In a dramatic Euro 2024 final, Spain broke England’s hearts with a late 2-1 victory, making it Euro 2024 winner. Mikel Oyarzabal’s 86th-minute goal secured Spain’s fourth European Championship, leaving England’s trophy drought to extend to 60 years by the 2026 World Cup.
First Half: Spain’s Dominance
The match began with Spain dominating possession and applying pressure. Their efforts paid off just two minutes after half-time when Nico Williams opened the scoring. Lamine Yamal made an excellent run and pass, providing a perfect boost after Rodri’s injury forced him out at half-time.
England’s Response: Palmer’s Equalizer
England’s captain, Harry Kane, had a disappointing display and was substituted. His replacement, Cole Palmer, became an instant hero. The Chelsea man rifled home a superb strike from Jude Bellingham’s lay-off, leveling the score and shifting the momentum in Berlin.
Late Drama: Spain’s Winning Goal
As extra time loomed, Spain reasserted their dominance. Jordan Pickford made two brilliant second-half stops to deny Lamine Yamal, who later received the Young Player of the Tournament award. Spain’s persistence paid off when Marc Cucurella’s cross was turned home by Oyarzabal with just four minutes remaining, making them the definitive Euro 2024 winner.
England’s Last-Gasp Effort
England desperately sought an equalizer. Declan Rice met Palmer’s corner unmarked, but Unai Simon parried it. Marc Guehi nodded the rebound towards the line, but Dani Olmo cleared it away. Rice’s final attempt sailed over, ending England’s hopes of a comeback.
Spain’s Historic Win and England’s Heartbreak
Spain became the first team to claim four European Championships. For England, it was another agonizing near-miss in a major tournament final. England manager Gareth Southgate expressed his devastation post-match: “I’m devastated for everybody. The players have been incredible, but we’ve just fallen a little bit short.” He admitted that across the 90 minutes, England probably didn’t do enough to secure victory.
Analysis: England’s Tactical Dilemma
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville highlighted a recurring issue for England: “To not control the biggest games has been a problem for England teams in many tournaments.” He emphasized the difficulty of playing from behind against top-quality opposition, noting, “You can win the odd game doing that, but eventually you play a team with too much quality and that is what we found tonight.”
Future Speculation: Southgate’s Position
The result raises questions about England’s approach in major tournaments. Despite boasting arguably the best 26-player squad, England once again fell short in a final. This defeat presents a dilemma: should England change their tactical approach to fully utilize their talent pool?
Reflections: Southgate and Kane
Southgate’s future is now a topic of speculation. Neville suggested that the manager might “take a long, hard look in the next week and decide whether it’s the right time” to continue. However, England captain Harry Kane emphasized the team’s support for Southgate, stating, “We love the manager, but that’s his decision.”
England’s Journey: Resilience and Disappointment
Kane reflected on the team’s journey: “We’ve shown a lot of resilience. It’s been a difficult ride and we’ve done extremely well to get here. But ultimately we’re judged on this game.” He added, “We wanted to do it so badly for ourselves and the fans. Right now, it’s just huge disappointment.”
Conclusion: Spain’s Triumph and England’s Challenge
As Spain celebrates their Euro 2024 winner title, England is left to ponder what might have been. The challenge now is to transform this talented squad into a winning team. With the World Cup looming in 2026, England must regroup and reassess their strategy to turn their potential into tangible success on the international stage.
