MATCH REPORT | Spain reach immortality (2-1)

Sunday 14 July 2024 will forever be remembered as the day a group of players became immortal.

Spain became the first team in history to win a hat-trick of European Championships at the legendary Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

And they did it in unforgettable fashion against a brave England side who only conceded the losing goal when extra time was starting to look inevitable.

Luis de la Fuente's men, who arrived at the Berlin Colosseum wearing  a shirt styled on the one they wore at Euro 96 when the defeated Zubizarreta, Hierro, Nadal, KIko and Julio Salinas went home in the quarter-finals. Tonight, though, they took their revenge in a match that was competitive from the outset and in which Luis de la Fuente opted for the return of Carvajal and Le Normand in defence.

Southgate's side gave the ball away early to a Spain side that struggled to penetrate their opponents’ low block and were always looking for Nico Williams' penetration down the left.

Spain were in control but could not find a way past Pickford, while Unai had to be at his best to keep out a dangerous shot from Phil Foden towards the end of the first half.

The opening and closing minutes of the second half proved decisive in a tightly contested final on the Berlin tuft.

Rodrigo did not take to the pitch after half-time following a knock, he was replaced by Zubimendi, who came on after the restart to start a spectacular spell of football.

Within two minutes, a combination between Carvajal and Lamine found Nico Williams on the left and the midfielder responded with a precise left-footed shot that beat Pickford.

With the goal scored, England withstood Spain's best minutes, with Lamine Yamal running free down the right and Dani Olmo threatening the English goal every time he got on the ball.

Pickford kept England in the match as Southgate brought on Watkins, the hero of the semi-final, for Harry Kane and Cole Palmer , who brought the English fans to their feet with a great finish from the edge of the area to level the scores.

In the face of the setback, Spain once again dusted themselves down, picked themselves up and once again relied on the talent and stamina of their best players. Glory was in store for Eibar's Mikel Oyarzabal, Morata's replacement, who found Cucurella on the left with three minutes to go to take advantage of the Catalan's inch-perfect service to put a Spanish hand on the trophy with only minutes to play.

Fortune would once again favour Spain with a miraculous chance that Olmo miraculously cleared off the goal line with the clock ticking down.

The final score was 2-1, with Morata lifting the trophy into the Berlin sky and His Majesty the King joining in the celebrations with a national team whose legendary status, even greater today, is sure to continue.