With photo series + podcastThe best footballing team got what it deserved in Berlin. Spain is once once more the football ruler of Europe twelve years following winning the 2012 European Championship title. A lackluster England was left behind in dismay: 2-1.
Substitute Cole Palmer’s 1-1 gave England some hope. But another substitute, Mikel Oyarzabal, gave Spain what they deserved. The crafty Real Sociedad striker tapped in a cross from left-back Marc Cucurella to give Spain their fourth European title in history (1964, 2008 and 2012).
Spain dictated the game in the first half at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. The team of national coach Luis de la Fuente saw England retreat en masse to their own half, but the Spanish team might not convert their dominance into chances before half-time. England did get a chance just before the break, albeit a half one, when Phil Foden’s effort fell between the posts. Goalkeeper Unai Simon easily picked up the ball.
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• Spanish national coach Luis de la Fuente following European Championship title: ‘I’ve never been this happy’
England looked like the team from the start of the tournament in the Olympiastadion, where the ‘safety first’ label was rightly attached. Striker Harry Kane touched the ball more often in his own penalty area than in the Spanish danger zone. It was nothing new under the sun.
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Weak England at European Championship
Only for one half was the field play of Gareth Southgate’s team at the European Championship mouth-watering and that was part one of the semi-final once morest the Dutch in Dortmund. Then Foden was able to make his mark on the English game, something that was made impossible for him in Berlin by club-mate Rodri.
It was a blow to the Spanish team that the Manchester City player was injured in the dressing room halfway through. The 25-year-old Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad was his replacement. Spain was hardly affected by players dropping out during this tournament.
The names of injured top talents Gavi (19, Barcelona) and Yeremi Pino (21, Villarreal) were already crossed off long before the European Championship. When Pedri (21, Barcelona) was kicked out of the tournament by Toni Kroos in the quarter-finals, his replacement Dani Olmo took the leading role.
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And without Rodri, the Spaniards struck quickly in the second half. Lamine Yamal finally broke free of Luke Shaw, dribbled inside and let Nico Williams finish the job with his left foot. A minute later, the decision seemed to have been made. Williams served Olmo, but his shot went wide of Pickford’s goal.
Screaming Harry Kane
Kane shouted at his teammates not to hang their heads. And he himself would have had every reason to do so. Not only because he was part of the defensively operating English team in the first half, but also because he might already draw the comments in the usually merciless English newspapers.
It had been discussed many times in the run-up. The striker may be one of the icons of English football with his individual performances, but the 30-year-old attacker was certainly not a guarantee for prizes. He played in five finals before the battle in Berlin and not once was he allowed to lift a trophy.
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Those two lost Carabao Cup finals with Tottenham Hotspur, he might certainly live with that. And that his current employer Bayern Munich lost the Super Cup once morest RB Leipzig, well, that might also be okay. Kane was only a substitute that night.
But hey, the lost Champions League final in 2019 in Madrid with Spurs once morest Liverpool (2-0) and the European Championship final at Wembley in 2021, stormed by their own fans following a completely failed penalty shootout, those losses must have hurt the goal machine to the core.
The final in Berlin did the same, especially when he was replaced by Ollie Watkins, the executioner of the Dutch team last Wednesday in Dortmund, following an hour, to loud cheers from the fans. After Williams’ 1-0, Southgate and his team were lucky that Alváro Morata, Williams and Yamal missed great chances to decide the game. And suddenly it was equal when substitute Cole Palmer scored from outside the penalty area. Yamal had the chance to make it 2-1, but Pickford saved. Oyarzabal did strike, shortly before the end.
Top quality is increasing in Spain
And bad news for the competition, La Furia Roja will get even more quality in the coming years. Top talent Pau Cubarsi (17, Barcelona) is coming. Instead of performing in Germany now, he had to gain experience at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Fermin Lopez (21, Barcelona) and Alex Baena (22, Villarreal) will also be there this month, but that duo already got a taste of the big work at the European Championship as bench sitters. And as mentioned, the youngsters Gavi, Pedri and Pino were not even there in Berlin. Spain did not even seem to miss them.
For the English, the hunt for the first prize since the 1966 world title continues unchanged. They came close to equalizing in the final minute, but headers from defenders John Stones and Marc Guéhi were cleared off the line by Unai Simon and Dani Olmo. And so England experienced a new football trauma in Berlin.
Liveblog
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23:13
Yesterday
This concludes this live blog. Thanks for following this EC and see you next time!
23:13
Yesterday
Watch Oyarzabal’s winning goal here
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90’+5′
End of second half
Spain are European champions for the fourth time in history! The Spanish beat England 2-1 with a goal in the final phase by Mikel Oyarzabal. England have a new football trauma and are still waiting for their first prize since 1966.
90′
Minimum four minutes of injury time
90′
There was almost another English goal in the 90th minute. Unai Simon saved a header from Rice, following which the English rebound was cleared off the line. Spain escaped an equalizer.
89′
Lamine Yamal is replaced by Mikel Merino
89′
Phil Foden is replaced by Ivan Toney
86′
2-1 GOAL from Mikel Oyarzabal!
Oyarzabal seems to be shooting Spain to their fourth European title in history. The substitute crawls in front of his man and slides the ball in. Pickford is now without a chance. England must come and force it. Will they succeed?
86′
Will we go to extra time in Berlin or will the decision be made in regular time? Another five minutes or so and then injury time.
83′
Robin Le Normand is replaced by Nacho
82′
Peerless Pickford. Once once more the England goalkeeper who prevents a goal from Yamal following a flashy attack from Spain. The Spanish bench was already thinking regarding the 2-1.
22:39
Yesterday
Watch Cole Palmer’s 1-1 here
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22:39
Yesterday
Palmer shoots himself into the books
Palmer is the first substitute to score in a European Championship final since Wiltord in 2000.
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73′
1-1 GOAL van Cole Palmer!
Speaking of golden substitutions. What a wonderful finish by Palmer. The substitute places the ball with a well-considered sliding shot into the far corner. Unai Simon goes straight, but can never reach it. Is it coming home? Still regarding 20 minutes to go in Berlin.
© AFP
22:29
Yesterday
Wimbledon winner Alcaraz delighted following Williams goal
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70′
Kobbie Mainoo is replaced by Cole Palmer
22:28
Yesterday
Most assists in one EK ahead of Yamal
Just one day into his 17th year, Yamal is once once more entering the history books. The Spanish striker joins the list of players with the most assists at a single European Championship: four.
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68′
Álvaro Morata is replaced by Mikel Oyarzabal
66′
World save from Pickford! Yamal escapes Shaw, holds back, comes inside and places the ball with his left foot towards the far corner. The English goalkeeper has his fingertips on it. Crucial save from Pickford.
63′
Bellingham finally shows himself for real. What a great reception from the midfielder, who turns away from two Spaniards who are breathing down his neck. He shoots hard wide with his left. Is he up now?
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After the painful elimination of the Dutch, Spain and England will compete for the European Championship title. In our special EK dossier we keep you informed of all the latest developments around the Dutch national teamyou can read the special columns of Sjoerd Mossou and the analyses of Maarten Wijffels. View here the full program in Germany.
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The complete schedule of the European Championship
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