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Spain have won Euro 2024, beating England 2-1 in Sunday night’s final in Berlin, to lift the trophy for a fourth time.
A late goal from substitute Mikel Oyarzabal proved the difference between the two sides, although Spain dominated possession and were the better team throughout the final.
The first half ended goalless, with both teams starting cautiously. Spain then opened the scoring in the first minute after the break through winger Nico Williams. England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was forced into action soon after as Spain continued to press for another goal.
England then levelled the score with just under 20 minutes to go thanks to a shot from just outside the penalty area from Cole Palmer. The Chelsea forward came off the bench just two minutes earlier as head coach Gareth Southgate refreshed England’s attacking line.
But with just four minutes left inside Berlin’s Olympic stadium, Spain took the lead again through substitute Oyarzabal. England pushed for another goal until the final seconds, but to no avail.
For England’s men’s side, the 58-year wait for a trophy goes on. Under Southgate, Sunday marked the second time in three years that England had made it to a major final, a first for the men’s side. His team lost the decider of the delayed Euro 2020 to Italy on penalties in front of a home crowd at Wembley Stadium.
Spain went into Euro 2024 as dark horses — bookmakers rated England, France, Germany and Portugal as more likely winners. However, convincing victories in the group stages saw their odds slashed. Spain won the Euros in 2012 and 2008, the tournaments either side of the country’s World Cup win in 2010, and in 1964.
While Spain breezed through to the final, scoring 13 goals and winning all their matches, England laboured at every stage.
After defeating Serbia in the opening match, England then drew against both Slovenia and Denmark during the group stages. A spectacular injury-time equaliser from Jude Bellingham in the round of 16 saved England from a humiliating defeat to Slovakia, but penalties were needed to overcome Switzerland in the quarterfinals, and then an injury time winner against the Netherlands took the team to the final.