Mikel Oyarzabal’s 86th-minute strike gave Spain a fourth European title with a deserved win against England in the Uefa Euro 2024 final.
Substitute Oyarzabal, who had replaced captain Alvaro Morata 18 minutes earlier, turned Marc Cucurella’s low cross past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to restore a lead La Roja held on to, extending their own record by winning a seventh match at a single Euro edition.
Spain dominated first-half possession before Nico Williams’ 47th-minute strike from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal’s fourth assist of the finals opened the scoring.
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Cole Palmer’s exceptional 73rd-minute drive drew England level three minutes after the Chelsea midfielder had been introduced, but the Three Lions’ wait for a second major title to add to the Fifa 1966 World Cup goes on.
England vs Spain: Result rewards La Roja
Spain entered the final as favourites and the most consistently impressive side in Germany, Luis de la Fuente refinining their passing traditions and adding a touch of steel which carried them through falling behind against Georgia and France during the knockout stage.
De la Fuente’s players had 69 per cent of first-half possession but lacked precision with their deliveries and final passes, while England struggled to use the ball to meaningful effect, although Phil Foden did well to stretch and moderately test David Raya with a far-post volley from a free-kick.
Wow… Spain take the lead again in the 86th minute 😲#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #ESPENG pic.twitter.com/j0SPEq2wso
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 14, 2024
Yamal went close to a second soon after the opener when Pickford brilliantly turned his low drive around a post, while Dani Olmo had a chance and Williams drilled a fierce effort narrowly wide.
Euro 2024 final: Substitutes strike
The three-time champions lost hugely influential Manchester City midfielder Rodri to injury at the break, replacing him with Martín Zubimendi, and an England substitute seemed to change the momentum during the second half, Ollie Watkins replacing the tiring Harry Kane.
Chelsea midfielder Palmer, who set up fellow substitute Watkins’ 90th-minute winner within 10 minutes of the pair coming on in England’s semi-final win over the Netherlands, was then brought on to sensational effect with 20 minutes remaining.
Three minutes later, Palmer collected Jude Bellingham’s pass and arrowed a precise low drive into the far corner of goalkeeper Raya’s net from outside the penalty area for his first major-tournament goal.
Spain were not to be denied, Oyarzabal’s winner too much for England to reply to this time, having come back from deficits in each of their three previous knockout-stage matches.
Declan Rice had a header cleared off the line by Olmo as the full-time whistle neared, Marc Guehi unable to capitalise from the rebound.
