EURO 2024: Spain Earns Record European Title!

While England Stumbles Again at the Final Stretch, Spain is the new European champion.

“La Furia Roja” claimed the continental title for a record fourth time after a deserved 2-1 victory over England in the Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion.

Luis de la Fuente’s team won all seven matches during the tournament, playing what was widely regarded as the most attractive football in Germany. Today, Spain dominates almost the entire time.

In the first half, their advantage was mainly in ball control, without any clear goal-scoring opportunities.

Right after the break, Nico Williams (47′) put “La Roja” ahead following an assist from Lamine Yamal. Later, Olmo, Morata, Williams, and Yamal missed good chances to extend Spain’s lead.

Cole Palmer brought the “Three Lions” back into the game in the 73rd minute, but Mikel Oyarzabal secured the win for “La Roja” four minutes before the end.

Thus, England lost their second consecutive European Championship final and failed to win a major trophy for 58 years.

Luis de la Fuente made two expected changes.

Daniel Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, who missed the semifinal against France due to suspension, returned to the starting lineup. Jesus Navas and Nacho Fernandez gave up their places. Captain Alvaro Morata was ready to start at the top of the attack again after having an unfortunate incident following the semifinal. Dani Olmo played behind him.

The young Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams once again occupied the wings.

Gareth Southgate made only one change from the match against the Netherlands.

The coach was expected to use a formation with three central defenders for the third consecutive time.

However, the first minutes showed that England started with a four-defender line. The change was that this time, Luke Shaw started on the left at the expense of Kieran Trippier.

This was the first match for the Manchester United defender as a starter for England since June last year. The last match Shaw started at all was 148 days ago. Kobe Mainoo partnered with Declan Rice again, while Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden operated behind captain Harry Kane.

Before the start, the hosts organized the traditional ceremony before the final match.

It concluded with a live performance of the Euro 2024 anthem, after which the players of both teams took the field at the “Olympiastadion.”

“La Furia” took control of the ball from the beginning, and in the first ten minutes, the possession ratio was 80:20 in favour of Spain.

In the 12th minute, Nico Williams broke through from the left and entered the penalty area, but John Stones made a brilliant tackle and cleared for a corner.

In the 15th minute, the English organized their first dangerous attack. Saka found Walker on the right, who delivered a sharp low cross, but the Spanish defense cleared it.

After that, England took the initiative for a few minutes and organized several consecutive attacks, which did not bring danger.

In the 23rd minute, Foden made a mistake in his penalty area after being pressed by Rodri.

Olmo then found Yamal on the right, who entered the penalty area but blocked his shot.

Immediately after that, Shaw overcame Carvajal and Rodri in the penalty area and passed short to Mainoo, but he failed to control.

Foden also missed the ball, resulting in England not capitalizing on this good opportunity.

In the 35th minute, Laporte claimed a penalty after being held in the penalty area by Rice during a corner kick. However, as soon as the defender felt the midfielder’s hand, he fell lightly, and no signal followed.

Spain pressed again in the last ten minutes of the first half, but without creating any clear chances. Luke Shaw played very solidly on the left and largely neutralized Yamal.

Walker also did well on the other side, so “La Furia” didn’t have the same advantage on the flanks as they did in almost every match.

In the 42nd minute, Laporte found Morata in the penalty area, but Guehi and Stones handled it. At the end, Walker crossed from a free kick. Le Normand headed towards the far post, where Foden volleyed.

His shot to the near corner was not powerful, and Simon saved, but it was the first on-target shot of the match and the only one before the break.

At the start of the second half, De la Fuente replaced Rodri with Zubimendi.

Just two minutes into the second half, Spain took the lead. Carvajal found Yamal with one touch, moved inside behind Shaw and found Nico Williams on the left, who shot low into the far corner for 1-0.

Seconds later, Walker again missed Williams, who delivered something between a shot and a cross, finding Olmo.

He shot from about 15 meters but very inaccurately, missing a golden opportunity to double the lead.

The “Three Lions” failed to recover in the following minutes, and the Spaniards missed two more chances to almost seal the victory. First, Morata beat Pickford, then shot towards the goal, but Stones cleared off the line. Then, Williams struck a ground shot just centimetres wide.

In the 61st minute, Southgate replaced Harry Kane with Ollie Watkins, who scored the winning goal against the Netherlands.

In the 64th minute, England came close to equalizing when Bellingham controlled the ball skillfully, turned, and shot powerfully from the edge of the penalty area, but the ball went wide.

Shortly after, Olmo found Yamal. Shaw was caught off guard, and the talent struck, but Pickford intervened well and parried the shot.

In the 70th minute, Cole Palmer replaced Mainoo, and just three minutes later, the Chelsea player equalized.

England organized a great attack in which Saka was released on the right, held up, and found Bellingham in the penalty area.

The Real Madrid star laid the ball off with one touch to the edge of the area, where Palmer was, who shot low into the corner from 20 meters for 1-1.

This energized the “Three Lions” fans, who outnumbered the Spanish supporters in the stands of the “Olympiastadion” by about four to one.

In the 82nd minute, “La Roja” had a great chance to retake the lead, but Pickford denied the young Yamal for the second time today.

Williams and Olmo combined well, and then the Barcelona talent had a chance to shoot from about 11 meters but hit within the goalkeeper’s reach, making it easier for him.

However, four minutes later, the Everton keeper had no chance as Mikel Oyarzabal struck close in from a perfect cross from the left by Cucurella.

The English hoped the goal would be cancelled for offside, but John Stones was marginally playing him onside – 2-1.

England could have equalized in the 90th minute, but the “Three Lions” had no luck this time.

Rice headed a corner towards the goal, but Simon saved. Guehi attempted a follow-up, but Dani Olmo cleared off the line. Then Rice headed again but missed the target.

Ultimately, England couldn’t find the equalizer, and Spain triumphed with the title.