England held their breath as they faced Spain in their second Euro’s final in two tournaments on the brink of history, aiming to win their first tournament final on foreign soil and their first in 58 years since the World Cup in 1966. However, Spain, the best team in the Euros 2024 tournament, had other ideas.
England's strategy was clear from the start of the match, letting Spain have possession with Phil Foden disrupting Spain’s build-up play involving Rodri. This approach set a tempo that suited Gareth Southgate’s side, ensuring they felt secure and comfortable on the pitch.
Spain, in response, had to be patient to penetrate England's solid defensive setup. Scoring opportunities were scarce, and both goalkeepers, Jordan Pickford and Unai Simón, faced moments of danger during the first half. England's most notable scare came when Nico Williams made a penetrating run, prompting a crucial tackle by John Stones to avert greater trouble, followed by an acrobatic attempt from Le Normand off the ensuing corner kick which was a long way off target.
Luis de la Fuente’s squad struggled to find key players Dani Olmo and Fabián Ruiz in dangerous areas, with Luke Shaw effectively containing Lamine Yamal. Both Yamal and Williams occasionally tried their luck from inside, but space was limited due to the relentless efforts of Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, and Jude Bellingham.
As the match progressed towards halftime at Berlin's Olympiastadion, neither defence faced excessive challenges, and the key players were kept largely at bay. However, the second half brought significant blows to both teams, albeit of different magnitudes.
Spain’s ‘La Roja’ suffered a setback when their midfield anchor, Rodri, had to be substituted at halftime due to a collision with Laporte, leading to the introduction of Martín Zubimendi. On the other hand, the Three Lions faced a more immediate blow as Spain took the lead early in the second half.
A swift, one-touch move allowed Yamal to find space and set up Williams, who calmly finished past Pickford to make it 1-0. This goal rattled England, causing defensive disarray that Spain failed to exploit despite chances for Olmo, Morata, and Williams.
In response, Southgate made a tactical change, bringing on Ollie Watkins for Harry Kane. Jude Bellingham attempted to spark a comeback with a long-range effort that was just wide, but Spain continued to press, with Yamal forcing another crucial save from Pickford.
De la Fuente substituted Mikel Oyarzabal for a tireless Morata to maintain offensive pressure, while Southgate introduced Cole Palmer for Mainoo, a gamble that paid off as the match’s pace quickened. Bellingham orchestrated a move culminating outside the box, where the newly introduced Palmer struck a beautiful left-footed shot beyond Unai Simón, levelling the score at 1-1.
With the final nearing its conclusion, the game reverted to England's preferred slower tempo. Spain regained control and nearly scored again through another quality combination, only for Pickford to deny Yamal once more. As extra time loomed, Oyarzabal and Cucurella combined brilliantly in the 86th minute, with Oyarzabal exacting personal revenge by netting the decisive goal.
This late strike secured Spain’s victory, crowning them the best team of the tournament after winning all of their matches in Euro 2024. The triumph in Berlin brought European glory to Spain, a fitting reward for their consistent excellence throughout the competition.
Football hasn’t come home, but the England players will later today led by a manager that has had more abuse than deserved for the way he has transformed English football over the last eight years, and, as said by King Charles in a letter to the squad after the game, they should hold their heads high.
