Spain 2-1 England
Spain are European champions for the fourth time after beating a brave England, thanks to a late goal from substitute Mikel Oyarzabal.
In a much anticipated Euro 2024 final, after a goalless first half, Nico Williams struck early in the second half and Spain threatened to run away, but a brilliant finish from Cole Palmer levelled the scores, before Oyarzabal won the day with a late strike.
Highlights of the game
In a game of such magnitude both teams’ first objective was to stay in the match; and that was about it in a cagey first 45. It took until the final minute of the half before either team had a shot on target, Phil Foden stretching to meet a cross from Declan Rice. The Manchester City man did well to get his effort on target but it was straight at Unai Simon.
Just 17 years of age, Lamine Yamal has grabbed more than his fair share of Euro 2024 highlights but the boy from Barcelona had a relatively quiet first half as England left back Luke Shaw gave him little space. On the other flank Williams was lively but his final ball was inconsistent. The Euro 2024 betting odds backed La Roja at SBOTOP odds of 2.39 to win in 90 minutes but so far the Three Lions had coped with Spanish threat pretty well, limiting them to five shots, and England keeper Jordan Pickford had little to do.
But in the first minute of the second half he did have work to do…pick the ball out of the net. It was the worse possible start for England and the best for Spain as their two wide men combined to devastating effect. Shaw was out of position for once and Yamal took advantage, running into space and putting the ball on a plate for Williams who fired low into the corner.
Dani Olmo had a great chance to double the lead a minute later but he snatched at his shot and it skidded wide. Yamal slid a ball through to Alvaro Morata and he rolled it past Pickford, but the danger was cleared, and then Williams fired a blistering shot inches wide.
The Three Lions were hanging on.
Southgate made the brave decision to take Harry Kane off and bring Ollie Watkins on as England fought to get back in the game, and Jude Bellingham flashed a shot wide. And as the game began to get stretched Pickford made a great save to deny Yamal.
The England boss’s next call was a cracker. Palmer was on for Mainoo and when Bukayo Saka made headway down the right and Spain failed to clear, Palmer passed the ball into the net from 20 yards, the sweetest strike an England fan would ever want to see. The mood had changed in the stadium and the Three Lions started to dream again, but Spain were in no mood to fade, if fact they exploded into life once more.
Four minutes remaining. Marc Cucurella swung in a perfect ball and Oyarzabal was there to slide the ball past Pickford to win the game.
There was more late drama when England had a corner and when Simon parried a header from Declan Rice, Marc Guehi powered his header goalwards only to see Olmo make a brilliant clearance on the line.
Key statistics
Spanish teams, international and domestic, have been in 23 major finals against non-Spanish opponents in the last 23 years, winning every one.
England had never lost in Berlin in six visits, winning four and losing two…but it was an unlucky seventh.
England had won 14 of the 17 previous games managed by Southgate on a Sunday so Spain wrecked another decent record there. But they deserved the win, with 16 shots and six on target to England’s nine and four on target.
This was time first time two teenagers had taken part in a European final, Yamal and Mainoo.
What’s next?
Gareth Southgate’s future as England boss has been in question throughout this tournament and now he has a decision to make. But the football never stops.
The UEFA Nations League starts up again in September and Spain will play both Serbia and Switzerland in Group A4, while England, newly relegated, will face the Republic of Ireland and Finland in Group B2.
Then, in two years time, the world’s elite will head to the USA, Mexico and Canada for the 2026 World Cup and both Spain and England will be big players there.
But tonight, Berlin and Europe belongs to Luis de la Fuente’s Spain.
Viva Espana!
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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