There Roja, sparkling from start to finish. The Spanish laid the final log on the bonfire that will have been their Euro 2024 on Sunday, winning 2-1 in the grand final against a once again disappointed England.
Spain were sublime in Germany, winning all seven of their matches, a first in Euro history. They delivered a performance to match that in the final, attacking and technically masterful from the first to the last minute.
“It’s euphoria!” said Nico Williams, Spain’s goalscorer and player of the match. “We are so happy. We deserved it. This title is for our fans and our parents, who have supported us all the way.”
Williams scored in the 47th minutee to open the scoring. The winning net, after Cole Palmer’s equalizer (73e), came from the foot of Mikel Oyarzabal (86e) to shatter the dreams of the English, eternally robbed. England has been waiting for a new international title for 58 years now, its last title in a major tournament dating back to the 1966 World Cup, at home. It had also failed in London, in the final of the 2020 edition, against Italy.
PHOTO MANU FERNANDEZ, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal, the two scorers of the match
“It’s extremely painful,” England captain Harry Kane, still without a trophy for club or country, told ITV. “It’s going to hurt for a long time. All we can say is thank you to the fans, to those who believed in us, and we’ll be back.”
But the truth is that the Spanish victory, despite a very close match, was never in doubt. Their flair and finesse were superior to those of their rivals from the first to the last whistle. We are talking about the final here, but the same could be said of their entire Euro.
PHOTO WOLFGANG RATTAY, REUTERS
Mikel Oyarzabal scored the winning goal.
“As always in these kind of games, the margins are slim, but Spain were the best team in the tournament,” England coach Gareth Southgate acknowledged. “Overall, they deserved it.”
It is a fifth international title and a fourth in the European championships for La Roja, who have brilliantly rebuilt themselves after taking the world by storm at Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, a historic treble.
A sluggish first period
When the main highlights are tackles and blocks, it is proof that the period was hard-fought. The first half was therefore mainly marked by good defensive play from both sides.
Certainly, Spain were the most enterprising at the start, as usual. But the English ramparts were solid. John Stones, in particular, made his mark with a superb block in the 12the ahead of Nico Williams, the most active Spaniard in this period.
On the other side, when England began to find their rhythm offensively, it was Rodri, just before the half-time whistle, who brilliantly stepped up to meet Harry Kane’s shot. Kane was injured in the process, and was replaced for the second half. Rodri, brilliant in his defensive midfield role, was named player of the tournament after the game.
Williams and Yamal, again
It was said that Nico Williams had been the most electrifying Spaniard in this match. His opening goal was therefore obvious.
His combination with Lamine Yamal, the emerging and undisputed star of this Euro, caused sparks to flare up again after the break: the 17-year-old prodigy (his birthday was on Saturday) brilliantly sent the ball to a fine Williams, alone on the left in the box, for the 1-0 goal.
PHOTO MANU FERNANDEZ, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, the young Spanish duo who made their mark on Euro 2024
Spain continued to play the game after that. England defended with intensity and some success, yes, but offered very little presence in the attacking zone. Kane and Phil Foden, in particular, were not of much use up front.
So out goes Kane. In comes Ollie Watkins at 61.e. Thank you for your service, Kobbie Mainoo. Welcome, Cole Palmer, to the 70e. Three minutes later, Palmer struck the ball as if his life depended on it after a beautiful pass from Jude Bellingham, and allowed the English to believe, finally. We could feel them energized after this equalizer at 1-1…
PHOTO ANDREEA ALEXANDRU, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dani Olmo preserved the victory at the end of the match
But Spain had seen others. And above all, they never stopped projecting themselves forward. They found their hero in Mikel Oyarzabal, who received a splendid through ball from Marc Cucurella in the 87th minutee for the winning net. Jordan Pickford, who had made a fine save moments before on Yamal, could do nothing about it.
Oyarzabal, at 27, had never experienced the heat of the spotlight at this level in his career. His 2024 season had been complicated with Real Sociedad, between injuries and lack of rhythm. What a time to make his mark.
“I did my job, what I had to do at every moment, I had to help, I was lucky to give the victory,” he said on Spanish television. When you go through difficult times, being here [avec la sélection] is very valuable and if you are lucky enough to be able to help like I did, it is the best thing ever.”
A magnificent Spain. A deserving Spain. And a Spain crowned, as it should be, after a perfect Euro. Let the flames of joy of La Roja burst forth.
With Agence France-Presse and The Canadian Press