UEFA European Championship - Spain's 2-1 victory over England sets a record for their fourth ever championship in history
On July 15th at 3:00 am Beijing time, Spain played against England in the final of the European Cup. Nico Williams scored the first goal, and Palmer, who came on as a substitute, scored a long-range goal to equalize the score. Oyashawal, who also came on as a substitute, scored the winning goal in the final game. Spain defeated England 2-1 to win their fourth European Cup championship in team history, surpassing Germany who has won three times and setting a historical record.
Spain has reached the final of the European Championship four times before, winning three times in 1964, 2008, and 2012. England has reached the final of two consecutive European Cups, and is also the only two time they have appeared in a European Cup final. In 2020, England won the runner up. In the last 6 encounters between the two teams, Spain has won 3, drawn 1, and lost 2, scoring 10 goals and conceding 7 goals. Spanish main defenders Carvajal and Lenormand have returned to the starting lineup after their suspension, while Nacho and Navas have returned to the bench. England has replaced their starting lineup, with Luke Shaw replacing Tripil.
In the 8th minute, Spain passed continuously in front of the penalty area, and Rice made a timely steal. In the 13th minute, Nico Williams took a corner kick and Lenormand's backhoe shot missed. Two minutes later, Walker made a cross from the right and promptly cleared the ball in front of Laporte's goal. Stones' return force was too strong, and Pickford, who was standing at the front, almost made a mistake in receiving the ball.
In the 23rd minute, Foden made a mistake and conceded the ball. Yamal cut into the right side of the penalty area and forcefully took a shot, which was blocked by Guy. One minute later, Saka collided with Kawahar and fell to the ground. Kawahar responded with a crying gesture. In the 25th minute, Kane stepped on Fabian Ruiz and was given a yellow card warning. In the 31st minute, Ormo stepped on Rice's abdomen during the breakthrough and was also shown a yellow card by the referee. In the 36th minute, Ormo's long-range shot outside the penalty area was blocked by Kane.
In the 38th minute, Laporte fell in the penalty area and the referee ignored it. In the 44th minute, Bellingham intercepted Carvajal in the front court and then passed horizontally, and Kane's stop shot was blocked. Two minutes later, England launched a free kick attack, with Foden shooting from a small angle on the left side of the penalty area, but the ball was confiscated by goalkeeper Unai Simon. After halftime, the two teams drew 0-0.
After halftime, the injured Rodley was replaced. In the 47th minute, Carvajal scored a goal, Yamal diagonally passed to the left side of the penalty area, Nico Williams inserted a diagonal shot and scored, 1-0. Spain broke the deadlock and took the lead. 17-year-old Yamal assisted Nico Williams, who is 22 years and 2 days old, in scoring a goal. Williams is also the second youngest scorer in the history of European Cup finals, second only to former Italian international Anatasi (20 years and 64 days old).
In the 49th minute, Nico Williams made a direct pass, and Olmo turned around from the left side of the penalty area to shoot off the far corner. In the 55th minute, Yamal passed directly, and Morata faced the goalkeeper from the right side of the penalty area with a diagonal shot. The ball was not fast and was cleared by Stones in front of the goal line. Then Nico Williams' left footed long-range shot was slightly off target. Spain has missed consecutive scoring opportunities.
In the 63rd minute, Bellingham pulled the ball in front of the penalty area and turned around, taking a left footed long-range shot that was slightly off center. Two minutes later, Ormo passed the ball, Yamal made a low shot into the penalty area, and Pickford saved the ball. In the 69th minute, Fabian Ruiz took a powerful long-range shot and kicked high. In the 71st minute, Zubi Mendi passed the ball, and Osarval cut into the left side of the penalty area to take a small angle shot that was blocked.
In the 73rd minute, Saka made a cross from the right, Watkins hit back, and Palmer scored with a powerful low shot in front of the penalty area, tying the score with England 1-1. Palmer has appeared as a substitute in two consecutive European Cup matches and scored goals. He assisted Watkins in the semi-finals to win the game. He is also the fourth English player to score in a major tournament final and the second English player to score in a European Cup final (Luke Shaw in 2020).
In the 81st minute, Nico Williams crossed horizontally, Olmo missed, and Yamal's shot from the right side of the penalty area was saved by Pickford. In the 87th minute, Osarval scored the ball to the left, and Kukurelia passed it from a low draw. Osarval scored a goal from the center, 2-1, and Spain once again took the lead.
In the 89th minute, Palmer took a corner kick, Rice headed the ball to the top but was saved by the goalkeeper, Guy headed the ball back, Olmo headed the ball in front of the line to clear the ball, and Rice headed the ball back but was blocked again. The game ended with Spain defeating England 2-1.
Spain (4231): 23 Una Simon/2-Carvajal, 3 Lenormand (83'4-Nacho), 14 Laporte, 24 Kukurelia/16 Rodri (46'18 Zubi Mendi), 8 Fabian Ruiz/19 Yamal (89'6-Merino), 10 Ormo, 17 Nico Williams/7-Morata (68'21 Osarval)
England (4231): 1- Pickford/2- Walker, 5- Stones, 6- Guy, 3- Luke Shaw/26- Manu (70'24- Palmer), 4- Rice/7- Saka, 11- Foden (89'17- Ivan Tony), 10- Bellingham/9- Kane (61'19- Watkins)
