On Sunday night the UEFA Euro 2024 concluded in what was the penultimate game of the tournament. Spain stepped into the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany in hopes to overcome England as the winners of the tournament. The final score was 2-1 to Spain, and indeed, they claimed the Euro 2024 thrown.
The match was the perfect centerpiece for pure football. It was a battle between two nations that possess an endless amount of talent and tactical brilliance.
Form
La Furia Roja (The Red Fury) entered the matchup in superb form, losing none of their games thus far in the tournament. They have won all but one game in 90-minutes, with the exception being their Quarter Final against Germany- which they won in extra time. An unstoppable force, this is the only way to captivate the performance of the Spaniards over the duration of the tournament.
Contrastingly, The Three Lions have clawed their way to the final. The entirety of their tournament run has been characterised by shaky wins, late winners and on some days, unconvincing performances. Nonetheless, the firepower they possess in the team has enabled them to pave their own way to try claim the trophy.
About the Game
From the first whistle, nerves interrupted the atmosphere as the 65600 fans in attendance traded cheers. The French referee, Francois Letexier, struggled to hear his whistle as the rampant energy of the crowd filled the air.
The first half was a chess game, which displayed just how high the stakes were. Both teams were getting a feel of one another, with limited opportunities being created. As expected, Spain had the handful of possession and dictated the flow of the game. Both goalkeepers did not have much work to do, as the resilient defense of both sides kept goalscoring opportunities at bay.
At the commencement of the second half, both sets of managers had their work cut out for them. Unfortunately, an injury to high profile defensive midfielder, Rodri, saw him exit the game at the 46th minute mark. This was a serious blow to the hopes of the Spanish as he has played the most important role in transitioning defense to offense.
Despite this, the Spanish looked more determined to have the first say in the time. 30 seconds had not passed before a swift counterattack saw FC Barcelona prodigy, Lamine Yamal, link up with his teammate Nico Williams to grab the lead. At the 47th minute mark, Williams secured his goal with a beautiful finish.
A comforting 1 goal lead increased the tension in the stadium, as the English tried to find a way back into the game.
The Key Substitution
England head coach, Gareth Southgate, looked to his bench once again for inspiration, with hopes to do what he did against France. He looked to Batman and Robin once again, as he subbed on Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer- who were the cornerstone of the victory against France.
It only took Palmer 3 minutes to bring his team level, as he struck an amazing shot from range beating Spain keeper, Unai Simon. The English fans erupted like a dormant volcano waiting to explode! This is the moment they waited for.
Moreover, they certainly felt the momentum was on their side in the final 20 minutes of the game.
All that could be heard all around the stadium was, “It’s coming home!” Additionally, it was echoed all over social media, as England earned a reputation for late winners at this tournament.
A Dramatic End
But the spectators and naysayers did not shake La Furia Espanola. They went against the tide, defied all expectations and kept their calm while doing so.
They maintained control over the game and relied on their precise positional play to create a golden chance. As the minutes ticked on, the game entered the final 5 minutes, and many anxiously awaited extra time…
But at the 86th minute mark everything changed in the blink of an eye. Spanish substitute and forward, Mikel Oyarzabal, burglarised the homes of the English, stealing the trophy right out of their homes.
A progressive run from Marc Cucurella resulted in a golden goal, as he passed the ball to an on-running Oyarzabal, who was marginally onside. The forward did not disappoint, as he tucked the ball into the back of the net with composure. Even a VAR review could not save the Red Lions, as it only confirmed their fate.
England fought to get back into the game at the death, attempting the heroics they achieved throughout the tournament. But a goal line clearance from Dani Olmo following a Marc Guehi header confirmed, it was Spain’s time to relish in glory.
Here’s what fans on X had to say about the emphatic game…
@Telegraph posted, “The agony goes on. And on. Fifty-eight years of hurt and still it goes on for England”
@abazwhyllzz posted, “While we are praising yamal and Nico Williams ,let’s not forget Dani Olmo’s master class”
@FabrizioRomano posted, “Best Player of the Tournament: Rodri.”
???????? Best Player of the Tournament: Rodri.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 14, 2024pic.twitter.com/QgZ6kpg5lR
Main image: Hindustan Times
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