Thousands of fans packed out pubs and bars in Southampton on Sunday evening as England lost a second consecutive men’s European Championship final.

The Three Lions succumbed to a disappointing defeat to La Roja on Sunday night, after Mikel Oyarzabal’s late winner.

Three years after an agonising defeat to Italy on penalties, bars and pubs across the city were packed to the rafters for the game, with fans out in numbers ready to celebrate a positive result.

It means the wait for a trophy goes on for England, 58 years since their men’s senior team won the World Cup in Wembley.

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However, England’s run to the final has allowed the city’s watering holes to cash in.

Jason Watling-McCarthy, owner of the Painted Wagon in the city centre, said: “The atmosphere here tonight is absolutely brilliant.

“The fans could not be more supportive of their team.

“The atmosphere throughout the Euros at the Wagon has been absolutely incredible. I’ve had goosebumps through the tournament.

“We have had some of the greatest nights the pub has ever seen.”

Jason added that he had to stop taking bookings for Sunday’s final because they were inundated.

“Southampton has come alive and the whole country has come alive,” Jason added.

Speaking about the result, he said: “I’m absolutely gutted as is everyone inside the pub tonight. I couldn’t be more proud of the team.

“I’m gutted, but Spain are a great side.”

(Image: NQ)

England started the game nervously, with Spain having most of the possession in the first half, albeit failing to create a clear-cut chance.

It didn’t take long after the break for Spain to take the lead, and fans gathered around the city centre to start realising their worst nightmare, after Nico Williams put the Spaniards ahead.

England were offered a glimmer of hope when Cole Palmer’s stunning strike on the edge of the box levelled the scores.

But Oyarzabal broke English hearts with less than five minutes to go.

Fans at the Painted Wagon kicked every ball with Southgate’s men, cheering defensive interventions from John Stones, applauding saves from Jordan Pickford and cheering when Ollie Watkins came on from the substitutes bench.

Rob James, who works as a highways engineer for Southampton City Council, said before the match: “The England squad faced so many critics over the last couple of weeks, but here we are in the final and not for the first time under Southgate.

“Everyone has questioned every formation and decision that Southgate has made. Win, lose or draw, I want Southgate to take us to the next international tournament as well.

“For me when [Kobbie] Mainoo came into the lineup, I think everything changed for England. Everyone else is a stonewall in the team and he is a real wildcard.”