Spain found the crucial winning goal in the 86th minute of the Euro 2024 final to deny England and clinch another major trophy. Nico Williams opened the scoring with a wonderfully clinical finish in the 47th minute, only for England substitute Cole Palmer to equaliser in thrilling fashion in the 73rd. But Mikel Oyarzabal pounced with four minutes remaining as Spain left Berlin with a fourth Euros.
Substitute Mikel Oyarzabal came off the bench to fire Spain to a record fourth European Championship victory with a merited 2-1 Euro 2024 final win over a battling but limited England side in Berlin.
Oyarzabal slid home the winner from Marc Cucurella’s pass on 86 minutes to consign Gareth Southgate’s England to a second successive heartbreaking defeat in European finals after their Euro 2020 penalty loss to Italy at Wembley.
England never stopped fighting with Cole Palmer stroking home the equaliser on 73 minutes only minutes after replacing captain Harry Kane, but it was ultimately rendered futile.
While Spain celebrate seven straight wins in finals as the tournament’s outstanding team, England’s 58-year wait for a major trophy continues.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: NICO WILLIAMS (SPAIN)
Spain were reeling from losing Manchester City midfielder Rodri at half-time, but that setback seemed to inspire them as Nico Williams scored within moments of the restart with a brilliant finish.
In truth, Spain could easily have finished off the final before Cole Palmer equalised as they cut open England at will with Williams and his fellow vibrant winger Yamine Lamal very much to the fore throughout the second half.
In the final analysis, England just did not possess the same level of quality in the key areas as Luis de la Fuente’s impressive European champions.
PLAYER RATINGS
England: Pickford 8; Guehi 6, Stones 6, Walker 6; Saka 6, Mainoo 6, Rice 6, Shaw 6; Bellingham 6, Foden 6; Kane 6 Subs: Toney 6, Watkins 6, Palmer 7
Spain: Simon 7; Carvajal 7, Le Normand 7, Laporte 7, Cucurella 7; Ruiz 7, Rodri 6; Olmo 7, Williams 8, Yamal 8; Morata 6 Subs: Nacho 6, Zubimendi 7, Oyarzabal 7, Merino 7
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
47′ GOAL! (WILLIAMS) SPAIN 1-0 ENGLAND Brilliant play by the two wingers. Yamal with a super pass to Williams and he slams the shot low and hard into the net arriving late in the box with Walker nowhere to be seen in marking him. No chance for Pickford. Lovely finish. We have a goal in the final.
49′ CHANCE FOR A RAPID SECOND GOAL Some more stunning play by Spain as Williams picks out Olmo, who turns but mishits a shot wide of goal. Spain right at it so far in this second half. Could easily have been a second for the Spanish.
73′ GOAL! SPAIN 1-1 ENGLAND (PALMER) And England have a quickfire equaliser from Palmer. Brilliant finish. Saka to Bellingham and the pass to Palmer is guided into the corner of the net. 1-1. Game on. Supreme finish from 22 yards out.
83′ PICKFORD TO THE RESCUE FOR ENGLAND Brilliant passing play by Spain to cut open the white shirts. Williams so, so dangerous. Ball breaks to Yamal, whose shot is repelled well by Pickford. Was a decent height for the England keeper. Straight at him.
86′ GOAL! (OYARZABAL) SPAIN 2-1 ENGLAND Sub Mikel Oyarzabal arrives in time to slide the ball into the net from the Cucurella pass. So, so slick. Lovely goal from Spain under Pickford. Is that the winning goal? They lead 2-1 in the final.
