Gary Neville described his fears that England now face a “never-ending story” of near misses after European Championship final heartbreak in successive tournaments.

Pundits on both BBC and ITV hailed Spain as deserved winners but the former right-back was left questioning whether Gareth Southgate will be able to continue as manager after another competition sucker punch.

“It is incredibly tough for players, for England fans, for us because it feels like a never-ending story where we just can’t get over the line,” Neville told ITV’s coverage after Spain’s 2-1 final victory ensured England’s trophy drought will now extend for at least 60 years. Explaining his comments, he later described a sense of “rinse and repeat” of England failing to keep the ball well enough at major championships.

ITV’s Neville, Ian Wright and Roy Keane and the BBC’s Micah Richards all praised Spain’s consistent excellence through the tournament. “I said from the start, I think we have the best squad, but I don’t think we’re the best team,” Richards told Gary Lineker. Asked why by Lineker, Richards then added: “Because we have a manager who’s been successful at being defensive. Getting into a semi-final of a World Cup, two Euros [finals], not being able to push this team forward in the way it deserves. And that’s no slight on Southgate, that’s just his tactics. Now, we have to move forward in the right direction and play the football these players play at club level.”

On ITV, Keane and Wright heaped praise on Southgate, but said England did not deserve to lift the trophy. “Spain were just too good for them in the end,” added Lee Dixon on co-commentary. “For Gareth, if this is to be the end, what a sad way to go out.”

Substitute Cole Palmer’s superb equaliser had breathed new life into Southgate’s side after Nico Williams shook what had looked sturdy foundations 69 seconds into the second half.

But England could not wrest control from mightily impressive Spain, with Mikel Oyarzabal sliding home what proved the decisive blow four minutes from time.

Neville said “the most impressive thing about Spain” was the team’s response after Rodri was forced off injured at half-time. “To respond in a way that they get control of the game back and then go and take the winner was absolutely fantastic,” he said. “They were the best team in the tournament. They were the best team tonight.”

Former Scotland striker Ally McCoist, speaking in his role as ITV co-commentator, added: “Seven wins in a row in the tournament tells you all you need to know. Deserved champions. There was nothing in it in the first half at all but for me they were slightly better in the second half and deserved their victory.

“Three classic finishes, I loved every goal we saw, especially the winner from Spain, the move down the left-hand side. England had a good tournament, there’s no doubt about it, but the best team in the tournament won it.”

Rio Ferdinand was left perplexed by how long it took England to kick into gear. “Every fan in this stadium and watching on TV would have been thinking, ‘Why are we waiting until we go a goal down to actually let the shackles off and start going at them?’,” he said on BBC One.

“It wasn’t really until Ollie Watkins came on and started pressing at the front and hurrying the two centre-backs – who had cigars out for most of that first half.

“Then all of a sudden Cole Palmer comes on the pitch and slots one home – but why should we have to wait for that long to really be on the front foot and aggressive when we have such quality players all over the park?”

Lineker, who reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in 1990, said Spain’s positivity was the difference. “It is a heartbreaking defeat for England, but in some ways it is a victory for attacking football,” he said on BBC One.

One-cap England striker Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I don’t think anyone could argue that Spain didn’t deserve it.”

Former England defender Matthew Upson added: “As much as you wanted it to happen [for England], you cannot argue that over tournament and for the lion’s share of this game Spain have shown what a quality team they really are.

“They have got a lovely way of playing.”