City Watch: Toby Camplin

It’s been very difficult knowing where and how to start the column for this week's edition.

As a City fan, over the past few seasons especially, but generally during Pep Guardiola’s tenure, we as fans have experienced some incredible memories and fantastic achievements. I’ve watched the blues win everything there is to win, so, having the opportunity to witness England compete in a second successive Euros final and potentially become victorious for the first time since 1966 felt like my football supporting journey would come full circle.

Words cannot describe my emotions towards Sunday's final, but let’s start with Wednesday's game first. After an impressive performance and a last minute winner against the Netherlands in the semi final last week, a second successive final for the first time in England’s history loomed. It was also the first time the Three Lions had reached a major final on foreign soil. We went into the game against heavy favourites, Spain. 

Despite the Spanish being heavy favourites, I genuinely believe that in tournament football, the best team doesn’t always win, it’s about who peaks at the right time and who can grind out a result. 

After a passive first half in Berlin where Spain’s attack was easily neutralised, an early second half goal caused by sloppy defending by Kyle Walker saw the Three Lions go 1-0 down. Hope was rekindled, however, when ex-City and now Chelsea star, Cole Palmer, came on and within minutes equalised with a stunning finish. Unfortunately, more lacklustre defending saw Spain take a late 2-1 lead and win the competition.

England fans were given some sense of hope at half time, when Manchester City defensive midfielder and later pronounced player of the tournament, Rodri, was taken off due to injury. Now the final is over, all I can hope is that the Spaniard’s problem isn’t too serious and won't affect the start of next season.

As this is a Manchester City based column, I’d like to try and relate England’s journey to the Blues as much as possible. Understandably, we as England fans are gutted about the result, with some pointing the finger at Southgate and his tactics. What I would say is that in tournament football, it’s not all about being the best team and playing the best football. We’ve watched City get frustrated for years in the Champions League, getting knocked out over and over again despite being the favourites. 

When City did take it all the way in 2023 and won the prestigious competition, in the final, I’d argue that we didn’t deserve to win. However, I feel like it was written in the stars for us that year. Although Southgate has been criticised for his tactics and approach, he’s given us as football fans some incredible memories and it just wasn’t our day.

I’ve mentioned before here that I’m only 23, but even I know that the standard before Gareth was nowhere near what it is now. Before he came in, when where England ever reaching two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi final in the space of 8 years?

Although watching City win trophies consistently is absolutely incredible, what I value most is the experiences and memories I gain from these games as well as the incredible fans I meet. I feel as an England fan, Southgate has united the country and made us all love our national team again. Now we know he will be stepping down, I’d like to thank him for the memories and wish him the best. Commiserations to Kyle Walker, John Stones and Phil Foden who gave their heart and soul for their country. Congratulations to Spain and Rodri, who by the way, in my opinion, can’t do much more to win the Ballon D’Or at this point!

Also, although I haven’t covered the Copa America over the summer, Julian Alvarez reached the final of the competition with the team beating Colombia 1-0 after extra time on Sunday. At only 24, the Argentine has won everything there is to win in England as well as the World Cup with his country and has now added the Copa America trophy to his vast collection of accolades.

We’re now only a month away from the season beginning again, the Community Shield against our rivals, Manchester United on 10th August being our first game. Now the national team competitions have concluded, I’ll have the chance to cover City’s pre-season tour across America and any transfers that happen over the next month.