Spain wins Euro 2024! Berlin is Red

As expected, the final game of Euro 2024 went Spain’s way but it wasn’t that the English handed over victory on a platter. It was a hard fought win for La Roja (Spanish national team), who have now won the illustrious tournament four times (1964, 2008, 2012 and 2024.)

Vigorous Spanish attack yet a goalless first half

Sticking to their football philosophy, Spain had the ball for most of the game. And so, they were the team that created most of the chances.

 Throughout the first half, one saw a swift build-up of Spanish attacks with quick pass movements towards the opposition goal. However, English defender John Stones stood tall to the attacks and withheld the Spaniards from an early goal lead.

England too made some decent attempts on the Spanish goal with Trippier finding Bellingham in the Spanish ‘D’ but the move did not materialise into an attack. Until a Declan Rice corner on the brink of half-time found an unmarked Phil Foden whose on-target shot was saved well by Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon.

 The game found speed and goals in the second half

Spanish coach Luis De La Fuente’s pep talk must have had an influence, as Carvajal found Yamal in the 46^th minute near the English ‘D’, with the winger cutting his way inside and finding Nico William Jr in a scoring run through the left wing. One shot at the goal was enough from the winger to give La Roja the lead.

And Williams almost doubled the lead in the 55^th minute, had his long range powerful shot been slightly less wide.

In the 65^th minute, forward Dani Olmo found Yamal dangerously through the gaps but England goalkeeper Jordon Pickford had no intentions to concede from the newly turned 17 year old winger. The Everton player anticipated the shot and made a great save.

England- Not done yet!

While Spain completed 496 passes to England’s 246, the Three Lions (England national team) still managed to play decently well. They had a better work rate throughout the game as they recovered 27 balls with minimum possession while their glorious counterparts recovered only 35 balls despite maintaining possession most of the time.

And their toil was finally rewarded, as England’s Euro 2024 super impact player Cole Palmer smashed in a grilling equaliser in the 72^nd minute keeping the hopes of bringing the cup ‘home’ alive. It was a superb goal! Jude Bellingham realising his inaccessibility (on being heavily marked by defenders) set the ball rolling for a perfect hit for Palmer, who struck it neatly from outside the ‘D’ through an inch perfect gap beating entire Spanish defence along with their goalkeeper. With only 18 minutes left, the scores were level! 

Spain pain England in the final minutes

Had England managed to win the game, Jordon Pickford could have been their most valuable player of the tournament. In the 81^st minute Nico Williams and Dani Olmo played a quick one-two to set up Lamine Yamal for the shot, which was once again saved by Pickford.

While the goalkeeper had certainly done his homework well on the Barcelona winger, Real Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal came outside the syllabus. 

A thundering cross from Marc Cucurella made the second goal from Oyarzabal seem effortless. Man City defender Kyle Walker, who became the captain after Harry Kane was subbed off, had no idea that defender Cucurella could play a winger’s cross with such finesse, sending in a cross measured enough to meet Oyarzabal but fast enough to beat Guehi. 

With four minutes remaining to play, it seemed the cup had turned prodigal for England. 

 One ‘final’ English effort!

Gareth Southgate’s men have won games after trailing in most of their matches this tournament. This explains their ‘Never say die’ spirit as Cole Palmer’s deep free kick found Declan Rice for a header in the final moments before the whistle. Rice put so much force on the header that Unai Simon, having saved the attempt, was unavailable to guard the rebound header.

But when Cucurella could do a winger’s role, Spanish striker Dano Olmo could certainly shine in a defender’s position. The forward headed away Guehi’s rebound attempt and prevented another English equaliser as Spain went on to win two goals to one in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin. 

 It was a sight to behold as captain Alvaro Morata lifted the Henri Delaunay Cup (official name of the Euro trophy) with Spain announcing their revival and ending their Euro drought after 12 long years.