Spain compound England woes, wins fourth European title

The 2024 European championship came to a successful end Sunday with Spain defeating England 2-1 at the Olympics Stadium in Berlin, Germany to win the title a record fourth time.

Prior to the finals, they were tied on three titles with Germany but by this victory, they are now ahead of the Germans on the number of titles in their cabinet.

The Spaniards who were one of the favourites to lift the trophy lived up to expectations as they dominated the three Lions who were seeking a first European victory having not won any major international title since winning the World Cup as hosts in 1966.

For the fourth game in a row England came from behind, but this time they couldn’t survive with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring a late winner to snatch a 2-1 victory.

Nico Williams’ strike early in the second half put Spain ahead but substitute, Cole Palmer’s brilliant equalizer looked set to send the game into extra time before Oyarzabal scored four minutes from full time.

This was the second European Championship final in a row that Gareth Southgate’s side have lost, after losing to Italy on penalties in 2021, with 1966 their only major tournament final before that.

The country has yet to win senior football tournament abroad, with the 1966 success and Women’s Euro 2022 final which England won both at Wembley.
This loss means that England failed to end ’58 years of hurt’ as their Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain in Berlin meant the 1966 World Cup remains their only men’s trophy.