Tunde Omoniyi
Spain scored a dramatic late winner goal with a 2-1 victory over England on Sunday in Berlin to win the Euro 24 prestigious trophy for a record fourth time so as to confirm their re-emergence as a force on the international stage and end their opponents’ dreams of winning a first title in almost six decades.
Spain lost influential midfielder Rodri to injury at half-time, but shrugged that off to take the lead within two minutes of the restart through Nico Williams, who was set up by his fellow star winger, Lamine Yamal.
England came from behind as they have done so often at this Euros, as substitute Cole Palmer drove in the equaliser on 73 minutes, moments after entering the fray.
But Real Sociedad striker Mikel Oyarzabal turned home in the 86th minute to hand Spain a record fourth European Championship crown, and a third in the last five editions.
England almost equalised at the death but Dani Olmo headed Marc Guehi’s effort off the line to safety.
They previously won in 1964, 2008 and 2012, the last two titles coming either side of their triumph at the 2010 World Cup during the golden era of Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso and Andres Iniesta.
Spain have been comfortably the best team over the last month in Germany and were not intimidated by the atmosphere at the Olympiastadion, where the majority of the crowd were given over to England’s cause.
England had hoped to finally claim a first men’s international title since their fabled victory at the 1966 World Cup, but fell just short in their first ever final on foreign soil.
