If football is going home, it is only because it belongs to Spain. A record fourth European Championship title was their reward for beautiful passing, outstanding wing play and ruthless finishing, even though there was a brief spell when it seemed another illogical escape act from England was on the cards in Berlin.
For Gareth Southgate, whose 102nd game in charge of England could be his last, the reality is that anything other than a 27th consecutive win for a Spanish team in a men’s final would have been a travesty. It was a drubbing in all but scoreline. Spain had threatened to run riot after going 1-0 up when their lightning-quick wingers combined, Lamine Yamal setting up Nico Williams, and their response to Cole Palmer’s equaliser – more passing, more imagination – meant it was no surprise when the substitute Mikel Oyarzabal turned in Marc Cucurella’s cross in the 86th minute.
While England fought, Declan Rice and Marc Guéhi almost making it 2-2, they had been outplayed by the tournament’s outstanding team. There was no misfortune to Southgate’s latest heartache.
What could he have done differently? Being critical, England’s manager could have been bolder. The focus was on containment but England were careless when they had the ball and Southgate’s attack did not fire. Jude Bellingham was frustrated before creating Palmer’s goal and as for Harry Kane, who was hauled off in the 61st minute after a leaden display, this was another bad night for the captain on the big stage.
But give Spain, who followed their successes in 1964, 2008 and 2012 with this refined triumph, their due. At 17 years and one day old, Lamine Yamal was the youngest player to feature in a men’s international final, breaking the record set by Pelé in the 1958 World Cup final. Williams, a little older at 22, confirmed his exceptional talent by tormenting Kyle Walker. There was joy for Basques in seeing Williams and Oyarzabal score the goals.
The unfancied Luis de la Fuente has done a wonderful job with this team. How they responded to adversity. Rodri going off injured at half-time made no difference, with Martin Zubimendi a fine replacement for the midfield linchpin, and Spain did not shrink after the shock of Palmer’s goal.
That made it a step too far for England, who have laboured through this tournament, resilience, isolated bursts of inspiration and clever substitutions carrying them this far. Next will come searching questions for Southgate, who has struggled to find the right balance in midfield and on the left. Spain represented a far superior test to Italy’s in the Euro 2020 final, so this is not as great a missed opportunity, but there will be anger at England’s lack of ambition in the first half. With Kane looking unfit and Bellingham helping Luke Shaw contain Lamine Yamal, the counterattacking was minimal.
There was also the problem with taking on high-calibre opposition with a midfield that still feels improvised. Fabián Ruiz, Dani Olmo and, until he went off, Rodri were always in control against the disappointing Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo. It is the age-old weakness for England and one that Southgate has not solved. At least Mainoo, who looked every inch an inexperienced 19-year-old when he faded in the second half, should mature after shining in his previous outings.
England, who lined up in a compact 4-4-1-1, had at least limited Spain during the first half. John Stones stopped Williams and Guéhi shut down the wily Álvaro Morata. Shaw, starting for the first time in 148 days, tried to contain Lamine Yamal.
There was occasional aggression from England, who wanted Bukayo Saka running at Cucurella. Rodri blocked a drive from Rice and injured himself denying Kane after Bellingham robbed Dani Carvajal. Phil Foden shot at Unai Simón. Inspiration was low.
Spain, having been lured into a series of aimless crosses, upped the intensity after half-time and punished England in the 47th minute. The pressing from Kane and Foden disintegrated, enabling Zubimendi to slip through midfield. Suddenly everything was a yard off, Shaw failing to track Lamine Yamal’s dart inside. Carvajal found the winger and his pass was perfectly weighted, allowing Williams to run on to it, open up his left foot and beat Pickford with a low shot before Walker could intervene.
Cowed by such a classy goal, England almost unravelled. They were pulled apart but somehow hung on, Olmo shooting wide and Stones clearing off the line from Morata. Williams and Lamine Yamal went close. Stones and Rice kept losing possession. Southgate finally made the brutal call of replacing Kane with Ollie Watkins. Palmer soon came on for Mainoo.
Who said Southgate can’t make substitutions? There was disbelief when England countered, Saka finding Bellingham, who fell and teed up Palmer to caress a low shot past Simón with typical nonchalance from 20 yards.
Yet Spain, who leave Germany with seven wins from seven, stayed cool. Lamine Yamal, who tested Pickford again, was tormenting a weary Shaw. England were too open; Southgate was preparing to bring on Kieran Trippier and Conor Gallagher moments before the winner arrived.
It was another super goal, Cucurella driving a low cross past Walker, Oyarzabal escaping Guéhi and converting from close range.
There was no offside flag. England kept going, Simón repelling Rice’s header, Olmo clearing off the line from Guéhi. The hurt stands at 58 years and Southgate may not be around by the time the 2026 World Cup arrives.
