Spain Oyarzabal’s winning goal MVP Rodri, 17-year-old Yamal Best Young Player England ‘unconcerned’ despite reaching finals for 2nd time in a row… Goal-scorer Kane silent
Spanish players lifting the trophy
The ‘Invincible Armada’ Spain has reclaimed the Euro (European Football Championship) title after 12 years, becoming the first country to achieve ‘four championships’.
Spain defeated England 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final held at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany on the 15th (Korean time).
Spain lifted the Euro trophy for the fourth time, after winning in 1964, 2008 and 2012. Before this tournament, Germany and Spain had been tied for the most wins with three each, but Spain’s win today made them the first team to win the tournament four times.
Spain, which had been in a slump since winning Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and Euro 2012 in succession, made a complete comeback by winning the UEFA Nations League last year and this year’s Euro.
England, on the other hand, reached the final of the Euros for the second consecutive time but once again failed to overcome the final hurdle of the championship.
England is known as the ‘home of football’, but apart from the World Cup they hosted in 1966, they have not won a major tournament. They lost to Italy on penalties in the final of Euro 2020, and this time they lost to Spain by one goal.
Harry Kane’s ‘no title jinx’ continued as he was considered the world’s best goalscorer but failed to win a title with his club team or the England national team.
The tournament’s MVP award went to Rodri, who played a key role in Spain’s midfield and led the team to victory.
Spain’s ‘prodigy’ Ramin Yamal, who celebrated his 17th birthday on the 13th, the day before the match, was selected as the Best Young Player.
Yamal, who started in the final that day and set a new record for youngest player to play in a Euro final, surpassing the record set by Renato Sanches (Portugal) at 18 years and 327 days in 2016, also added an assist and became the tournament’s assist leader (4).
In the scoring category, six players, including Kane and Spain’s Dani Olmo, shared first place with three goals each.
On this day in Spain, Alvaro Morata took the lead, with Nico Williams, Olmo, and Yamal supporting him.
England, with Kane at the forefront, had Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka forming the second line.
In the midfield, 19-year-old midfielder Kobi Mainu starts, and along with Yamal, it is the first time that two teenage players have started in a Euro final.
In the first half, Spain had over 60% possession and was more active in attack, but England had only one effective shot in the extra time of the first half.
Declan Rice’s free kick from the right flank skimmed past the head of a Spanish defender, and Phil Foden fired a left-footed shot from the left side of the goal, which was saved by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon.
Spain started the second half with Martin Zubimendi replacing Rodri, who had been in question for injury during the first half, and scored the opening goal within a minute.
Yamal broke down the right flank and moved towards the penalty arc to send a pass that Nico Williams found on the left side of the goal area and finished with his left foot.
After Spain’s continued offensive, England, pushed into a defensive position, took a decisive step by replacing captain Kane with Ollie Watkins.
In the 25th minute of the second half, Cole Palmer stepped onto the pitch instead of Mainu, and three minutes later, Palmer scored a valuable equaliser for England. 파워볼사이트