Spain, reborn, won the Euro for the fourth time in history on Sunday, an unprecedented feat achieved at the expense of England (2-1), beaten again in the final, three years after the Wembley dream vanished. In Berlin, the joyful band of Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal, young, lightning wingers, brought back the Red on the roof of Europe, drawing a line with its glorious elders of 1964, 2008 and 2012.
Mikel Oyarzabal, who came on in place of captain Alvaro Morata, threw himself in front of Jordan Pickford to score the winning goal at the end of the suspense (86e 2-1) on a cross from Marc Cucurella. The red and yellow supporters exploded with joy in a Olympiastadion the scene of a huge disappointment, once again, for the still cursed English, with a desperately empty record since the 1966 World Cup won at home.
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Perfect consistency in the tournament
The football kingdom will have to dry its tears once again, as in 2021 when Italy came to London to bury its dream after a completely missed penalty shootout.
Spain’s consecration nevertheless appears deserved at the end of a journey that the Red flew over with his talent and his mastery, notably under the feet of Yamine Lamal, 17 years old since Saturday, and Nico Williams, 22 years old since Friday.
Luis de la Fuente’s team went through the tournament like a cannonball, piercing their opponents in turn, whether it was Croatia and Italy in the first round, the host country Germany in the quarter-finals (2-1 aet) then Kylian Mbappé’s France in the semi-finals (2-1).
On Sunday, as against the French, the Spanish once again took possession of the ball, with an offensive momentum that was however less pronounced than usual, at least in the first half, wary of opposing counter-attacks.
At half-time, these two facets were quite clearly visible as the only shot on target recorded by UEFA was to be credited to England, despite having much less possession (34%). Unai Simon caught Phil Foden’s shot at the far post without any trouble (45e +1), a symbol of this first locked act.
Decisive entries from Palmer and Oyarzabal
A minute earlier, England captain Harry Kane also tried his luck after good work from Jude Bellingham, but his shot was blocked by Rodri (45e ), injured on the action and forced to come off. Losing his midfield hub, perhaps the best Spaniard in the Euro, clearly didn’t affect the Red set off at full speed and quickly took the lead in the score.
On a fairly innocuous ball, defender Dani Carvajal superbly launched Lamine Yamal into the air. The Barça winger refocused and shifted Williams to the left, who came to crucify Jordan Pickford with a cross shot that Kyle Walker tried to counter by throwing himself (47e 1-0).
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A goal on the verge of offside
The match became lively from there, with the Spaniards suddenly much more liberated and dangerous, as with this powerful strike from Williams that went just wide (56e ) or this attempt by Yamal diverted by Pickford (66)e ).
Gareth Southgate tried several electroshocks, with the entry of Ollie Watkins in place of captain Harry Kane, and that of Cole Palmer, the twirling Chelsea striker. It took only three minutes for the 22-year-old, well served back by Bellingham, to shake the Spanish net with a sharp left-footed strike (73e 1-1).
No. 24 had already put on his cape super sub (super-substitute) with an assist for Watkins in the semi-final against the Netherlands (2-1). But the Spanish bench also had resources with Mikel Oyarzabal, the Real Sociedad striker, a goal scorer on the verge of offside, who became the hero of a team drunk with happiness.
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