A bright future?published at 20:09 British Summer Time 14 July
Spain 0-0 England
Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Olympiastadion Berlin
The sun is setting over the Olympiastadion... who will be European champions when it rises again in Berlin?
England’s quest to end 58 years of pain and disappointment ended in failure as they were beaten by Spain in the Euro 2024 final at Berlin's Olympiastadion.
Gareth Southgate's side were sunk by Mikel Oyarzabal's late winner to leave England heartbroken again in a second successive European Championship final and unable to end the long wait for success for the men's team.
Spain's young star wingers combined to give them the lead two minutes after the break as Lamine Yamal's pass opened up space for Nico Williams to beat England keeper Jordan Pickford with a powerful low finish.
England captain Harry Kane was out of sorts once more and was substituted on the hour and it was Cole Palmer - on for Kobbie Mainoo - who raised hopes of another dramatic comeback with a composed left-foot strike after 73 minutes.
It was Spain, however, who snatched the win four minutes from time as Oyarzabal slid home Marc Cucurella's cross to leave England the nearly men once more.
England’s hopes of crossing the great divide that has separated them from the major prizes were snatched away by a superior Spain side on a tough night in the German capital.
The iconic stadium was a sea of white as the massed ranks of England supporters vastly outnumbered their Spain counterparts, in the belief that the near misses of previous years were about to end.
And when Palmer’s smooth finish against the run of play 17 minutes from time drew England level, confidence surged. Many will have felt that Southgate's side were about to mount the sort of comeback that rescued them against Slovakia, Switzerland and the Netherlands earlier in Euro 2024.
This time there was to be no escape, with England being opened up clinically for Oyarzabal's decisive strike that gave Spain the success their performances throughout the tournament merited.
And just to compound England's agony, Declan Rice and Marc Guehi both saw headers cleared off the line in the closing moments, firstly by keeper Unai Simon and then Dani Olmo, who celebrated like it was a trophy-winning moment – which it effectively was.
England's misery was confirmed seconds later, meaning that for all the progress and optimism of Southgate's eight-year reign, tangible success has escaped them. They have lost successive European Championship finals - to Italy three years ago and now an excellent Spain side - plus a World Cup semi-final in 2018 and a World Cup quarter-final in Qatar in 2022.
It remains to be seen whether Southgate stays in charge for the next World Cup, but it may well be that this proves to be one disappointment too far for England's manager.
Skipper Kane earned a share of the Euro 2024 Golden Boot by scoring three goals, but in every other respect the tournament was a major disappointment for England's captain.
Kane has looked short of fitness and match sharpness, a shadow of the world-class striker who has delivered so often in the past and become England's record goalscorer.
England's supporters were loudly demanding the introduction of semi-final match-winner Ollie Watkins early in the second half – and there was little doubt who they wanted him to replace, voicing their frustration when Kane was slow to react to a loose ball in the penalty area.
Manager Southgate gave them their wish as Kane was taken off, cutting a desolate figure as he departed. He continues to wait for the first major trophy of his career, another opportunity on the big stage passing him by.
Watkins could not do the trick this time as he remained on the margins, although Palmer showed his class and made a big impact once more with his equaliser.
Southgate made the bold change of selecting Luke Shaw at left-back instead of Kieran Trippier as he reverted to a back four. It was the Manchester United defender’s first start in 148 days and his first England start since June 2023, and he responded with an excellent display.
England could not exert influence in other areas, with Phil Foden ineffective and Jude Bellingham kept quiet apart from one late effort, although the pair worked tirelessly.
Southgate and his players simply found, yet again, that they were playing a better side and now they must wait until the 2026 World Cup to have another tilt at success.
Spain have returned to the top in Europe by trusting in two exceptional young talents who played key roles in ensuring England would not lift this particular trophy.
Williams was bursting with energy and belief from the first whistle, finishing unerringly when presented with his chance for the opening goal by Yamal, the other great long-term hope for Spain.
Yamal, who celebrated his 17th birthday the day before the final, once again played with a maturity way beyond his years and was a constant threat, forcing one superb save out of Pickford, as well as another more routine stop when he unlocked the defence once again.
The teenager was named the young player of the tournament, while 22-year-old Williams was man of the match in this final. They have earned the trust of Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, repaying him spectacularly in Berlin.
Spain should not have had to rely on Oyarzabal's late goal to seal victory.
They ought to have had the game wrapped up even before Palmer's equaliser, with Olmo - one of six players with three goals in the tournament - wasting a great chance to win the Golden Boot outright, while John Stones cleared off the line from Morata.
