2024-07-15 10:00:16
Mikel Ojarzabal scored the winning goal four minutes before the end of regular time. Before that, Nico Williams stood out for Spain and Cole Palmer scored for England.
Spanish forward Lamin Jamal, who celebrated his 17th birthday on Saturday, became the youngest footballer to play in the final of a championship. The previous record belonged to the legendary Brazilian Pele, who went on the field in the 1958 World Cup final at the age of 17 years and 249 days.
The first half was a tense game, but neither team had any great scoring opportunities. The first shot on target didn’t come until the first minute of half-time stoppage time when Unai Simon’s alertness was tested by Phil Fowden.
The Spaniards started the second half by replacing the injured Rodri Hernandez with Martin Zubimendi. Already in the second minute of the half, the Spanish national team took the lead when Williams, who beat Jordan Pickford, successfully completed the match with Jamal. A little later, Dani Olmo hit the ball just short of the goal.
In the 61st minute of the match, Gareth Southgate made the decision to replace Harry Kane with Ollie Watkins, whose goal had brought England into the final. A little later, Jude Bellingham sent the ball past the post with a shot from distance, but in another episode at the other end of the field, Pickford prevented Jamal from doubling the lead.
The next change of Southgate gave fruit to the English national team, because in the 73rd minute, Palmer, who had just entered the field, made it 1:1 with a low shot outside the penalty area.
Eight minutes before the end of regular time, Jamal scored a free kick from ten meters with his left foot, but again this time Pickford prevented the Spanish young talent from scoring. However, in the 86th minute, after Mark Kukurelja’s pass, Ojarzabal sent the ball into the net from close range and made it 2:1 for the Spanish national team.
In the last minute of regular time, Olmo headed the ball from the goal line, preventing the English from reaching 2:2.
The last time the two teams met in 2018 was in the Nations League A League group tournament, with Spain winning 2-1 at Wembley Stadium in London, and England retaliating 3-2 in Seville.
England has reached the final of the European Championship for the second time in a row. This was already the fifth final for Spain. Also in 1964, 2008 and 2012, Spain became the European champion.
The 2024 European Championship took place from June 14 to July 14 in ten German cities. 24 national teams participated in the final tournament of the European Championship, which were divided into six subgroups, with the first two place winners and the four best third place winners of each subgroup entering the playoff tournament.
In 2021, Italy became the European champion in London, which defeated England in the final in the penalty kicks.
Spanish national football team: Unai Simon, Dani Carvajal, Robin Lenorman (Nacho Fernandez, 83 min.), Emerick Laporte, Mark Cucurella, Rodri Hernandez (Martin Zubimendi, 46 min.), Fabian Ruiz, Lamin Jamal (Michel Merino, 89 min.) , Dani Olmo, Nico William, Alvaro Morata (Mikel Ojarzabal, 68 min.).
England national football team: Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Mark Gehi, Bukayo Saka, Koby Mainoo (Cole Palmer, 70 mins), Declan Rice, Luke Shaw, Phil Fowden (Ivan Tawney, 89 mins), Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane (Oli Watkins, 61 min.).
2024-07-15 10:00:16