Euro 2024 final: Spain beat England 2-1 for record fourth continental title

2 minBy Ockert de Villiers
Spain wins Euro 2024 - Football

(2024 Getty Images)

Spain won their fourth men's UEFA European Championship title by breaking English hearts with a 2-1 win over the Three Lions in the 2024 final.

A late goal by substitute Mikel Oyarzabal clinched the victory for the Spanish at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Sunday (14 July).

England contributed plenty to their second straight Euro final, which was tense and tactical at times, but once again Gareth Southgate's men couldn't claim a first continental title.

Instead, the Spanish got their hands on the silverware for the first time since 2012, to break a tie with Germany/West Germany as the most successful team in the Euros.

The match was largely uneventful in the first half with England taking some confidence from their defensive effort which kept the dangerous Spanish attack away from the box.

But it all changed a minute into the second half when Nico Williams’ left-footed strike found the back of the net to send the Spanish into a frenzy.

Spain had their tails up and came close to doubling the score less than a minute later and continued to find easy passage past the English defences.

Another substitute, in the form of Cole Palmer, got England back into the game with a goal in the 73rd minute to equal the scores.

Palmer’s shot took the sting out of the Spanish attack, and the English were hopeful of pushing for a comeback victory, as they had in their previous three knockout stage matches.

But Oyarzabal struck in a dramatic finale to give Spain a 2-1 lead four minutes from the end of the regulation time.

England had a final roll of the dice in the box, but the Spanish blocked two consecutive shots on target to end England’s hopes of their first major crown since the 1966 World Cup.

A European title continues to elude the English, while the Spanish cemented their place as the top side in the history of the Euros.

Hours earlier Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz embraced his newfound title as the darling of Wimbledon retaining his men’s singles title after beating Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) at the All England Club. Alcaraz made history by becoming the first Spaniard to win back-to-back titles at Wimbledon, with the football team later sealing a great day for Spanish sport.

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