Oyarzabal pounced on Cucurella's cross to ensure those misses were not costly as Euro 2024 got the winners the tournament deserved in this outstanding Spain team.
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| |
2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| |
3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 3 |
| |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 1 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| |
2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| |
3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 2 |
| |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| |
2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| |
3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| |
4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 2 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| |
2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 1 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| |
2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| |
4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 4 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| |
2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 |
|
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| |
2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| |
4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| |
5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 3 |
| |
6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 2 |
|
Manager: Luis de la Fuente
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Gareth Southgate
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Luis de la Fuente
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Gareth Southgate
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
UEFA European Championship
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
This is the third meeting between Spain and England at the UEFA European Championship, with England winning 2-1 in the 1980 group stage, before progressing 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the 1996 quarter-final.
England have failed to score in three of their four major tournament (World Cup/EUROs) games against Spain, with the last two such matches both finishing 0-0 (1982 World Cup, EURO 1996).
Spain have only lost four of their last 14 meetings with England in all competitions (W7 D3), having lost seven in a row against the Three Lions before this.
England won 3-2 the last time they faced Spain in the UEFA Nations League in October 2018; they’ve not won consecutive meetings with La Roja since a run of seven between 1960 and 1980.
Spain have won their last three major tournament finals, winning the UEFA European Championship in 2008 and 2012, and the FIFA World Cup in 2010. No European side has ever been successful in four consecutive World Cup/EUROs final matches before.
This is Spain’s fifth UEFA European Championship final, winning the trophy three times (1964, 2008, 2012) and losing once (1984). They could become the first team to win the competition on four separate occasions.
England have reached the UEFA European Championship final in consecutive editions. Indeed, they’ve now reached more major tournament finals in four attempts under Gareth Southgate (2), than they did in their first 23 appearances at the World Cup/EUROs combined (1) before his tenure.
This will be England’s first major tournament final played outside of England, with the 1966 World Cup and EURO 2020 finals being played at Wembley Stadium. The Three Lions have never lost a match in Berlin in six attempts (W4 D2), only playing more in Helsinki (8), Amsterdam (7) and Sunderland (7) without ever suffering defeat.
Spain have won all six of their games so far at EURO 2024, already the most wins any side has picked up in a single edition of the UEFA European Championship. Since the introduction of the group stage in 1980, only France in 1984 (5/5) have won the competition while maintaining a 100% win rate.
Spain have scored 13 goals so far at EURO 2024 – only France in 1984 (14) have scored more at a single edition of the UEFA European Championship.
England have conceded the first goal in all three of their knockout stage games so far at EURO 2024. Indeed, they’re unbeaten in their last six when conceding first in the UEFA European Championship (W5 D1), with no side winning more such games in the competition’s history.
Spain have won each of their last eight matches in all competitions, scoring 23 goals and conceding just four. They last had a longer run between June 2009 and June 2010 (12).
England have conceded just 13 goals in their last 20 matches in all competitions, only shipping more than once on one occasion in that run, a 2-2 friendly draw with Belgium in March.
Spain have applied more pressures in the final third than any other side at EURO 2024 (890), while England have had the most pressures received so far at the tournament (3,369).
England’s five shots on target against Netherlands in their semi-final victory were their most in a single match so far at EURO 2024. Meanwhile, Spain have had 5+ shots on target in four of their six games at the tournament.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente will be 63 years and 23 days on the day of this game, the third-oldest manager to take charge of a UEFA European Championship final, after Luis Aragonés with Spain in 2008 (69y 337d) and Otto Rehhagel with Greece in 2004 (65y 330d), both of whom won the trophy.
England boss Gareth Southgate (runner up at EURO 2020) will be the third manager to take charge of more than one UEFA European Championship final (excl. replays), after Helmut Schön with Germany (1972, 1976) and Berti Vogts with Germany (1992, 1996), with all three doing so in consecutive editions. No manager has ever lost two finals in the competition before.
Aged 17 years and one day, Spain’s Lamine Yamal could be the youngest ever player to feature in a FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championship final, surpassing Pele’s record from the 1958 World Cup (17y 249d). He has three assists so far at EURO 2024, with no Spaniard ever providing four at a single EUROs.
England striker Harry Kane has scored more knockout stage goals at major tournaments (World Cup/EUROs) than any other European player (9), including a record six at the UEFA European Championship.
Spain’s Lamine Yamal has had 13 shot involvements following a ball carry at EURO 2024 (6 shots, 7 chances created), at least three more than any other player.
England midfielder Declan Rice has had more touches (300) and completed more passes (236) while under high pressure than any other player at EURO 2024. He’s also made seven line breaking passes that have lead to a shot within 10 seconds, more than any other England player.