Spain vs England, Euro 2024 Final: Spain wins 2-1, Lamine Yamal decisive in memorable Berlin match.

Barcelona’s largest contingent at Euro 2024 can call themselves European Champions as Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Ferran Torres and Fermín López’s Spain beat England 2-1 on Sunday’s memorable Final in Berlin to claim their third Euros title in the last 16 years and become the first country to win the tournament four different times. After a cagey first half the game became a spectacle in the second period, and Spain’s remarkable run in Germany ends with a deserved title after seven wins in seven games.

FIRST HALF

The opening 45 minutes were as cagey as expected, with neither side willing to make a crucial early mistake. Spain had virtually all of the possession, while England stayed back in their low block and waited for opportunities to counter. The two teams had moments of some danger but lacked effectiveness in the final third, and neither goalkeeper had to make an important save.

The first half came and went without any meaningful action to speak of, and everything was left to be decided the final period.

SECOND HALF

Spain were forced into a halftime change with Rodri coming off for Martin Zubimendi, and the general feeling was that La Roja’s chances in the final had just taken a big blow with perhaps the world’s best midfielder not able to continue seemingly due to injury.

But Luis de la Fuente’s side responded with a spectacular start, scoring just 70 seconds into the period when Lamine Yamal received the ball deep in the final third and found Nico Williams all alone for a powerful finish inside the box. The opening goal started a Spanish blitz, with Dani Olmo, Álvaro Morata and Williams all missing real chances to double the score within the first 10 minutes.

England were on the ropes and very close to being knocked out of the game completely, and Gareth Southgate brought off his captain as Harry Kane was replaced by Ollie Watkins at the hour mark to try and give the English attack a different dynamic.

The substitution gave England a spark and the Three Lions offered more of a threat, with a shot from distance by Jude Bellingham that went wide of the mark their best moment of the game. Yamal almost doubled the Spanish lead shortly after with a shot that required a brilliant save from Jordan Pickford, and the game had truly come to life with 20 minutes to go.

Cole Palmer was the next England change, and that substitution proved right after just three minutes when the Chelsea man received an assist from Bellingham and fired a gorgeous shot along the ground to find the bottom corner and equalize with just over 15 minutes left on the clock.

The momentum shift was obvious after the English goal, and it was Spain’s turn to look on the ropes as La Roja were forced to drop back and could no longer get out of their own half or find their dangerous wingers. They decided to keep possession for an extended period to try and slow down the English charge, and the plan worked at least for a few minutes as England had to retreat and could no longer play on the front foot as easily.

Spain found their flow again and came very close to retaking the lead with 10 minutes to go after a one-two between Williams and Olmo fell to Yamal in perfect position inside the box, but the teenager’s shot was once again well-saved by Pickford. La Roja were once again on top in the dying minutes, and England looked content with taking the game to extra time as we approached the final seconds.

But England’s defensive approach was punished with five minutes to go when a cross by Marc Cucurella found Mikel Oyarzabal inside the box, and the Real Sociedad striker passed the ball into the net to give La Roja the lead for the second time.

England had no choice but to throw everything forward in a desperate search for a late equalizer, which included a spectacular double clearance off the line after headers from Declan Rice and Marc Guéhi. Spain did everything they could to waste time and not allow England another opportunity, and their mission was accomplished successfully as the final whistle came to give La Roja the Euro 2024 championship.

Lamine Yamal is a champion at 17 years old, and might just be the Player of the Tournament with a goal and four assists and an excellent performance in the championship game. The teenager was amazing and will be the headline from a Barça perspective, but Spain as a whole deserve all the credit for being the only team that played to win every single game, and they went through a gauntlet from the group stage to the Final to claim the trophy without any asterisks.




Source: SB Nation