When football’s biggest stage beckoned in Berlin, few could have predicted the drama, flair and heartbreak that awaited. On 14 July 2024, Spain and England faced off in the Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion to decide continental glory, and what unfolded was equal parts tension, beauty and late-stage heroics. Spain would emerge 2–1 victors, writing themselves into the history books, but not before England threatened a comeback and left everything on the pitch.

As always, if you want to share your thoughts with us, you can get in touch by using social media (@NextGoalWinBlog) to let us know what you made of the tournament or the final, and what you predict is the future for both England with or without Southgate, and Spain’s next generation coming through.

Key Events

First Half: cautious beginnings

The match opened tentatively. England adopted a compact shape, determined to stifle Spain’s fluid midfield and wing play. Spain, for their part, dominated possession and probed for openings but found England’s defensive structure difficult to breach. Chances were scarce, and the first half ended goalless.

One disruption came when Spain lost Rodri to injury before the break. That forced a reshuffle of their midfield just when the game was poised to shift.

Second Half: goals, responses, late drama

Just minutes after the restart, Spain struck. In the 47th minute, a swift move down the flank involving teenage sensation Lamine Yamal helped fashion space for Nico Williams to break through and finish. That goal felt like a jolt: Spain had the lead, and England’s task grew steeper.

England responded. Manager Gareth Southgate made attacking substitutions, bringing on Cole Palmer in search of a spark. In the 73rd minute, Palmer curled a fine shot from distance to beat Spain’s keeper Unai Simón, levelling the score at 1–1. For a moment, England looked back in it.

But Spain would not be denied. In the 86th minute, substitute Mikel Oyarzabal met a beautifully weighted cross from Marc Cucurella and slid in to bury it past Pickford. That goal proved decisive. England pushed hard in the final minutes, but Spain dug in, defending with composure and grit.

At the final whistle, it was Spain 2, England 1.

Key Talking Points

Spain’s perfect run

Spain became the first team in men’s European Championship history to win all seven matches in a single tournament without needing penalties. Their 15 goals in the competition also marked a new record. Their dominance was no fluke: they beat Italy, Germany, France and now England on their way to the trophy.

Youth and fresh faces shine

This was a Spanish side built on emergence as much as experience. Lamine Yamal (17) became the youngest player ever to feature in a European or World Cup final. Nico Williams (22) tormented England’s fullbacks and earned the Man of the Match award. Their fearless wing play and tactical maturity were defining features of the final.

England’s “so close, yet so far” story

Once again, England reached a major final and once again fell just short. Questions will swirl around Southgate’s tactics, his balance between defence and attack, and his use of substitutions. Harry Kane was replaced early after an underwhelming performance, while Palmer’s goal showed England’s bench had more attacking spark than perhaps realized. The dilemma remains: control the game or gamble for flair?

Margins and mental strength

The final illustrated how small margins decide tournaments. Spain’s depth, belief and maturity in closing out the game stood in contrast to England’s frantic search for an equalizer. Their ability to weather pressure in the last stages proved decisive.

Celebrations

For Spain, the celebrations were electric. At full time, players and staff embraced, flags waved in euphoria, and the Olympiastadion was painted red and yellow. The trophy presentation saw Spain’s captain Álvaro Morata lift the European Championship under the gaze of King Felipe VI. The next day, the team paraded an open-top bus through Madrid to Plaza de Cibeles, greeted by thousands of jubilant fans.

In England, the mood was more sombre. Tears, hugs and disappointment marked the dressing room. But there was also pride, reaching back-to-back European finals is no small feat. Southgate applauded his side for their effort but admitted they’d “fallen short.” Captain Kane described the hurt as deep, and the trophy drought since 1966 continues.

The Future

Spain: reinvented, ambitious, ready

Spain’s win is not just a return to glory but a statement of generational transition. Their core is young, hungry and already battle-tested. With veterans in support, they now have legitimacy in both style and substance. The European and world stage beckons, and the 2026 World Cup will be their next big test.

England: reflection, recalibration, reinvention

For England, this is a moment of reckoning. The squad has talent, but structural questions remain: how to balance ambition with control, how to maximize creativity, and how to build mental resilience in finals. The managerial question looms large, and change may be coming. Yet many of England’s stars are still young. This painful loss could serve as a stepping stone rather than a dead end.

Player of the Match

Nico Williams was named Player of the Match for his standout second-half performance. He terrorized England’s right side, combining pace, directness and composure. His goal just after the break gave Spain the spark they needed, and his presence unsettled defenders all evening.

Closing Thoughts

The Euro 2024 final was a fitting climax: drama, shifts in momentum, late goals and raw emotion. Spain emerged not just as champions, but as architects of a new era in European football. England, once again heartbreak runners-up, must now grapple with lessons and hopes. Yet, as fans, we were treated to a grand spectacle, and when the dust settles, we remember that great football rarely has neat endings.