Walking into England dressing room after Euros final defeat was so hard – but we CAN win World Cup, says Prince William
PRINCE William revealed one of his toughest tasks as FA President was consoling England’s crushed players shortly after the gut-wrenching defeat in the final of Euro 2024.
The royal joined the deflated stars following the shattering 2-1 loss to Spain in Berlin and admitted: “That was the hardest changing room atmosphere I’ve ever had to walk into.
“They were really down. They realised they’d given it their all and they’d been on such a journey.
“It felt like the culmination should have been a successful victory for them.”
However, footie-mad Wills is still quietly hopeful for the future and feels the Three Lions will be “as close as we’ve ever been” to winning a World Cup in two years.
The Prince had taken on the FA presidency 18 years before the shattering defeat against Spain which he shared with son Prince George, then ten, who sat by his side.
He famously marked his appointment by turning up at England training and asking beanpole striker Peter Crouch to perform his robot goal celebration for him.
The foundations are very strong, and we’ve got good leadership with Thomas having arrived.
Prince William
England sadly failed to get past the quarter-finals that summer and, ever since, William has been as frustrated as any other England supporter at their continuing inability to lift a trophy.
His hopes had been high in the Euro 2020 decider at Wembley, but Italy won that on penalties.
“Do you know, I thought it was our time at the first final,” he said.
That result made last year’s further disappointment doubly difficult to take, he said — as was evident from the images of him and George collapsing back into their seats, hands over their faces, as Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal bagged the late winner and shattered English dreams.
William said: “To go and see it again and be so close when the guys had really given it their all was very difficult.”
After the whistle blew at the Olympic Stadium, the future king consoled the stars including captain Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham as well as long-term manager Gareth Southgate.
Like Southgate, he too stepped down after that final, but he has since taken on the role of FA patron instead of president and is as big an England fan as ever.
The appointment of the German Thomas Tuchel as manager attracted criticism from those who felt the job should have gone to an Englishman.
And William himself was involved in the development of the FA’s national training centre at St George’s Park, which was supposed to provide a pathway for English coaches.
In fact, he opened the facility, which is just outside Burton-on-Trent, Staffs, back in 2012.
He well understands that concern about an English coach being denied the top job this time round but is enthusiastic about what former Chelsea boss Tuchel can bring to the table.
And he is optimistic that England have a real chance of getting their hands on the 2026 World Cup.
He said: “I’m still linked to the FA but as a patron rather than president now. However, I loved my time as president.
“I learned an awful lot about the football world and the England set-up. I was trying to do my bit to work out how to bring the best minds in so that England could win a World Cup.
“We’re now as close as we’ve ever been, I really do feel that. The foundations are very strong, and we’ve got good leadership with Thomas having arrived. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us.”
He went on: “The FA is in quite a stable place which it hasn’t always been in the past when I was involved when I was younger.
“It’s all coming together nicely. We just need the results on the pitch to go our way. We are going to see how Thomas sets up and who he picks.
“He’s only got two years so it’s a short turnaround but I am quietly confident we are in a good position.”
‘Right person for job’
Tuchel is due to announce his first England squad today. William was informed about the decision to hire him before it became public knowledge and he has had no reason to doubt it was the right move.
The dad of three went on: “Having met him, I’m definitely happy about that decision.
“I think he will bring serious detail and experience and wisdom to the role. Gareth Southgate was an incredible manager who did brilliantly and really laid the foundations for success.
“He was very unlucky that he just didn’t quite manage to get us over the line. He gave it his all.
“Of course I was sad to see him leave. He’s a lovely guy who did an incredible job.
“He was the manager for nearly nine years, which is a long time.
“But, as regards finding his successor, I’m excited by what Thomas might bring.
“I think he is exactly the right person for the job.”
WILLING ENGLAND ON
PRINCE William’s tenure as FA President has been marked by a huge upturn in form.
May 2006: He takes over from uncle Prince Andrew.
June 2006: He cheers on England and meets fans at the World Cup in Germany.
2010: He and Prince Harry visit the England camp in South Africa.
2012-2014: The future King stays home for the disappointing Euro 2012 and the dismal 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
2016: Wills says the FA’s governance structure needs reform, at a lunch commemorating his ten-year anniversary as president.
2018: The Prince does not attend the World Cup in Russia but he tweeted after the 2-0 win over Sweden in the quarter finals: “You wanted to make history England and you are doing just that.”
2021: The president continues his hands-on approach to the Three Lions during the Covid-delayed Euro 2020.
He gave a dressing room speech after England’s final defeat to Italy, which he watched alongside wife Kate and son George at Wembley.
2022: Wills and Kate cheer the Lionesses on to England’s first trophy since 1966 at the Euro 2022 final at Wembley.
2024: He roars England to victory over Switzerland at Euro 2024 — months after the double cancer diagnosis shock of Kate and dad Charles. He steps down after loss in final.