vox888 Spain have won their fourth European Championship after beating England 2-1 thanks to a late winner from Mikel Oyarzabal in the Euro 2024 final. vox888

Euro 2024 final

Spain 2 – England 1

Venue: Olympiastadion, Berlin

Spain have defenders Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand back from suspension, while England have Luke Shaw as their starting left wing-back, with Harry Kane still in attack.  ( vox888 )

In the first twenty minutes of the game, Spain had more possession and attacked, while England also counterattacked, but neither side had a clear shot.

28 minutes: Spain had their first chance to score. Fabian Ruiz received the ball from Dani Carvajal before shooting with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area. The ball hit Marc Guehi before entering the arms of Jordan Pickford.

Spain had a hard time breaking through, having to try to shoot from a distance in front of the penalty area. In the 35th minute, Dani Olmo shot with his right foot, but it was blocked by Harry Kane, who went down to help defend in the penalty area.

At the end of the first half, England had some chances. Jude Bellingham snatched the ball from Dani Carvajal on the left wing before passing to Kane who shot, but Rodri dove to block it just in time. In a series of moments, England were called for a foul in front of the penalty area. Declan Rice crossed for a chance, but Robin Le Normand’s header missed, and the ball reached Phil Foden who shot from the far post at a tight angle, but it went straight to Unai Simon, so the first half ended in a 0-0 draw.

In the second half, Spain changed the midfield, sending Martin Zubimendi on to replace Rodri, who had an injury problem in the first half. 

Just over a minute into the restart, Spain took a 1-0 lead. Lamine Yamal cut in from the right before flicking it to the left for Nico Williams to run in and shoot with his left foot. The ball went past Pickford and into the net.

In the 49th minute, Spain had another chance when Nico Williams shot from outside the penalty area. The ball went straight to Olmo who played it himself before shooting with his left foot in the penalty area, but the ball went wide.

Spain were clearly better and almost got two more when Alvaro Morata broke into the penalty area but was intercepted at the last moment by Williams, who shot wide.

England hit back, with Jude Bellingham turning from a Spanish player in the box before unleashing a powerful left-footed shot that went wide.

England escaped another goal in the 66th minute when Lamine Yamal swatted past Luke Shaw before unleashing a left-footed effort that was saved by Pickford.

And then the Three Lions equalized 1-1 from another substitute’s trick. Saka passed the ball into the middle, Bellingham flicked it out to the edge of the penalty area for Cole Palmer, who had only been on the bench for 3 minutes, to shoot with his left foot, which slightly deflected off a Spanish defender before going into the goal in an excellent manner.

Jordan Pickford made another superb save for England in the 82nd minute when Yamal’s left-footed effort was saved in the box. 

Four minutes before the end of the game, Spain took the lead 2-1. Substitute Miguel Oyarzabal passed to the left for Marc Cucurella to cross into the middle. Oyarzabal slipped in and flicked the ball into the near post.

Then, England could not catch up again, so the game ended with Spain defeating England 2-1, winning their fourth championship, while England suffered their second consecutive heartbreak.

List of players from both teams

Spain: Unai Simon – Dani Carvajal, Robin Le Normand, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella – Rodri, Fabian Ruiz – Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Nico Williams – Alvaro Morata

England: Jordan Pickford – Kyle Walker, John Stones, Marc Guehi – Bukayo Saka, Kobbie Menou, Declan Rice, Luke Shaw – Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham – Harry Kane

Referee: François Letexier (France)