July 14 – Spain were crowned European champions for a record fourth time following a late strike from Mikel Oyarzabal in a 2-1 victory against England.
At the end, Nico Williams kneeled and Mikel Oyazabal burst into tears. Overcome by emotions, Spain’s two goalscorers were dealing with the magnitude of their achievement – they had steered their team to European glory with a composed victory, the coronation and culmination of a dominant four weeks in Germany.
Spain had defeated Croatia, Italy, Germany and France en route to the showpiece match in the German capital with some breathtaking football and ultimately demonstrated they were the tournament’s best team.
For England and Southgate, it was a painful and desperate night. They became the first side to lose successive men’s Euro finals. The English will be left to lament what could have been. At heart, England had been too conservative throughout the tournament failing to bring the best out of what, on paper and club form at least, looked a talented squad.
Yet a good part of the evening had gone to plan for England, keeping their shape and rallying to equalize, but this time there was to be no late great escape, no logic-defying act that would somehow keep England alive. Supersub Mikel Oyarzabal extinguished England’s dream.
In many ways, to give Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal an inch was to hand Spain the match – and that’s precisely what transpired in the 47th minute. All night England set up to smother Spain and contain the flying youngsters. Kyle Walker and Luke Shaw, returning to his left back spot in the starting XI, had bossed the pair in the first half.
Just minutes after the restart, the wingers combined to destroy the English defence. With perfect timing, they both found space away from their markers. Yamal cut infield away from Shaw, and teed up Williams who steered it past Jordan Pickford with a cool and composed finish.
Shaw’s presence had reinforced England’s left side and brought the balance that the England manager had desired for so long. In the opening exchanges, he dominated Yamal, the breakout star of the tournament, who celebrated his 17th birthday on Saturday.
Spain’s passing was typically probing, but England woke up somewhat when Walker combined with Bukayo Saka to cause some panic in the Spanish box. Saka and England were targeting left full-back Marc Cucurella, often out of position and somewhat insecure on the ball.
The final had been framed as a matchup between Spain’s possession ideology and England’s resolve, but Southgate’s team were holding their own. In the 27th minute, Spain had their first attempt on target, but Marc Guehi took the sting out of Fabian Ruiz’s shot from twenty yards.
Spain’s Rodri dominated the midfield, but Walker and Shaw kept La Roja’s dangermen on the wing quiet. The English maintained their shape but gave away possession to easily in the face of Spain’s press. Risk aversion remained the priority.
On the stroke of half-time, Harry Kane got a sight of goal after Jude Bellingham muscled Dani Carvajal off the ball, but Rodri, outstanding as ever, blocked the striker’s early shot. England had their first attempt on target through Phil Foden at the far post.
But the first stanza had been a stalemate. England accepted that Spain’d dictate play and focused on remaining compact, preventing the Spanish from finding space in between the lines. Luis de la Fuente’s team did play with some caution of its own, generating little fast-paced ball circulation. The England set-up was faultless but did not benefit the spectacle. Up front, Kane had been invisible, with more touches in his own box than in Spain’s by half-time.
Spain were seemingly dealt a major blow when Rodri, injured, didn’t return from the dressing room and Martin Zubimendi replaced the unfortunate midfielder. Instead, the Spanish went after England. After 69 seconds in the second half, Williams opened the score. Behind, England were in a familiar position, but no team had ever come from behind to win four knockout games at a major tournament. England were rattled and Williams guided a pass to Olmo, who, following a wonderful first touch, dragged an impatient attempt wide.
Without Rodri, Spain simply accelerated. Yamal remained at the heart of every Spanish attack and he slid a perfect pass to Morata, who, on the right channel, peeled away from Guehi, but failed to convert his chance. Williams then rifled a strike just wide. The Spanish kept coming and Jordan Pickford prevented Spain’s second with a save from Yamal’s curler.
England were missing in action. And just at that moment, when England’s dream was slipping away, when they were on the brink of more final heartache, the side found a goal in the 75th minute.
England countered with Saka breaking on the right. His cutback was laid off by Bellingham and, almost nonchalantly, Cole Palmer steered it into the bottom left corner. Cue delirium in the Olympia Stadium.
Southgate, who had earlier taken off Kane, proved his substitutions were inspired. Yet, it would not be enough. Four minutes, before the end, Oyarzabal met Cucurella’s cross and prodded the ball home, 2-1. Could England claw their way back one last time?
The Three Lions had one last chance in an incredible goalmouth scramble. Unai Simon parried Declan Rice’s powerful header and Olmo cleared Guehi’s rebound off the line, only to rice who headed over the bar. Their hurt will go on as they seek their first major title since 1966. Spain are the European champions again.
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