With the fourth European Championship title following 1964, 2008 and 2012, Spain is now the sole record European champion.
The Iberians beat England 2-1 (0-0) in the final in Berlin on Sunday evening.
After a first half with few chances, Williams put the Spanish side in the lead following 70 seconds. Substitute Palmer managed to equalise at 1-1 before Oyarzabal scored the decisive goal following a cross from Cucurella.
Next holiday for Yamal
The Spaniards, coached by Luis de la Fuente, finished the finals in Germany with seven wins in seven games and a goal difference of 15:4. England, on the other hand, failed in a European Championship final for the second time in a row, and their title drought since the 1966 World Cup at home continues.
England’s team manager Gareth Southgate, who had already been heavily criticised during the tournament, returned to a back four in defence. Luke Shaw was in the starting eleven for the first time since February in a competitive match and was supposed to restrict the space of Spain’s young star Lamine Yamal at left back.
One day following his 17th birthday, he became the youngest player to ever play in a European Championship final. His teammates Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, who were suspended in the semi-finals, were back in the starting line-up in defence.
Photo gallery: How beautifully the Spaniards celebrated their European title
(Photo: JAVIER SORIANO (AFP)) Bild 1/54
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Concerned regarding safety
Southgate remained true to his safety-conscious football. The English, supported by heir to the throne Prince William and the majority of fans in the Olympic Stadium, left the game to the Spanish, who were slightly favored by the bookmakers.
In front of King Felipe VI, they had almost 80 percent possession in the first 15 minutes, but the British did not allow any clear goal chances in the first half.
Phil Foden fired the first shot on goal of the match shortly before the half-time whistle, but his volley was easy prey for Spain keeper Unai Simon (45.+1).
70 seconds following the restart, there was a bang
Rodri apparently had to leave the game at half-time due to thigh problems, and Martin Zubimendi came in for him. The Spaniards did not seem shocked by the loss of their midfield organizer. Yamal, who was brought in by Carvajal, moved to the middle and served Williams perfectly.
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The 22-year-old from Athletic Bilbao completed the Iberians’ first good combination 70 seconds following the restart to score his second goal of the tournament in the far corner.
Spain kept the pressure on. Dani Olmo put the ball past the far corner (49th minute), Williams also narrowly missed the target with a long-range shot (56th minute). England captain Harry Kane had to make way for semi-final hero Ollie Watkins in the center of the attack following just 60 minutes. Jude Bellingham knocked on the goal (64th minute), while on the other side England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford parried a dangerous left-foot shot from Yamal (66th minute).
Southgate also threw Palmer into the game – and he was successful. The Chelsea youngster equalized with his second touch of the ball just three minutes following coming on. Bellingham had laid the ball back to him perfectly, and the 22-year-old scored with the inside of his foot. Zubimendi’s shot had been slightly deflected. The game was now completely open, with no trace of the feeling-out process of the first half.
In some English public viewings there was no stopping them:
Spain with the perfect answer
“La Roja” had the better end of the match. A Yamal shot from a good position went too centrally for Pickford (82′), four minutes later Marc Cucurella found substitute Oyarzabal with an ideal cross pass, who shot the Spaniards to the title.
The Real Sociedad attacker had initiated the action himself. The English had a double chance to equalize. Simon saved a header from Declan Rice, and Olmo cleared the following attempt from Marc Guehi on the line (90′).
The Spanish have won four of the five European Championship finals they have taken part in. They only lost 2-0 to France in 1984. Since 2012, the team that had a day longer between the semi-final and the final has won the final of a European Championship or World Cup for the seventh time in a row.
