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Spain have won Euro 2024, beating England 2-1 in Sunday night’s final in Berlin, to lift the trophy for a record fourth time.
A late goal from substitute Mikel Oyarzabal proved the difference between the two sides, although Spain dominated possession and had the better of the chances throughout the final.
The first half ended goalless, after cautious starts from both teams. Spain then opened the scoring just moments after the restart through winger Nico Williams. England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was forced into action again soon after as Spain continued to press for another goal.
England levelled the score with just under 20 minutes to go thanks to a shot from just outside the penalty area from Cole Palmer. The Chelsea forward had come off the bench just two minutes earlier as head coach Gareth Southgate refreshed England’s attacking line.
But with just four minutes left inside Berlin’s Olympic stadium, Spain took the lead again. England pushed for another goal until the final seconds, but to no avail.
For England’s men’s side, the 58-year wait for a trophy goes on. Under Southgate, Sunday marked the second time in three years that England had made it to a major final. His team lost the decider of the delayed Euro 2020 to Italy on penalties in front of a home crowd at Wembley Stadium.
“It’s an opportunity missed. These finals aren’t easy to get to. You have to take it when it comes and we haven’t done it again”, England captain Harry Kane told ITV. “It’s extremely painful and it’ll hurt for a long time.”
Spain went into Euro 2024 as dark horses — bookmakers rated England, France, Germany and Portugal as more likely winners. However, convincing victories in the group stages saw their odds slashed. Spain won the Euros in 2012 and 2008 — the tournaments either side of the country’s World Cup win in 2010 — and in 1964.
After Sunday’s victory, Spain became the first team to win all seven matches at a Euro championship, scoring 15 goals in the process. In contrast, England laboured at every stage.
After defeating Serbia in the opening match, England then drew against both Slovenia and Denmark during the group stages. A spectacular injury-time equaliser from Jude Bellingham in the round of 16 saved England from a humiliating defeat to Slovakia, but penalties were needed to overcome Switzerland in the quarterfinals, while an injury time winner against the Netherlands took the team to the final.
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