Spain won their fourth European Championship title on Sunday after Michael Oyerzabal’s 86th-minute goal earned them a 2-1 win over England.
As the game at Berlin’s Olympiastadion looked destined for extra-time after England’s recent underwhelming performance in the competition, Oyerzabal poked home Mark Gugurella’s cross.
Substitute Cole Palmer equalized for England in the 73rd minute before 17-year-old Lamine Yamal’s pass canceled out Nico Williams’ opener in the 47th minute.
Spain won the title in 1964, 2008 and 2012.
„I did my job, I did what I had to do and I was lucky to score the winning goal,” said Yairzabal, who replaced captain Alvaro Morata. „When you’re among the 26 names to be selected, that’s special enough, but helping the team like I did is the most important part.”
The England men’s team have now lost a Euro final and are still without a major title since winning the 1966 World Cup.
It was another painful loss for the world’s most under-performing national teams, coming ahead of Prince William and King Felipe of Spain at a venue built for the 1936 Olympics.
„This time it wasn’t to be,” the prince wrote on social media. „We are all still proud of you.”
There were jubilant scenes among the Spanish players after the final whistle, with Williams putting his hands to his face before being embraced by his teammates. Dani Carvajal collapsed on the field and was mobbed by jubilant teammates.
Yamal, Mark Gugurella and Dani Olmo were among the first to jump over the advertising hoardings to reach the Spanish fans in the east end of the stadium.
It was fitting that Yamal and Williams teamed up for the crucial first goal, as they are the poster boys for this exciting, multicultural group that reflects the new reality in Spain.
Yamal’s mother is from Equatorial Guinea and his father from Morocco, while fellow winger Williams has Ghanaian parents who made the long journey to Europe in search of a better life. To get to Spain, they had to ride in the back of an overcrowded truck and walk barefoot through the Sahara desert.
„Euphoria! We’re so happy. We deserve it,” said man of the match Williams. „This is for our fans and our parents who have supported us throughout.”
Unlike his brother Inaki, who is a Ghanaian international, Nico chose to play for Spain and is now considered a national hero there.
In fact, Wierzabal and the rest of Spain won all seven of their matches in the competition – an unprecedented feat – and pushed back heavyweights Germany, France and England in the knockout stages.
Spain is back as a major player in senior football after winning both the Women’s World Cup and the Men’s UEFA Nations League in 2023.
Since 2001, Spanish men’s teams have won 23 consecutive major finals in club and international football.