Spain outlasted England 2-1 in a riveting contest to win the Euro 2024 tournament in style. Goals from wing flyer Nico Williams Jr and Mikel Oyarzabal after substitute Cole Palmer had levelled matters for the Three Lions propelled La Roja to their fourth European Championship title.
Luis de la Fuente’s side were the tournament’s outstanding side even before Sunday’s final at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin after winning all six matches in the competition. The victory over England was the crowning achievement after a month of sublime football which witnessed them score 14 goals and concede just four.
They also had to negotiate their way through the more difficult side of the draw. To get to the final, La Roja had to beat the three next most successful sides in the competition – 1972, 1980 and 1996 champions Germany who they overcame in a hard fought semifinal; 1984 and 2000 tournament winners France as well as1968 and 2020 titlists Italy who they played off the park 1-0 in a group game.
A former Spain U-17, Under-19 and Under-21 coach without a big name reputation in club football, de la Fuente has surpassed expectations having already guided the team to last year’s Uefa Nation League title. Spain are now the continent’s most successful side having also lifted the crown in 1964, 2008 and 2012.
Spain’s midfield metronome Rodrigo Cascante Hernandez ‘Rodri’ who came off at half time was voted player of the tournament by Uefa’s technical committee while 17-year-old winger Lamine Yamal, creator of Nico Williams’ opening goal was named Euro 2024 young player of the event. The official Uefa Best XI will be named within the next few days.
For England, it was a case of de javu as they also lost the Euro 2020 finals to Italy. Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has been feted for lifting the country’s national team from the doldrums but must now meet his bosses at the English FA to decide if he’s the right man to end the country’s six decades long wait for international silverware.
The temptation to keep a man who guided England to the Russia 2018 World Cup semifinals, Qatar 2022 quarterfinals and consecutive Euro finals will be great but Southgate’s detractors will argue it’s time for a more innovative tactician to pick up the reins.
