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Euro 2024

Jacob Steinberg at the Olympiastadion Berlin

Mon 10 Jun 2024 12.23 BST

Last modified on Mon 10 Jun 2024 12.56 BST

5,100

Spain

Nico Williams 47

Mikel Oyarzabal 86

India

Cole Palmer 73

Report

Min-by-min

Daniel Olmo (centre) is congratulated after his deflected effort gave Spain the lead, four minutes after their first from Lamine Yamal (right). Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

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Mikel Oyarzabal’s late winner for Spain crushes England’s Euro 2024 dream

Spain 2-1 England: Euro 2024 final – as it happened

Jacob Steinberg at the Olympiastadion Berlin

Mon 10 Jun 2024 12.23 BST

Last modified on Mon 10 Jun 2024 12.56 BST

5,100

Daniel Olmo (centre) is congratulated after his deflected effort gave Spain the lead, four minutes after their first from Lamine Yamal (right). Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

If football is going home, it is only because it belongs to Spain. A record fourth European Championship title was their reward for beautiful passing, outstanding wing play and ruthless finishing, even though there was a brief spell when it seemed another illogical escape act from England was on the cards in Berlin.

Spain 2-1 England: Euro 2024 final – as it happened

But give Spain, who followed their successes in 1964, 2008 and 2012 with this refined triumph, their due. At 17 years and one day old, Lamine Yamal was the youngest player to feature in a men’s international final, breaking the record set by Pelé in the 1958 World Cup final. Williams, a little older at 22, confirmed his exceptional talent by tormenting Kyle Walker. There was joy for Basques in seeing Williams and Oyarzabal score the goals.

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The unfancied Luis de la Fuente has done a wonderful job with this team. How they responded to adversity. Rodri going off injured at half-time made no difference, with Martin Zubimendi a fine replacement for the midfield linchpin, and Spain did not shrink after the shock of Palmer’s goal.

That made it a step too far for England, who have laboured through this tournament, resilience, isolated bursts of inspiration and clever substitutions carrying them this far. Next will come searching questions for Southgate, who has struggled to find the right balance in midfield and on the left. Spain represented a far superior test to Italy’s in the Euro 2020 final, so this is not as great a missed opportunity, but there will be anger at England’s lack of ambition in the first half. With Kane looking unfit and Bellingham helping Luke Shaw contain Lamine Yamal, the counterattacking was minimal.

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Spain 2-1 England: Euro 2024 final – as it happened

Maybe this is how new empires rise. Out of the ruins of the old, with fresh visions and fresh blood, a supremacy that creates its own logic as it goes, until it begins to feel inevitable. Spain have taken the hardest possible road to Berlin, conquered Italy and Croatia and Germany and now France: their longest winning streak since 2010, a first final since 2012, and perhaps the strongest indication yet that this is a team worth remembering.

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England’s Jude Bellingham looks dejected as Spain’s players celebrate at the final whistle.

Spain reign, England pain: Euro 2024 final – in pictures

England, who lined up in a compact 4-4-1-1, had at least limited Spain during the first half. John Stones stopped Williams and Guéhi shut down the wily Álvaro Morata. Shaw, starting for the first time in 148 days, tried to contain Lamine Yamal.

There was occasional aggression from England, who wanted Bukayo Saka running at Cucurella. Rodri blocked a drive from Rice and injured himself denying Kane after Bellingham robbed Dani Carvajal. Phil Foden shot at Unai Simón. Inspiration was low.

There was no offside flag. England kept going, Simón repelling Rice’s header, Olmo clearing off the line from Guéhi. The hurt stands at 58 years and Southgate may not be around by the time the 2026 World Cup arrives.

Match Stats

Possession

Attempts

off target

on target

Corners

Fouls

off target

on target

Corners

Fouls

Lineups

Spain

23 Unai Simon
2 Dani Carvajal
3 Robin Le Normand
1 Aymeric Laporte
2 Marc Cucurella
1 Rodrigo Hernandez Rodri
8 Luis Fabian
1 Lamine Yamal
1 Dani Olmo
1 Nico Williams
7 Alvaro Morata

Substitutes

1 David Raya
4 Fernandez Nacho (s 83')
5 Dani Vivian
6 Mikel Merino (s 89')
9 Mato Joselu
11 Ferran Torres
12 Alex Grimaldo
13 Alejandro Remiro
15 Alex Baena
18 Martin Zubimendi (s 46')
21 Mikel Oyarzabal (s 68')
22 Gonzalez Jesus Navas
25 Fermin Lopez

England

1 Jordan Pickford
2 Kyle Walker
5 John Stones
6 Marc Guehi
3 Luke Shaw
26 Kobbie Mainoo
4 Declan Rice
7 Bukayo Saka
11 Phil Foden
10 Jude Bellingham
9 Harry Kane

Substitutes

8 Trent Alexander-Arnold
12 Kieran Trippier
13 Aaron Ramsdale
14 Ezri Konsa
15 Lewis Dunk
16 Conor Gallagher
17 Ivan Toney (s 89')
18 Anthony Gordon
19 Ollie Watkins (s 61')
20 Jarrod Bowen
21 Eberechi Eze
22 Joe Gomez
23 Dean Henderson
24 Cole Palmer (s 70')
25 Adam Wharton

Lineups

Spain

23 Unai Simon
2 Dani Carvajal
3 Robin Le Normand
1 Aymeric Laporte
2 Marc Cucurella
1 Rodrigo Hernandez Rodri
8 Luis Fabian
1 Lamine Yamal
1 Dani Olmo
1 Nico Williams
7 Alvaro Morata

Substitutes

1 David Raya
4 Fernandez Nacho (s 83')
5 Dani Vivian
6 Mikel Merino (s 89')
9 Mato Joselu
11 Ferran Torres
12 Alex Grimaldo
13 Alejandro Remiro
15 Alex Baena
18 Martin Zubimendi (s 46')
21 Mikel Oyarzabal (s 68')
22 Gonzalez Jesus Navas
25 Fermin Lopez

England

1 Jordan Pickford
2 Kyle Walker
5 John Stones
6 Marc Guehi
3 Luke Shaw
26 Kobbie Mainoo
4 Declan Rice
7 Bukayo Saka
11 Phil Foden
10 Jude Bellingham
9 Harry Kane

Substitutes

8 Trent Alexander-Arnold
12 Kieran Trippier
13 Aaron Ramsdale
14 Ezri Konsa
15 Lewis Dunk
16 Conor Gallagher
17 Ivan Toney (s 89')
18 Anthony Gordon
19 Ollie Watkins (s 61')
20 Jarrod Bowen
21 Eberechi Eze
22 Joe Gomez
23 Dean Henderson
24 Cole Palmer (s 70')
25 Adam Wharton

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Comments (2167)

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Guardian Pick

Spain are European champions, and no team has ever deserved it more.
It’s coming home all right . To Spain
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Guardian Pick

I think you did good, it was a game worthy of a final. Spain is just too strong. Well done, England.
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tonystoke

435

15 jul 2024 2.37

tonystoke

435

15 jul 2024 2.37

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