After 12 years, Spain has once again lifted the championship trophy. Spain claimed the Euro 2024 title, hosted by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
On Monday, Spain defeated England 2-1 in the final match held at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany. This victory marks Spain’s first championship since the 2012 tournament, bringing them great joy after a 12-year.
Moreover, Spain has won four championships in 1964, 2008, 2012, and 2024, making it the team with the most victories among UEFA member countries. Previously, Spain and Germany were tied with three wins each.
England, which made it to the final in the last tournament held in their home country, had to bow its head once again. The “birthplace of football” suffers from a major tournament jinx.
England’s only major tournament victory was the acclamation to the top of the 1966 World Cup held in their home country. The jinx continues for Harry Kane, the star striker of the English team, who plays for Bayern Munich.
Spain and England finished the first half without scoring. Two minutes into the second half, Spain shook the English net first.
Nico Williams scored the opening goal. Williams received a pass from Ramin Jamal, who had broken through the right flank and moved towards the penalty arc. Williams opened the English goal with his left foot.
Trailing 0-1, England played their substitution card. They substituted Olly Watkins for captain, goal scorer Kane, and Col Palmer for Koby Mino.
The change paid off. At 28 minutes into the second half, Palmer equalized with a left-footed shot from the right of the penalty arc, making it 1-1.
However, Spain retook the lead. At 41 minutes into the second half, Miguel Oyarzabal became the game-changer.
Oyarzabal scored the decisive goal by connecting a cross from Marc Cucurella with a sliding shot in front of the English goal.
Spain also greatly benefited from their substitutions. At 23 minutes into the second half, Oyarzabal, who came on as a substitute for Alvaro Morata, became the hero with the winning goal.
England launched a desperate attack in the final minutes to equalize but was stopped by the Spanish defense. Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante (Rodri) was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), and Jamal, who celebrated his 17th birthday the day before, was selected as the tournament’s Best Young Player.
In the scoring category, six players, including Kane and Dani Olmo of Spain, tied for first place with three goals each.
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