister has been a long-term target, with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain departing at the end of their contracts.
Liverpool were also interested in Mason Mount, entering the final 12 months of his contract at Chelsea, but Manchester United appear to be the front-runners and Klopp does not want to get into a protracted – and often expensive – process so has moved on to other players.
The Reds have been linked with Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch, Nice’s Khephren Thuram and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Manu Kone and will be looking to get their business done early in time for the start of pre-season on July 8.
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