Spain is the king of European soccer for a record fourth time. For England, itB次元官网网址檚 another agonizing near-miss in the teamB次元官网网址檚 decades-long tale of underachievement.
Completing a tournament the team dominated from start to finish, Spain beat England 2-1 in the European Championship final on Sunday with Mikel Oyarzabal the unlikely match-winner in the 86th minute.
Oyarzabal, a backup striker who came on as a substitute for captain Alvaro Morata, slid in to poke home a left-wing cross by Marc Cucurella, just when the game at BerlinB次元官网网址檚 Olympiastadion seemed destined for extra time.
England, the birthplace of soccer, is still without a major title in the menB次元官网网址檚 game since winning the 1966 World Cup and its players watched on forlornly as Morata raised aloft the silver trophy to backdrop of confetti and fireworks inside the stadium built for the 1936 Olympics.
Add 2024 to the titles won by Spain in 1964, 2008 and 2012.
B次元官网网址淗ere we are, champions of Europe,B次元官网网址� said Nico Williams, whose opening goal for Spain in the 47th minute was canceled out by England substitute Cole Palmer in the 73rd. B次元官网网址淲e are thrilled and hope this can keep going and we can go for the (2026) World Cup.B次元官网网址�
Lamine Yamal, the prodigy who turned 17 on Saturday and is the youngest player to have appeared at a European Championship, set up WilliamsB次元官网网址� goal with an inside run before passing across the face of the area. The two wingers have become the poster boys of an exciting, multicultural team that reflects SpainB次元官网网址檚 changing demographics.
YamalB次元官网网址檚 mother is from Equatorial Guinea and his father is from Morocco, while the 22-year-old 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.
B次元官网网址淚 believe there is a historical change, we are really grateful,B次元官网网址� said Williams, the player of the match with his darting runs and his second goal of Euro 2024.
B次元官网网址淢y parents have suffered a lot to get here. They are the ones who have suffered the most and they have instilled this sort of respect and loyalty in me,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really happy because we are making history.B次元官网网址�
Unlike his brother Inaki, who is a Ghana international, Nico chose to play for Spain and will now be regarded as a national hero there.
Spain is back as a major player in senior soccer after winning both the WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup B次元官网网址� also against England B次元官网网址� and the menB次元官网网址檚 UEFA Nations League in 2023.
Since 2001, Spanish menB次元官网网址檚 teams have won 23 consecutive major finals in club and international soccer.
B次元官网网址淚 said before the tournament, nobody can hang with us,B次元官网网址� Williams said.
Spain won all seven games at this European Championship B次元官网网址� an unprecedented feat B次元官网网址� and broke the record for goals scored in a single tournament, with 15.
There were joyous scenes after the final whistle, with defender Dani Carvajal piled on by jubilant teammates after slumping to the ground. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was thrown into the air by his players. Both Cucurella and Yamal led SpainB次元官网网址檚 players in jumping over the advertising boards to reach the red-and-yellow-clad Spanish fans in the stadiumB次元官网网址檚 east end.
B次元官网网址淭his is the best (birthday) gift I could have asked for,B次元官网网址� Yamal said. B次元官网网址淚t is a dream come true.B次元官网网址�
After getting his medal, the teenager turned and shook his fist in celebration, stuck his tongue out and showed off a beaming grin. By then, Yamal and his team mates were wearing Spain jerseys with B次元官网网址淜ings of EuropeB次元官网网址� and the number B次元官网网址�4B次元官网网址� on the back.
Meanwhile, fans who had watched the game on a big screen in Madrid celebrated wildly, chanting B次元官网网址渃hampions, championsB次元官网网址� in Spanish. It was a great sporting day for the nation, with Carlos Alcaraz winning the Wimbledon menB次元官网网址檚 singles title for a second straight year hours before the Euro 2024 final.
As for England, the menB次元官网网址檚 team has now lost back-to-back Euro finals B次元官网网址� it was defeated in a penalty shootout by Italy on home soil in the final in 2021 B次元官网网址� and this was another painful loss for a team that will have gone six decades without a major title by the next World Cup.
EnglandB次元官网网址檚 women have been more successful, though, winning the European Championship in 2021 and reaching the World Cup final two years later.
B次元官网网址淭his time it just wasnB次元官网网址檛 meant to be,B次元官网网址� Prince William, who attended the final alongside other dignitaries including SpainB次元官网网址檚 King Felipe, wrote on social media. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all still so proud of you.B次元官网网址�
It was the fourth straight game that the English came from behind since the group stage, but their resilience wasnB次元官网网址檛 rewarded this time.
A team that has produced big moments when it really mattered at Euro 2024 B次元官网网址� including Jude BellinghamB次元官网网址檚 95th-minute overhead kick against Slovakia in the round of 16 B次元官网网址� couldnB次元官网网址檛 deliver another one, with Spain midfielder Dani Olmo clearing the ball off the line at a corner in the 89th minute.
B次元官网网址淚t has been a difficult ride, we have done extremely well to get here, but ultimately we are going to be judged on this game,B次元官网网址� England captain Harry Kane said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 extremely painful,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to hurt for a long, long time.B次元官网网址�
England coach Gareth Southgate, who has been in charge for eight years and also led the team to the World Cup semifinals in 2018, said it wasnB次元官网网址檛 the time to make a decision on his future. His contract expires in December.
B次元官网网址淢ost of this squad are going to be around not just for the World Cup but the next Euros as well,B次元官网网址� Southgate said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot to look forward to but at this moment thatB次元官网网址檚 not any consolation.B次元官网网址�
Steve Douglas, The Associated Press
