Reports from the Euro 2024 final saw Spain shatter England’s dreams with a 2-1 victory, thanks to Mikel Oyarzabal’s dramatic late goal. Mikel Oyarzabal’s strike came after Cole Palmer had equalized for England. England’s quest for Euro glory continues Gavangtv, with Spain denying them a chance to win their third European title:
In a dramatic turn of events, a last-minute strike by Mikel Oyarzabal secured Spain the Euro 2024 championship with a 2-1 victory over England, extending England’s trophy drought to 60 years.
Spain dominated possession and maintained relentless pressure, leading to Nico Williams’ opening goal just two minutes into the second half, set up by Lamine Yamal’s impressive run and precise pass. The goal provided a crucial lift despite the setback of losing Rodri to injury at half-time.
However, when England captain Harry Kane was substituted after a lackluster performance in attack, Cole Palmer emerged as England’s latest hero from the bench, equalizing with a superb strike. The Chelsea player emphatically finished Jude Bellingham’s pass, setting the stage for a potential turning point in Berlin.
As extra time approached, England sensed the momentum swinging their way, only for Spain to regain control and apply pressure. Jordan Pickford preserved England’s hopes by making a spectacular save to deny Lamine Yamal, who was later named the young player of the tournament.
He made two outstanding saves in the second half, denying Spain’s 17-year-old prodigy when the score was 1-0.
However, Spain finally seized their opportunity. Marc Cucurella delivered a cross that Mikel Oyarzabal turned into the net with just four minutes left in regular time, leaving the Three Lions with scant opportunity to mount a comeback.
England believed they had equalized when Declan Rice met Palmer’s unmarked corner. Unai Simon managed to parry it away, only for Marc Guehi to head the ball towards the goal line, where Dani Olmo cleared it off the line. Rice then put the rebound over the bar in frustration.
It proved to be a comeback too far for England, as Spain made history by becoming the first team to win four European Championships.
Analysis: Another heartbreaking defeat prompts the question: Does England need to make changes?
Sky Sports’ reporter Sam Blitz:
While Spain achieved a new milestone, England made history of a different kind by becoming the first team to lose consecutive European finals. What factors contributed to this outcome?
There was no penalty heartbreak this time, but echoes of Italy three years ago were evident. England faced criticism for not delivering enough in crucial moments.
England missed an opportunity to capitalize when Rodri was injured for Spain, instead falling behind. Although Cole Palmer’s equalizer briefly unsettled Spain, England failed to capitalize further and did not manage a shot before Spain scored again.
Instead, England pinned their hopes on another late, dramatic moment, but this time it proved one too many trang cá độ bóng đá.
It poses a dilemma for England, who boast the strongest 26-player squad in terms of both quality and depth. The sheer number of goals scored by substitutes underscores this fact, a testament to Gareth Southgate’s management and strategy.
However, is there potential to utilize that depth more effectively? While Southgate has significantly altered perceptions of England, could it now be time for another shift in perception?
This team holds great promise, but can it transform into a victorious one?
Disheartened Southgate: We fell short
Gareth Southgate, England’s manager, speaking to ITV Sport:
« I feel devastated for everyone involved. The players have been absolutely incredible, and I’m immensely proud of their efforts. However, we’ve just fallen short by a small margin. »
« We had some momentum when we equalized, and we had a big chance at the end to level the score, but overall, I’m not sure we did enough across the full 90 minutes. »
« I believe against Spain, their pressing is effective; therefore, it’s crucial to maintain possession once we regain it. »
« Defensively, we were solid in the first half; we just needed to hold onto the ball better. Perhaps that’s the area where we faltered a bit. »
Neville: This is turning into a recurring issue for England
Gary Neville from Sky Sports, speaking on ITV:
« Spain had numerous opportunities. We managed to level the score, but we could easily have been trailing 2-0 earlier. England’s challenge of controlling pivotal matches has been a recurring issue in numerous tournaments. »
« It’s challenging to play catch-up and transition your entire team from defending near your own goal to pushing forward towards the opposition’s end of the pitch. »
« You might win a few games using that approach, even a couple in a row, but eventually, you come up against a team with superior quality, and that’s what we faced tonight. »
« Our players are absolutely crushed. I recall four tournaments ago, during the World Cup semi-final against Croatia, I wondered if we’d be in this position again, and here we are, facing similar heartbreak. I have no words for them; they must be utterly devastated. »
« The fans behind the goal are completely devastated. It feels like one disappointment too many for us. How much longer can this continue? »
What lies ahead for Southgate?
Gary Neville from Sky Sports, speaking on ITV:
« It’s a significant issue for me; discussing Gareth’s future feels uneasy considering his actions over the past seven or eight years. »
« I believe he will carefully evaluate things over the next week and determine if it’s the appropriate moment. »
« He has found the atmosphere in this tournament challenging at times, describing it as an unfamiliar environment earlier in the competition. »
« We’ve expressed our admiration for the manager, but the decision to stay is his alone. It’s not appropriate to discuss it now. He will take time to reflect on it. Right now, we’re all feeling the pain. »
« Losing in a final is incredibly challenging. We fought hard to equalize and regain momentum, but we struggled to maintain possession and were punished for it. It’s one of the most painful experiences in football. »
« Our intensity dropped, and we didn’t maintain possession effectively. At this stage of the tournament, fatigue and mental fatigue play a significant role. It comes down to critical moments; we had one at the end where they cleared the ball off the line, but it’s incredibly disappointing. »
« This tournament has been a challenge. Personally and as a team, we’ve had to demonstrate resilience throughout. It’s been a demanding journey, and reaching this point has been a significant achievement. However, our ultimate evaluation hinges on this particular match. »
« We were determined to achieve it for ourselves, the fans, and everyone who supported us along the journey. At this moment, the disappointment is immense. »