Spain have won Euro 2024 after a last-gasp second half against England, who lose their second consecutive European final and fail to break a 58-year-long trophyless curse.
Euro 2024 is over. Spain are crowned champions after beating England 2-1 to win the trophy for a record fourth time, while England lose their second consecutive European final following the 2021 defeat to Italy on home soil.
The game lightened up in the second half with all three goals scored in the last forty-five minutes. Nico Williams netted first, in the 47th minute, before Pamer equalised with a stunner for England in the 73th. Spain finally found the winner in the 86th minute, as Oyarzabal nudged the ball into the net assisted by Cucurella.
“We are thrilled and hope this can keep going and we can go for the 2026 World Cup”, said a jubilant Nico Williams after the final whistle, as he was elected man of the match.
Spain won all seven games at this European Championship – an unprecedented streak – and there were joyous scenes after the final whistle, with defender Dani Carvajal piled on by jubilant teammates after slumping to the ground.
“This is the best (birthday) gift I could have asked for,” said Lamine Yamal, who turned 17 on Saturday and became the youngest player to win a Euro. “It is a dream come true.”
It was fitting that Yamal and Williams combined for the crucial first goal as they are the poster boys of this exciting, multicultural team.
Yamal’s mother is from Equatorial Guinea and his father is from Morocco, while fellow winger Williams has Ghanaian parents who made the long journey to Europe looking for a better life. To make it to Spain, they had to ride on the back of a crowded truck and walk barefoot through the Sahara desert.
Spain are back as a major player in senior football after winning both the Women’s World Cup and the men’s UEFA Nations League in 2023.
Since 2001, Spanish men’s teams have won 23 consecutive major finals in club and international soccer.
As per England, the men’s team has now lost back-to-back Euro finals.
They were defeated in a penalty shootout by Italy in the final in 2021 – and this was another agonizing loss for a team that will have gone six decades without a major title by the next World Cup.
England’s women have been more successful, though, winning the European Championship in 2021. England’s defeat Sunday came in front of Prince William and Spain’s King Felipe.
“This time it just wasn’t meant to be,” William wrote on social media. “We’re all still so proud of you.”
It was the fourth straight game that the English came from behind since the group stage, but their resilience wasn’t rewarded this time.
“It has been a difficult ride, we have done extremely well to get here, but ultimately we are going to be judged on this game,” England captain Harry Kane said. “We wanted to do it so badly for ourselves and the fans, everyone who has believed in us.”