Spain won the European Championship for the fourth time, setting a new record. They beat England 2-1 in Sunday’s Euro 2024 final in Berlin after a dramatic second half.

Nico Williams, one of Spain’s standout players at the tournament, took a perfectly balanced pass from the team’s other rising star, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, and slotted it into the bottom corner to give La Roja the lead just minutes from time. second half.

England equalized midway through the second half with a stunning left-footed strike from outside the penalty area by Cole Palmer at the Olympic Stadium in the German capital. But less than five minutes from the end of regulation time, Mikel Oyarzabal buried a perfect pass just inches from Marco Cucurella to give Spain the lead to complete the win and a fantastic tournament for La Roja.

It is Spain’s fourth European title, having previously won in 1964, 2008 and 2012. But it is a second successive year of bitter defeat for England after they lost the European title in a penalty shoot-out to Italy at Euro 2020.

The match began in a tense atmosphere befitting a grand final. The players overcame the pre-match tension and both teams felt each other out. As expected, Spain had most of the ball in the first 30 minutes, but failed to create any clear-cut chances.

With La Roja keen to create chances, England took the lead with their first shot just before half-time when Phil Foden struck from close range but the shot hit Unai Simon in the Spanish goal.

Spain suffered a major blow at half-time when one of their key players, Manchester City midfielder Rodri, was forced off through injury.

But the Iberians seemed unfazed by the loss of their star midfielder and, as expected, Williams completed a long move to put La Roja in front two minutes after the break. At 22 years and two days, Williams became the second-youngest player to score in a European Championship final.

Dani Olmo came close to extending the lead a minute later and it looked like the goal would give Spain the momentum they needed, but his shot went wide of the post.

Williams’ goal put England in a difficult position. First, John Stones saved captain Álvaro Morata’s skilful chip, but then the Athletic Bilbao player’s shot went wide in the second leg.

As the Three Lions struggled to get back into the game, manager Gareth Southgate made the bold decision to withdraw captain and goalscorer Harry Kane and replace him with Ollie Watkins, who had just scored the winner in the dying seconds of the semi-final. -final against the Netherlands, securing a place in the final.

The substitution seemed to give the English a boost, who played with more vigor and speed. Jude Bellingham fired wide of the post and the England fans were on their feet for the first time in a long time.

But just as England started to get going, Spain came close to a second goal through Yamal, who on Sunday night became the youngest player to play in a European or World Cup final, but Jordan Pickford used a strong hand to deny the Barcelona lad. .

England eventually scored – and it was the work of one of Southgate’s substitutes. Chelsea midfielder Palmer, who had come on for 19-year-old Kobe Maina just a few minutes earlier, picked up a great assist from Bellingham and fired a shot into the bottom corner to level the scores.

Spain came back into the game and almost took the lead with 10 minutes remaining when Yamal was one-on-one with Pickford after a tricky set-up, but the 17-year-old’s shot was saved by the England keeper.

With time ticking away and extra-time looming, Spain were once again on the move and eventually scored a deserved goal late on when Cucurella fed a charming cross to Oyarzabal, who slotted the ball into the goal to spark wild celebrations.

In the 90th minute, Declan Rice headed a corner kick at goal, but Simão deflected it and Guehi’s shot was cleared on the line by RB Leipzig’s Dani Olmo. The Spanish defense thwarted the English attack.

The Three Lions did their best to send the match into extra time, but with four minutes to go, referee François Letexier waved the game off and the Spanish players threw themselves to the ground before clashing with a sea of ​​players. and fans dressed in red, some dressed in yellow, joined the celebrations at the stadium.

“While you may have missed out on a win tonight, my wife and I join my entire family in urging you and your support team to keep your heads up. Anyone who has been involved in sporting activities at any level will know how utterly desperate such a result can be when the prize was so close – and joins me in sending our sincere condolences, even as we congratulate Spain.

“But please know that your success in the European Championship final is a truly great achievement in itself, one that carries with it the pride of a nation that will continue to roar for the Three Lions today – and in the many triumphs that will no doubt lie ahead.”