Dramatic final
LIVE from 9pm: Spain vs England in the European Championship final
Spain have been crowned European soccer champions with a 2:1 win over England. Shooting star Nico Williams opened the scoring shortly after the restart. Cole Palmer equalized in the 73rd minute before substitute Mikel Oyarzabal made the difference in the 86th minute. With their fourth European Championship title in total, "La Roja" are now the sole record holders. England, on the other hand, failed to reach the final for the second time in a row. The title curse continues, plunging the country into a new soccer tragedy.
The Spaniards, coached by Luis de la Fuente, finished the final round in Germany with seven wins in seven games and a goal difference of 15:4. England, on the other hand, failed to reach a European Championship final for the second time in a row and their title drought since the 1966 World Cup at home continues.
England boss Gareth Southgate, who had already been heavily criticized during the tournament, reverted to a back four in defence. Luke Shaw started for the first time in a competitive match since February and was expected to restrict Spain's young star Lamine Yamal at left-back. One day after his 17th birthday, Yamal became the youngest player ever to play in a European Championship final. His teammates Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, who were suspended in the semi-final, were back in the starting line-up in defense.
Williams shocks England
Southgate remained faithful to his safety-first approach to soccer. Supported by heir to the throne Prince William and the majority of the fans in the Olympic Stadium, the English left the game to the Spaniards, who were slightly favored by the bookmakers. In front of King Felipe VI, the Spaniards had almost 80 percent possession in the first 15 minutes, but did not allow any clear goalscoring opportunities in the first half. Phil Foden had the first shot on goal of the game shortly before the break, but his volley was easy pickings for Spain keeper Unai Simon (45.+1).
Rodri apparently had to come off at half-time due to thigh problems and was replaced by Martin Zubimendi. However, the Spaniards were in no way shocked by the loss of their midfield organizer. Yamal, who was replaced by Carvajal, moved to the middle and played Williams in ideally. The 22-year-old from Athletic Bilbao completed the Iberians' first good combination 70 seconds after the restart to score his second goal of the tournament in the far corner.
Brief hope for England
Spain kept the pressure on. Dani Olmo put the ball past the far corner (49') and Williams also narrowly missed the target with a long-range shot (56'). England captain Harry Kane had to make way for semi-final hero Ollie Watkins in the center of the attack after just 60 minutes. Jude Bellingham tapped in (64'), while at the other end England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved a dangerous left-footed shot from Yamal (66').
Southgate also threw Palmer into the match - and was successful. The Chelsea youngster equalized with his second touch of the ball just three minutes after coming on as a substitute. Bellingham had laid the ball back to him in exemplary fashion and the 22-year-old scored with the inside of his boot. Zubimendi had deflected the shot slightly. The game was now completely open, and there was no sign of the first half's feeling out.
Almost the equalizer again
"La Roja had the better of the game. A Yamal shot from a good position was still too central for Pickford (82'), but four minutes later Marc Cucurella found substitute Oyarzabal with an ideal cross-field pass, who fired the Spaniards to the title on the slide. The Real Sociedad attacker had initiated the move himself. The English side still had a double chance to equalize. A header from Declan Rice was saved by Simon, and the subsequent attempt from Marc Guehi was cleared off the line by Olmo (90').
The Spaniards have now won four of the five European Championship finals in which they have played. They only lost 2-0 to France in 1984. Since 2012, it is also the seventh time in a row that the team that has had an extra day between the semi-final and the final has won the final of a European Championship or World Cup tournament.
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