England’s bid to end 58 years of heartache and claim their first major title since 1966 came to a bitter end in Berlin’s Olympiastadion as they fell to a defeat against Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
Manager Gareth Southgate’s team suffered a devastating blow when Mikel Oyarzabal struck a late winner, condemning England to another heartbreaking loss in their second consecutive European Championship final and prolonging their agonizing wait for success on the international stage.
Spain took the lead early in the second half through a clinical finish from Nico Williams, set up by Lamine Yamal’s incisive pass. Despite England’s efforts to rally, including Cole Palmer’s equalizer in the 73rd minute, it was Spain who ultimately secured victory with Oyarzabal’s decisive goal four minutes from time, converting Marc Cucurella’s cross.
The match was a tense and emotional affair, with England’s passionate supporters outnumbering their Spanish counterparts in the iconic stadium. Hopes were high among the English faithful that this would finally be the tournament where their team would break the cycle of near misses and claim glory.
However, despite Palmer’s goal injecting new life into England’s challenge, the resilient Spanish side held firm and delivered the telling blow that shattered England’s dreams once more. The result was a bitter pill to swallow for Southgate and his squad, who had shown resilience and fought back from adversity throughout Euro 2024, mirroring their heroic comebacks in earlier matches against Slovakia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
As the final whistle blew, England’s disappointment was palpable. Declan Rice and Marc Guehi came agonizingly close to forcing extra time, only to see their efforts cleared off the line in dramatic fashion by Spanish defenders. For Southgate and his team, it marked a continuation of their recent heartbreaks in major tournaments, including defeat in the Euro 2020 final to Italy and exits in the World Cup stages.
The future remains uncertain for Southgate, with questions lingering over his tenure ahead of the next World Cup. The defeat to Spain may prove to be a defining moment in his managerial career, as England once again fell short of capturing the elusive major trophy that has evaded them for decades.
bbc