Spain scores last-minute goal against England to win fourth European Championship

Spain wins the UEFA European Championship for the fourth time, while England has to settle for second place for the second year in a row

BERLIN, Germany — Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal scored four minutes from time to cap his dominant Euro 2024 campaign with a deserved 2-1 win over England, the team’s fourth title and a record in history, and condemned his opponents to a second consecutive final defeat on Sunday, July 14.

Oyarzabal finished off a quick counterattack to score the winner after England had come from behind for the fourth game in a row and appeared to have earned extra time.

“I did my job,” said Oyarzabal, who came on for captain Alvaro Morata after 67 minutes. “Just the fact that you are among the 26 is very valuable. It happened to me, but it could have happened to anyone.”

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente added: “I couldn’t be happier. A real team, European champions. I said I was proud and today I’m even prouder. It confirms what we are. For me they are the best in the world.”

After a cautious first half in which Spain had 65% possession but England’s Phil Foden had the only shot on goal, the Spaniards struck two minutes after the break despite being without their influential midfielder Rodri through injury at the break.

Teenager Lamine Yamal, who was under pressure in the first half, finally found space on the right and crossed to Nico Williams, who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and into the net.

Spain then went on a winning streak with a series of sharp attacks as England’s previously watertight defence lost its form and Dani Olmo, Morata and Williams all had good chances.

England manager Gareth Southgate brought on Ollie Watkins, the goal-scoring substitute from the semi-final, for the ineffective Harry Kane after an hour. Ten minutes later he was joined by Cole Palmer, England’s most creative player of the last month.

Pay off

The changes paid off almost immediately when Jude Bellingham put the ball back into Palmer’s path in the 73rd minute and the substitute curled a precise low shot into the net from 20 yards.

The assembled ranks of English fans, who far outnumbered their rivals, exploded and the whole atmosphere of the evening changed.

But Spain held out against the onslaught and England were beaten by a lapse in concentration: Marc Cucurella found space on the left, received the ball from Oyarzabal and fired it across the box, allowing the substitute to stick out a toe and slot the ball home.

There was still time for more drama when Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon saved a Declan Rice header from a corner and Dani Olmo then brilliantly headed Marc Guehi’s follow-up shot off the line.

This was Spain’s fourth title, after those won in 1964, 2008 and 2012. And given that Spain became only the third team in the last nine European Championships after France (2000) and Greece (2004) to win the trophy without having to go on penalties during the tournament, no one can deny that they were deserved winners.

For England, the “30 years of pain” following their 1966 World Cup success, which provided the soundtrack to their hosting of the 1996 European Championship, will now be at least twice as long, as they became the first team to lose two European Championship finals in a row.

“We fought until the end in the final,” said Southgate, who is widely expected to step down after notably leading his country to two European Championship finals and World Cup semi-finals and quarter-finals in his eight years at the helm.

“I think we didn’t keep the ball in check well enough. They really put pressure on us and you have to escape that pressure, but we didn’t manage to do that. In the end, that gave them more control of the game.”

“The players deserve enormous credit for getting us to this point. The way they fought and represented the shirt with pride. They were never beaten until the end, until the last five minutes of the last game and then that chance at the end. Just the character and resilience they showed.”

“It’s a close game, but I think they (Spain) were the best team in the tournament and deserved to win.” – Rappler.com