MUNICH, July 14, 2024 - Something had to give. Spain won the European Championship for a record fourth time with a 2-1 win over an England team who were again so near and yet so far from carrying off a first major trophy since the World Cup in 1966.

The balance tilted Spain’s way in the Olympic Stadium when Nico Williams caught England by surprise just over a minute into the second half. Wasteful finishing permitted England substitute Cole Palmer an equaliser in the 73rd minute before Spain’s own super-sub, Mikel Oyarzabal, won it shortly before the final whistle.

Spain, as England kicked off, had shared the three-times title record with hosts Germany but were always favourites to succeed deposed champions Italy after delivering the most fluent football of the finals to win all their seven matches with a decisive overall goals tally of 15-4.

Coach Luis de la Fuente, their understated 63-year-old coach, thus saw his Nations League title-holders extend a remarkable Spanish sequence at national team and clubs level of 27 successive unbeaten finals.

He said: “I couldn’t be happier. To see the fans, to see the players, a real team, European champions. I said before the final that I was proud and nw I am even prouder. It confirms what we are. For me, they are the best in the world.”

England had improved immeasurably in the knockout stage after an unimpressive group showing in as they sought amends for Wembley 2021 when they lost the final on penalties to Italy. But it proved all too little too late.

A subsidiary issue, shelved temporarily amid the Three Lions’ run to Berlin, concerns the future of 53-year-old manager Gareth Southgate. His contract runs until December and the FA is believed to want him to stay on but he has promised a decision sooner rather than later.

Southgate said: “We've competed until the very end of the final. After we got the equaliser it was wide open. We had a big chance at the end to equalise so as always it is fine margins. I do think Spain were the best team in the tournament.”

The denouement climaxed a month of action which had entertained 2.6m fans in 10 venues across Germany as well as some 2.65bn TV viewers worldwide, even if much of the football itself had not been particularly memorable, classy or imaginative.

The first half saw only one serious goal effort. This fell to Phil Foden after a right-wing free kick from Declan Rice just before the interval and drew a low, near-post save from keeper Unai Simon.

Spain came out for the second half without Rodri who had been hurt blocking a shot by Kane. Not that the loss of the man later named Player of the Tournament did them any harm.

Within just over a minute of the restart the precocious Lamine Yamal escaped Luke Shaw and delivered a perfect cross into the stride of Williams for the other winger to score. That was Yamal’s fourth assist of the finals. Not bad for the starlet aged 17 years one day and who would be hailed Young Player of the Tournament.

Spain now had rocky England at their mercy. Olmo and Williams were both narrowly off target and then Fabian Ruiz fired a low drive just wide of keeper Jordan Pickford’s right-hand post. They would regret those missed chances as England pulled themselves together.

First Jude Bellingham swivelled and shot just wide then Southgate pulled his substitutions trick again. Ollie Watkins replacing Kane then Palmer, having just replaced Kobbie Mainoo, shot an equaliser low past the diving Simon in the 72nd minute from a Bellingham assist.

De la Fuente, however, had a substitution trick of his own to play. Four minutes remained when Mikel Oyarzabal, an earlier replacement for Alvaro Morata, climaxed a high-speed counter-attack by converting Marc Cucurella’s cross.

Spain deserved the win not only for their work on the night but for their entire Euro campaign.