Spain are champions of Europe for a fourth time, and the first since 2012, while England’s long wait for a men’s major trophy stretches to 58 years after a 2-1 loss in Berlin.
A tense arm wrestle in the opening 45 minutes flourished into an exciting second half as Nico Williams gave Spain a lead within two minutes of the restart.
England had come from a goal down in their three previous knockout games and replacement Cole Palmer drove home an equaliser in the 73rd minute to raise hopes of another come from behind win.
But Mikel Oyarzabal timed his run perfectly behind the defence to slide home the winner in the 86th minute from Marc Cucuralla’s perfect pass from the left.
England, beaten finalists in the 2021 edition at home, threatened right at the death when Declan Rice had a header parried back into the path of Marc Guehi. The defender’s goal-bound header was cleared off the line by Dani Olmo.
The win was well deserved by Spain who defended with intensity and looked impressive going forward. For England, Jude Bellingham was outstanding and his deft pass set up Palmer’s goal, but they were well beaten across the pitch.
Not even the loss through injury to player of the tournament Rodri in the first half could disrupt the Spanish fluidity and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had to make two sharp saves to deny Lamine Yamal after Williams’ opener.
Spain won all seven matches at the tournament, becoming the first European nation to win seven matches at a major international tournament (Euros/World Cup) and just the second overall, along with Brazil at the 2002 World Cup.
Along the way they beat England, France, Germany and Italy – all World Cup winners.
Rodri explained the team’s philosophy: “Play like a big team with the ball, and without the ball like a small team.
“Spain is the most beautiful country because of what we have in here, in the heart.
“We’ve been working in silence for a lot of years, the results weren’t there. But we keep working and never give up. This is history. We beat four champions of World Cup. The most tough run and we did it.”
On the England side there was only misery.
“It’s hard to put into words how we’re all feeling right now,” said skipper Harry Kane, who lasted an hour before being replaced. “Tough game. We did well to get back into the game and struggled to build on that. To concede late on is really tough to take.
“We’ve been coming from behind all tournament, we’ve got it in the locker. We didn’t take the next step and win it.
“In the first half, we struggled. We couldn’t keep the ball. Second half was better and we got the goal. We got caught with a cross and that’s the final.
“It’s an opportunity missed. These finals aren’t easy to get to. You have to take it when it comes and we haven’t done it again. It’s extremely painful and it’ll hurt for a long time.”
It could well be the end of the line for manager Gareth Southgate.
Kane said: “Gareth will go away and take time to decide. We wanted to win it for him.”
Former England striker Alan Shearer said he expected Southgate to move on.
“I suspect it will be Southgate’s last game. There will be great disappointment at home. Yes, we could have played more attacking football but they have got to the final. But when you are here, you have got to get over the line,” Shearer said.
“The reality is he got us to a final three years ago and got us to a final here, and hasn’t won. That will hurt him and maybe he will think it’s time for someone else.”
Southgate, however, was non-committal.
“I don’t think now is a good time to make a decision like that. I need to talk to the right people. It’s not for now,” he told ITV.
Southgate was criticised for his selections earlier in the tournament and made just one change for the final – with Luke Shaw coming in on the left side of defence for Kieran Trippier. Shaw was secure in the first half but he started to tire and Yamal gave him a torrid time.
The England manager’s tactics have also been viewed as too cautious, but former Socceroo John Aloisi said Spain dictated the flow to the final.
“Questions will be asked and people will say England sat back – I just think Spain were so good with the ball, England couldn’t get near it,” Aloisi said.
“When you’re being dominated by a team like that, sometimes it’s the decisions you make before the game. Luke Shaw starting was a question mark. Why not take him off in the second?”
Southgate stuck with Kane when at times the Bayern Munich striker looked a shadow of his best self.
Kane was peripheral again and his long wait for a meaningful trophy continues at club or international level.
“Physically it has been tough for him. He came into the tournament short on games and has not quite reached the level we all would have hoped,” said Southgate.
Former Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, speaking on Optus Sport, put blame on the England front man.
With Kane you question what kind of impact he’s had,” said Sorensen. “Yes he scored the three goals but in general not much is happening. His touches in the box have been really poor. He’s looked slow , lethargic.”
“Is that Kane’s fault though,” asked Aloisi. “Gareth Southgate tried to fit in all these players, Foden, Bellingham Kane, and Saka, all these attacking players who have done really well for their club sides but they don’t all fit into a system. If Harry Kane’s coming off who’s running in behind, who’s making those penetrating runs?
“At Bayern Munich he scored a lot of goals but he had other players around him playing to a system that suited Harry Kane.”
Tony Harperhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2024/07/15/extremely-painful-england-rocked-by-late-spain-winner-as-long-long-wait-for-silverware-continues/‘Extremely painful’: Kane goes missing again as Spain seal fourth Euros title and extend England’s trophy drought to 58 years
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