UH Student News

If football is returning home, it is because it belongs to Spain. A record fourth European Championship victory was their reward for magnificent passing, excellent wing play, and merciless finishing, despite a brief period when it appeared that another implausible escape from England was on the cards in Berlin.

Gareth Southgate, whose 102nd game as England manager could be his last, knows that anything less than a 27th consecutive triumph for a Spanish team in a men’s final would have been a tragedy. Except for the scoreline, it was a complete thrashing. Spain had threatened to run rampant after going 1-0 up when their lightning-quick wingers connected, with Lamine Yamal setting up Nico Williams, and their reaction to Cole Palmer’s equalizer – more passing, more imagination – meant it was no surprise when substitute Mikel Oyarzabal turned in Marc Cucurella’s cross in the 86th minute.

While England rebounded with Declan Rice and Marc Guéhi almost tying it 2-2, they were outplayed by the tournament’s best squad. There was no misfortune in Southgate’s newest heartache.

What could have been done differently? Being critical, England’s manager could have been more daring. The emphasis was on containment, but England was careless with the possession, and Southgate’s attack was ineffective. Jude Bellingham was agitated before setting up Palmer’s goal, while Harry Kane, who was substituted in the 61st minute after a lackluster performance, had another off night on the big stage.

But give Spain credit for following up their wins in 1964, 2008, and 2012 with this fashionable triumph. At 17 years and one day old, Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to appear in a men’s international final, breaking Pelé’s record established in the 1958 World Cup Final. Williams, a tad older at 22, demonstrated his remarkable talent by harassing Kyle Walker. Basques were overjoyed to see Williams and Oyarzabal score goals.

The underappreciated Luis de la Fuente has done an excellent job with this team. How they reacted to adversity. Rodri’s injury at halftime made no difference, with Martin Zubimendi filling in well as the midfield anchor, and Spain did not shrink in the aftermath of Palmer’s goal.

That was too much for England, who had to rely on resilience, isolated bursts of inspiration, and shrewd replacements to go this far in the tournament. Next will be probing questions for Southgate, who has failed to strike the correct balance in midfield and on the left. Spain provided a significantly superior test than Italy in the Euro 2020 final, so this is not as significant a missed opportunity, but England’s lack of intent in the first half will irritate fans. With Kane looking unfit and Bellingham assisting Luke Shaw in containing Lamine Yamal, the counterattack was weak.

In addition, there was also the dilemma of facing top-tier opposition with a midfield that still felt improvised. Fabián Ruiz, Dani Olmo, and Rodri were always in control against the unimpressive Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo. It is an age-old vulnerability for England, one that Southgate has not addressed. At the very least, Mainoo, who looked like an inexperienced 19-year-old when he faded in the second half, should mature after dazzling in his prior games.

England, who started in a compact 4-4-1-1 formation, at least limited Spain in the first half. Guéhi shut down Álvaro Morata, while John Stones halted Williams. Starting for the first time in 148 days, Shaw attempted to restrain Lamine Yamal.

England occasionally acted aggressively, wanting Bukayo Saka to run at Cucurella. Rodri blocked Rice’s drive and injured himself while denying Kane after Bellingham robbed Dani Carvajal. Phil Foden took a shot at Unai Simón. Inspiration was low.

Spain baited into a series of meaningless crosses, increased their zeal after halftime, and punished England in the 47th minute. Kane and Foden’s pressure crumbled, allowing Zubimendi to slip through midfield. Shaw was suddenly a yard off, unable to track Lamine Yamal’s dart inside. Carvajal supplied the winger with a brilliantly weighted pass, allowing Williams to sprint onto it, open up his left foot, and beat Pickford with a low shot before Walker could react.

England nearly collapsed after being intimidated by such an impressive goal. They were torn apart but managed to hold on, with Olmo firing wide and Stones clearing off the line from Morata. Williams and Lamine Yamal came close. Stones and Rice repeatedly lost possession. Southgate eventually took the difficult decision of replacing Kane with Ollie Watkins. Palmer quickly took over for Mainoo.

Who says Southgate cannot make substitutions? When England came up, there was amazement. Saka found Bellingham, who dropped and set up Palmer and whipped a low shot past Simón that gracefully beat Simon.

Nonetheless, Spain, which leaves Germany with seven wins from seven, maintained its calm. Lamine Yamal, who challenged Pickford again, was teasing a tired Shaw. England were too open, with Southgate poised to put on Kieran Trippier and Conor Gallagher moments before the winner arrived.

Cucurella drove a low cross past Walker, and Oyarzabal escaped Guéhi to score from close range.

There was no offside flag, but England kept going, with Simón rejecting Rice’s header and Olmo clearing off the line from Guéhi. England has been hurt for 58 years, and Southgate may not be around when the World Cup arrives in 2026.