It's not coming home, not even this time. Once again defeated by the English in the final, Spain wins the European football championships for the fourth time in history , thus becoming the national team with the most titles overall ahead of Germany. Another bitter final for England after the one lost three years ago at Wembley against Italy.

At the Olympiastadion in Berlin , De La Fuente's team prevailed 2-1: all the goals in the second half, Nico Williams opened, Palmer equalized and Oyarzabal decided it 4 minutes from the 90th minute . After a balanced first half without great emotion, the Red Furies took over in the second and achieved a well-deserved triumph.

THE FORMATIONS

Southgate chooses the following starting eleven: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Bellingham, Foden; Kane. De La Fuente responds like this: Unai Simón; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Ruiz, Rodri; Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Morata.

THE NEWS

First half

The first half was intense and very balanced, but devoid of emotion. As expected, Spain plays the game and manages ball possession. England, very attentive and well closed, are immediately ready to start again. The only shot on target in the first 45 minutes came in injury time, it was a harmless volley from Foden after a free kick from the right. For the rest, some attempted attacks on the flanks of the Spaniards were well neutralized by the English defense and some counterattacks by England which they were unable to materialise. Thrill only for a play in the area by Morata, neutralized by Stones, and an error by Carvajal who had the ball stolen by Bellingham, assist for Kane and blocked shot. Both centre-forwards, Harry Kane and Alvaro Morata, were booked.

Second half

We start again with bad news for Spain, who lose their star Rodri to injury, replaced with Zubimendi. But De La Fuente's team is not affected, on the contrary: just over a minute passes and the Spanish lead arrives. Great play from the usual Lamine Yamal (17 years old yesterday) and perfect assist for Nico Williams who beats Pickford . Immediately afterwards Dani Olmo almost doubled his lead. England feel the pinch, Spain rages and comes very close to scoring twice more in the space of 2 minutes: first Morata wastes one-on-one, then Nico Williams comes close to the post from outside.

After an hour of play Southgate sacrifices Kane and brings on Watkins, hero of the semi-final against the Netherlands. Bellingham tries to wake up the English with a large number, a shot from outside and the ball goes just wide. The game is now wide open, on the other side a great response from Pickford on the usual Yamal. But in the 73rd minute the equalizer came: Cole Palmer scored with a great left-footed low shot from outside following an assist from Bellingham , who managed to pass the ball to him as he fell.

Spain doesn't give up, continues to grind out the game and comes very close to taking the lead again, Pickford says no to Yamal at the end of a wonderful choral action by the Iberians. But the 2-1 goal was only postponed, scored in the 86th minute by Oyarzabal : another splendid team action, on Cucurella's low cross the midfielder who came in for Rodri intervened in the split in the area and left Pickford no way out. The emotions are not over, immediately afterwards England comes close to equalizing three times on the same corner kick with as many headers : on the first Unai Simon intervenes, on the second there is a save on the line by Dani Olmo, the third ends high.

It's the last great chance for the English, who return home again with a bitter taste in their mouths. Spain's triumph was well deserved , given what was shown in the final and in the rest of the tournament.

(Unioneonline/L)

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