Spain Beats England to Win Euro 2024 Final
Spain is the king of European soccer for a record fourth time. For England, it's another disappointment after years of underachievement.
Spain beat England 2-1 in the European Championship final in Berlin on Sunday, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring the match-winning goal in the 86th minute.
England, the birthplace of soccer, is still without a major title in the men's game since winning the 1966 World Cup.
"Here we are, champions of Europe," said Nico Williams, who scored the opening goal for Spain in the 47th minute.
England still had a chance when substitute Cole Palmer equalized in the 73rd minute.
But in the end, Spain was too strong.
Williams and 17-year-old Lamine Yamal have become the stars of an exciting, multicultural team that reflects Spain's changing demographics.
Yamal's mother is from Equatorial Guinea and his father is from Morocco, while the 22-year-old Williams has Ghanaian parents who made the long journey to Europe looking for a better life. To make it to Spain, they had to ride on the back of a crowded truck and walk through the Sahara desert.
Williams will now be seen as a national hero.
Spain won all seven games at this European Championship and broke the record for goals scored in a single tournament, with 15.
There were joyous scenes after the game. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was thrown into the air by his players.
As for England, the men's team has now lost back-to-back Euro finals — it was defeated by Italy in the final in 2021.
"We're all still so proud of you," wrote Prince William on social media.
However, England captain Harry Kane said: "It's extremely painful."
He added: "It's going to hurt for a long, long time."
