Voting has closed for SJA members to decide the winners of three major categories at the British Sports Awards 2024; winners will be announced live on Sky Sports News on Wednesday 20 November; Stuart Broad, Mary Earps and Manchester City’s men’s team claimed the 2023 honours; who will take the top prizes this year?
By Mitchell Hall
The England men’s football team didn’t bring home any silverware at this year’s Euro 2024 tournament, but they no less united and inspired the nation again.
The squad provided many of the country’s most memorable moments of the year, moments that caused masses in every corner of the country to jump up and rejoice together.
The team reached a consecutive final following the 2021 final loss to Italy, demonstrating a level of consistency at the highest level.
English football poster boy Jude Bellingham’s last-gasp overhead kick against Slovakia sent pubs and gardens into rapture, and will be the moment that many fans will wistfully recall in years to come.
Other moments such as Ollie Watkins’ decisive semi-final finish against the Netherlands and Cole Palmer’s equaliser in the final against Spain also provided powerful and defining moments in the sporting year.
Despite widespread criticism from home, England were efficient in the group stage, conceding just one goal and topping a deceptively competitive group in Germany.
The Three Lions’ round-of-16 match would mark their low point in terms of performance, right up until Bellingham’s brilliance ignited belief in fans and players alike.
Gareth Southgate’s side had to dig deep to squeeze past surprise package Switzerland in the quarter-finals before stepping up their performance levels to wipe out the Dutch in the semi-finals.
Despite Xavi Simons’ early goal scare, this was a changed England side, a side who had the depth, determination and quality to produce late magic against the toughest opponents.
The defeat to Spain in the final was crushing, but such a tight game against the best that the football world has to offer demonstrates the leaps that England made under Southgate.
More than its individual parts, the tournament represented a lasting goodbye to Southgate, who leaves as the most successful England manager since Sir Alf Ramsey.
No side inspired the nation’s passion more than the England men’s football team this year as they proved they don’t just stumble into major finals, they truly belong on the biggest stage.
Sports journalist Mitchell Hall is a member of the SJA Academy – find out more about membership here.
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