Spain is the European champion! Hero of the match substitute Mikel Oyarzabal

The Euro 2024 finals culminated today with Spain and England taking on each other. The Spanish were the favourites, not only because of their performances, but also because of the results in the previous rounds, when the English had to go through twice in extra time and penalties. Spain confirmed their role as slight favourites by winning 2-1 after a thrilling ending.

Possession of the ball did not bring Spain a single shot on target

From the start, England let their opponents play. That’s why Nico Williams had the first big chance when he got past the defender Stones, but the latter’s excellent slide deflected Williams’ attempt for a corner. The Iberian players did not threaten from that corner.

Moments before the end of the half, captain Álvaro Morata appeared in front of Pickford. But he was besieged by two defenders and managed to win a corner. But the English defence defended it.

At the end of the first half, England had the advantage of a free direct kick after a foul. Declan Rice took it. His centre found one of the Spanish defenders, but he only brought the ball down and Phil Foden got a shot off. His long-legged shot went straight into the gloves of the advancing goalkeeper Simon and it was goalless going into the dressing room.

An early goal got the game going

In the 47th minute, the fans got their first goal. After a great pass from Carvajal, Lamine Yamal got to the ball and he found a lone Nico Williams with another pass. The left-footed striker cleared the ball to the far post and sent the Spaniards a big step closer to victory.

Dani Olmo was able to score immediately afterwards to take the top spot on the top scorer’s table. But he missed the ball well and his shot went well wide of the target. Anyway, these actions woke England up and they had no choice but to take the ball and start creating better chances.

But the Spanish did not let up. After a great pass by Yamal, the best assistant, Morata got his chance. But his almost-to-the-goal pass was kicked away by one of the defending players. Williams finished the action, but his shot went wide of the three posts.

After an hour of play, the English were able to score for the first time in a long time. Foden won the ball in the attacking half and Bellingham got the ball on the edge of the sixteen, took it well, but his shot didn’t go on target. At the other end, Pickford had to make an important save after a Yamal shot and the Spanish had another corner, but again they missed it.

It was decided by the substitutions of both coaches

Gareth Southgate had a fortunate hand in the substitutions as he sent on Cole Palmer and he rewarded him in the best possible way. In the 73rd minute, he received a return pass from Bellingham and fired over the bar from his first touch. The shot was poorly placed and was so perfectly placed that Simon had no chance.

With ten minutes left in regulation time, Yamal had a great chance after a great quick combination. But the English goalkeeper was able to stop his attempt this time.

But Spanish coach de la Fuente showed the same lucky hand when Mikel Oyarzabal scored with a few minutes left. But the English were not going to give up and created a huge chance at a corner kick, with the first header cleared by goalkeeper Simon and the second on the goal line by Dani Olmo.

The scoreline of 2-1 to Spain did not change and the Spaniards became European champions for the fourth time in their history.

Source: UEFA, Euro 2024