Spain win record fourth European Championship title by inflicting another painful defeat on England

BERLIN (AP) — Spain has reigned supreme in European football for the fourth time, marking another painful near-miss for England in a decades-long saga of underachievement.

Spain played a tournament that it dominated from start to finish, beating England 2-1 in the final of the European Championship on Sunday, with Mikel Oyarzabal surprisingly scoring the winning goal in the 86th minute.

Oyarzabal, a reserve striker who came on as a replacement for captain Alvaro Morata, slid forward and tapped in a cross from the left from Marc Cucurella just as the match at Berlin’s Olympiastadion looked set to go into extra time.

England, the birthplace of football, has yet to win a major title in men’s football since winning the World Cup in 1966. The players watched in dismay as Morata lifted the silver trophy amid confetti and fireworks in the stadium built for the 1936 Olympics.

Add 2,024 to the titles Spain won in 1964, 2008 and 2012.

“Here we are, champions of Europe,” said Nico Williams, whose 47th-minute opener for Spain was cancelled out by England substitute Cole Palmer in the 73rd minute. “We’re excited and we hope this can continue and we can go for the World Cup (in 2026).”

Lamine Yamal, the prodigy who turned 17 on Saturday and became the youngest player to ever appear at a European Championship, set up Williams’ goal with an inside run before crossing the box. The two wingers have become the poster boys for an exciting, multicultural team that reflects Spain’s changing demographics.

Yamal’s mother is from Equatorial Guinea and his father from Morocco, while Williams, 22, has Ghanaian parents who made the long journey to Europe in search of a better life. To reach Spain, they had to ride on the back of an overcrowded truck and walk barefoot through the Sahara.

“I believe there is a historic change happening, we are really grateful for it,” said Williams, the player of the match with his lightning runs and his second goal of Euro 2024.

“My parents suffered a lot to get here. They are the ones who suffered the most and they instilled this kind of respect and loyalty in me,” he said. “I am really happy because we are making history.”

Unlike his brother Inaki, who plays for Ghana internationally, Nico chose to play for Spain and will now be regarded as a national hero there.

Spain are back as a major player in senior football after winning both the 2023 Women’s World Cup (also against England) and the men’s UEFA Nations League.

Since 2001, Spanish men’s teams have won 23 consecutive major finals in club and international football.

“I said before the tournament that no one could come with us,” Williams said.

Spain won all seven matches at this European Championship, an unprecedented achievement, and broke the record for goals scored in a single tournament, with 15.

There were scenes of joy after the final whistle, with defender Dani Carvajal being lifted by cheering team-mates after falling to the ground. Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente was thrown into the air by his players. Both Cucurella and Yamal led the Spanish players in jumping over advertising hoardings to reach the red-and-yellow clad Spanish fans in the eastern section of the stadium.

“This is the best (birthday present) I could have asked for,” Yamal said. “It’s a dream come true.”

After receiving his medal, the teenager turned around and shook his fist in celebration, sticking out his tongue and flashing a beaming grin. By then, Yamal and his teammates were wearing Spanish shirts with “Kings of Europe” and the number “4” on the back.

Meanwhile, fans watching the match on a big screen in Madrid celebrated wildly, chanting “champions, champions” in Spanish. It was a great day of sport for the nation, with Carlos Alcaraz winning the Wimbledon title for the second year in a row, just hours before the Euro 2024 final.

As for England, the men’s team have now lost two consecutive European Championship finals. In 2021, they were defeated on penalties in the final on home soil by Italy. It was another painful loss for a team that has not won a major title at the next World Cup for 60 years.

However, England women have been more successful, winning the European Championship in 2021 and reaching the World Cup final two years later.

“This time it just wasn’t meant to be,” Prince William, who attended the final along with other dignitaries including Spain’s King Felipe, wrote on social media. “We are all still so proud of you.”

It was the fourth game in a row that England had come from behind since the group stage, but their resilience was not rewarded this time.

A team that produced key moments at Euro 2024, such as Jude Bellingham’s 95th-minute bicycle kick against Slovakia in the round of 16, failed to produce any more. Spain midfielder Dani Olmo cleared the ball off the line after a corner kick in the 89th minute.

“It’s been a tough ride, we’ve done exceptionally well to get here but ultimately we’re judged on this game,” said England captain Harry Kane.

“It’s extremely painful,” he added. “It’s going to hurt for a long time.”

England manager Gareth Southgate, who has been in charge for eight years and also led the team to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, said it was not yet time to make a decision on his future. His contract expires in December.

“Most of this squad will be there not just for the World Cup but for the next European Championship,” Southgate said. “There’s a lot to look forward to but that’s no consolation at the moment.”