Jamie Carragher fires brutal X-rated put-down to fan as he defends Gareth Southgate after England's Euro 2024 final heartbreak - and doubles down on his claim that 'big players didn't turn up' in Berlin

Jamie Carragher fired a savage put-down to a fan on social media as he defended Gareth Southgate in the wake of England's heartbreaking Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain on Sunday.

The Three Lions fell short of European Championship glory after Spain's second-half substitute Mikel Oyarzabal netted an 86th-minute winner to hand England a devastating 2-1 defeat in Berlin. 

Cole Palmer inspired hope in the 73rd minute by cancelling out Nico Williams' opening goal with a superb strike from outside the box, but it did not prove enough to force extra time.

Several questions have been raised over Southgate's future as England boss, with BBC host and pundit Gary Lineker calling for the FA to move on from the manager after the tournament.

But Carragher has leapt to the defence of Southgate, claiming that England's heartbreak came as a result of 'big players not turning up' in the final.

'Sven played 442, Fabio was too strict, Gareth is too defensive! Funny how it’s always on the manager isn’t it?!! The fact is our big players didn’t turn up in this tournament. And other tournaments going back years,' Carragher posted on X after the game.

His post triggered droves of supporters to reply with their opinions, with one fan sharing: 'Luis de la Fuente (Spain's manager) has a much worse squad but lets his team ball every single game while Southgate can hardly make his team look enjoyable for more than 5 minutes.'

Carragher responded: 'International football is not littered with top managers, it’s about the players. Ours froze in that first half, allowing the keeper to go long & not demanding the ball & showing for it.' 

Firing back, the fan replied: 'Watching the Copa America final Jamie? Another team with a squad 20x worse than England while playing 20x better football. But surely it's not Southgate's fault.'

The ex-Liverpool star then took a brutal swipe at the fan, posting: 'Shut up you t**, & stop asking me to get other footballers to follow you!'

A dejected Southgate conceded that Spain were the best team in the tournament but he refused to confirm whether he'll stay on as the Three Lions boss after Sunday's loss.

'I think they were the best team in the tournament,' he told the BBC. 'We didn’t keep the ball well enough but we were in it until the last. I am devastated for everyone, players have been incredible, I am so proud.

'We had a little bit of momentum. Big chance at the end to equalise as well but I’m not sure we did quite enough.

'Against Spain you have to keep the ball when you win it back. We were fine defensively in the first half but that takes it out your legs.

'There's no hiding from we have had a lot of issues. We have managed to deal with most of them but we have fallen short.' 

Carragher added in another post: 'I have no relationship at all with Southgate. I feel he has been cautious from the bench throughout his time but in this tournament the substitutes have been great. 

'There is this idea though that he is holding back an amazing team. Is it any better than 1996/1998/2004??'

Sunday's final defeat could be the last match for Southgate as England boss, though reports indicate that the FA would be keen for him to continue until at least the 2026 World Cup.