England kicked off the first half from left to right. Early on, Lamine Yamal attempted to trouble Luke Shaw, but the Manchester United defender handled the challenge well. Spain earned the first corner of the game when John Stones cleared the ball out. As expected, Spain maintained possession for the first five minutes, showcasing their typical style of play.
Nico Williams proved to be a constant threat to England’s defense, especially on the left side, earning Spain dangerous corners in the first half. England had their own corner opportunity from a low cross by Kyle Walker, but it was easily cleared by Spain’s defense. Harry Kane was the first to receive a yellow card following a rough tackle on Fabian Ruiz.
The game saw its first shot on target from Fabian Ruiz, deflected by Marc Guehi, making it a comfortable save for Jordan Pickford. Dani Olmo received a yellow card after a studs-up clash with Declan Rice. England had a minor scare for Spain when Dani Carvajal lost possession in his own half, leading to a free-kick that Phil Foden converted into England’s first shot on target.
Spain, not known for their crossing, delivered 9 crosses within the first half-hour, aiming to create indecision for Pickford. At halftime, Rodri was substituted due to injury, with Zubimendi coming on. Shortly after the break, Spain scored the opening goal through Nico Williams, who finished a precise pass from Lamine Yamal to make it 1-0.England, familiar with chasing games, found themselves on the back foot but continued to fight. Despite their lead, Spain remained aggressive, looking for a second goal.
Harry Kane was substituted for Ollie Watkins, the hero of the semi-final against the Netherlands.Jordan Pickford made crucial saves, including a significant one against Lamine Yamal to keep England in the game. Cole Palmer was introduced, replacing Kobbie Mainoo, and made an immediate impact. Palmer scored a stunning goal from outside the box to equalize for England, beating Unai Simon and making it 1-1.Spain continued to press, and in the 86th minute, Marc Cucurella delivered a low cross to Oyarzabal, who scored to make it 2-1. Despite England’s efforts to find another equalizer, Spain held on to their lead.Spain were crowned Champions of Europe, while England’s search for an elusive international trophy continues.
