Spain Clinches Euro 2024 Title with Late Mikel Oyarzabal Goal: A Historic Victory
Spain defeated England in the thrilling Euro 2024 final, winning 2-1 thanks to a spectacular late strike from substitute Mikel Oyarzabal.
With this victory, England’s chances of winning a major championship for the first time in almost 60 years were dashed, and Spain once again established itself as a formidable power in international football.
In Sunday’s Euro 2024 final, Spain defeated England 2-1 thanks to a thrilling late goal from substitute Mikel Oyarzabal, confirming their comeback as a major player on the international scene and dashing their rivals’ hopes of capturing a first championship in nearly 60 years. After halftime, Spain lost key midfield player Rodri to injury, but they overcame it and took the lead through Nico Williams, who was set up by fellow star winger Lamine Yamal, in just two minutes.
As they have done so frequently throughout this Euros, England rallied from behind when substitute Cole Palmer scored the equalizer just 73 minutes after entering the game. However, their comeback was short-lived as Real Sociedad striker Oyarzabal scored a cross in the 86th minute to give Spain a record-tying fourth European Championship title—their third in the previous five editions.
They had previously won in 1964, 2008, and 2012; the latter two crowns came just after their victory in the 2010 World Cup, which took place during the heyday of Andres Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, and Xavi Hernandez.
It remains to be seen if this generation, captained by the outstanding Yamal, who was performing here just a day after turning seventeen, can duplicate the feats of that incredible side, but their victory was well-deserved.
The majority of the crowd at the Olympiastadion was devoted to England’s cause, but Spain, who had been by far the greatest team in Germany for the past month, remained unfazed.
In their first-ever final played abroad, England was unable to secure their first men’s international championship since their legendary triumph at the 1966 World Cup.
They are the first team to lose consecutive Euro championships after the anguish of losing to Italy on penalties three years prior.
After a season in which he too failed to win anything with Bayern Munich, captain Harry Kane, now thirty years old, is left waiting for his first trophy in a goal-laden career.
Spain was always going to be in control of this match, and England chased the ball for the whole of the first half.
Spain dominated play right from the start, but neither side was able to muster a shot on goal until stoppage time at the end of the first half. Goalie Unai Simon easily stopped Phil Foden’s effort after Declan Rice delivered a free kick.
However, it was right before that when Rodri injured himself by colliding with teammate Aymeric Laporte as he attempted to block a shot from Kane. The excellent holding midfielder for Spain was unable to finish and was replaced by Martin Zubimendi at the restart.
Spain didn’t spend any time in taking the lead, even if it seemed like their absence from the center of the park may utterly derail them.
The two wingers from Spain threatened England, and it was they who collaborated to score the goal when Yamal received a pass from Dani Carvajal and ducked inside.
Williams scored with a calm, low first-time effort that went over Jordan Pickford and into the far corner after he delivered a pass for him. It would now be necessary for England to come back from behind, but they had done just that in all three of their previous knockout matches.
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At the hour mark, Southgate benched his lucky player, Harry Kane, and substituted Ollie Watkins, the same player who helped England defeat the Netherlands in the semi-final.
While Southgate attempted to reverse the flow by substituting Palmer for Kobbie Mainoo, Spain had opportunities to extend their lead and their supporters started to applaud every successful pass with a “ole.”
After three minutes, Bukayo Saka’s right-wing cross was laid off by Jude Bellingham to Palmer, who scored from close range with a low first-time shot into the corner to tie the score for England.
But, Spain’s own super-sub gave them the lead with four minutes remaining.
Playing the ball out to Marc Cucurella on the left, Oyarzabal raced into the middle to convert a low cross from a teammate into the goal while maintaining just onside.
Then, Spain managed to hang on, but only after Dani Olmo made a crucial clearance off the line to prevent Marc Guehi at the very end.
