Spain’s youth investment pays off, as the undefeated Spanish beat England 2-1 to win record fourth EURO title

It has happened—the most deserving team has ultimately triumphed! In an electrifying showdown, Spain beat England 2-1 at Berlin's Olympiastadio to win EURO 2024 completely undefeated! Goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal sealed the Spanish victory, crowning them as the European Champions for a record-breaking fourth time.

The first half saw Spain controlling the game, yet the scoreboard remained blank. The breakthrough came swiftly after halftime when 22-year-old Nico Williams netted the opener in the 47th minute. The play was brilliantly set up by 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, who dashed through the defence and curled a pass to Williams, who slotted it into the far corner.

England super-sub Cole Palmer reignited their hopes with a stunning long-range equaliser in the 73rd minute. However, the drama peaked in the 86th minute when Mikel Oyarzabal struck from close range, sealing the win for Spain. A quick VAR check confirmed the goal was onside, extinguishing England's last hopes.

Ultimately, Spain's win was a well-earned return for their superiority on the night, with La Roja dominating possession and creating five big chances throughout the game in comparison to England’s two.
Young Yamal’s role in Spain’s EURO dominance
Spain’s EURO 2024 triumph was marked by impressive wins over top teams like Croatia, Italy, Germany, France, and finally England. The squad, notably younger than the ones Spain have fielded in previous tournaments, featured several exciting teenage prospects alongside the more seasoned internationals.

The contribution of the newly-turned-17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who was unsurprisingly named EURO 2024 Young Player of the Tournament, aptly symbolises the role Spanish youth played in this historic title win.

The young Barcelona star, with one goal and four assists, was involved in more goals than any other player through the tournament. His fourth assist in the final was also more than any Spanish player has ever managed in a single edition of the EUROs!

However, the cherry on top was Yamal breaking a 66-year-old record held by footballing great Pele. At the age of 17 years and one day, the final saw Yamal become the youngest ever player to win a European Championship or World Cup!

All in all, the standout performances of Yamal, Nico Williams and other young Spanish talents signal a promising future for Spain, where the legacy of past glories blends effortlessly with the ambitions of the new generation.

(With inputs from ANI)