Spain dashed England’s hopes of ending a 58-year trophy drought when Mikel Oyarzabal scored late to secure a 2-1 victory in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on Sunday.
Nico Williams and Cole Palmer exchanged goals in the second half before Oyarzabal’s decisive strike in the 86th minute clinched Spain’s historic fourth European Championship title. This victory marked Spain’s first continental triumph since 2012, contrasting sharply with England’s ongoing quest for another major men’s trophy.
The final was a fitting conclusion to Spain’s dominant campaign in Euro 2024, where they maintained a flawless record, triumphing over formidable opponents such as Croatia, Italy, Germany, and France en route to the title. Spain also set a new record for the most goals scored by a team in a single European Championship, netting a total of 15 goals throughout the tournament.
Reflecting on his winning goal, Oyarzabal expressed gratitude and highlighted the significance of his crucial contribution: “I did my job, what I had to do at every moment. I was lucky enough to score the winner. You value it a lot. And if you’re lucky enough to score the goal … it’s the best,” he told reporters.
England, meanwhile, suffered a heartbreaking loss, becoming the first team in history to lose consecutive Euro finals. Gareth Southgate’s team had previously been defeated by Italy in the Euro 2020 final on penalties at Wembley Stadium.
Captain Harry Kane lamented the team’s inability to capitalize on their equalizer: “Losing in a final is as tough as it gets. We did really well to get back in the game at 1-1, and then we couldn’t use our momentum to push on. … It’s as painful as it can be in a football match.”
Spain started the game strongly, asserting control with possession and creating several scoring opportunities in the initial 20 minutes. Both teams had chances to break the deadlock as the first half progressed, but remained cautious, avoiding unnecessary risks.
Despite losing midfield linchpin Rodri to injury at halftime, Spain responded swiftly after the break. Lamine Yamal combined effectively with Nico Williams, who capitalized on a Yamal pass to open the scoring in the 47th minute, eluding Luke Shaw’s defense and beating Jordan Pickford with a precise shot into the far corner.
In a parallel substitution, England replaced Kane with Ollie Watkins, who made an immediate impact. Cole Palmer restored parity for England, calmly slotting home a goal less than 20 minutes before full time after coming on as a substitute.
With the match poised for extra time, Oyarzabal, substituting captain Alvaro Morata, seized the moment in the 86th minute. He redirected Marc Cucurella’s low cross into the net from close range, securing Spain’s victory and denying England another chance to equalize.
England mounted a desperate late effort to force extra time, but Dani Olmo’s goal-line clearance thwarted Marc Guehi’s header in the 90th minute, preserving Spain’s lead.
Post-match accolades saw Rodri crowned as the Player of the Tournament, while Lamine Yamal, celebrating his 17th birthday, received the Best Young Player award.
Regarding his future as England manager, Gareth Southgate remained non-committal: “I don’t think now is a good time to make a decision like that. I’m going to talk to the right people and, yeah, it’s just not for now,” he stated.