'A good thing for football' - Spain's victory caps off perfect campaign

Football often divides sentiment - but everyone was agreed to hail Spain's Euro 2024 occurrence arsenic afloat deserved.

La Roja won each 7 games without needing penalties, a grounds astatine a European Championship. A 2-1 triumph complete England successful nan last made them European champions for an unprecedented 4th time.

And they did it nan difficult way, beating each different European federation who person ever won a World Cup - Italy, Germany, France and England, positive beaten 2018 finalists Croatia - connected nan measurement to glory successful Berlin.

In Rodri they had nan subordinate of nan tournament. In teenage sensation Lamine Yamal they had nan young subordinate of nan tournament. Dani Olmo shared nan Golden Boot. Yamal had nan astir assists.

It is easy to hide they did not travel into nan tourney arsenic 1 of nan absolute favourites, pinch England and France nan 2 tipped for glory.

Even England leader Gareth Southgate admitted Spain were deserved champions.

"Congratulations to Spain. They deserved a triumph not only tonight, but crossed nan full tournament," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

It was not nan aforesaid style of Spain squad which dominated shot much than a decade agone - winning Euros 2008 and 2012, and nan 2010 World Cup.

That squad was based connected passing teams disconnected nan parkland - pinch geniuses Xavi and Andres Iniesta successful midfield - but wingers are important to this team.

Nico Williams scored nan opener and substitute Mikel Oyarzabal netted nan precocious victor - pinch Yamal mounting up Williams' goal.

Williams and Yamal, bully friends, had their birthdays connected Friday and Saturday - turning 22 and 17 respectively.

Barcelona's Yamal is nan youngest subordinate to ever play at, people at, assistance astatine and triumph a European Championship.

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton, who won 1 headdress for England, said connected BBC Radio 5 Live: "It is simply a bully point for shot that Spain won nan tourney pinch nan marque they person played."

BBC Match of nan Day presenter Gary Lineker, who utilized to play for Barcelona, said: "It is simply a difficult conclusion for England to return but successful immoderate ways, it is simply a triumph for attacking football."

Former Spain midfielder Juan Mata, connected BBC One, added: "We played awesome football, ever tried to triumph nan games and I deliberation we merit to triumph this tournament,

"We person young players and older players. It is not only a squad for nan present, but besides a squad for nan future.

"They are playing specified a precocious level now.

"We are truthful proud of them and really judge they tin support increasing and believing and support winning trophies."

Spanish shot journalist Guillem Balague said: "Spain amazed maine again.

"They said 'we are going astatine it without fearfulness by being brave and courageous' - that is what has won them nan tournament."

England leader Southgate was criticised for his perceived antagonistic strategies astatine times this summertime - though dissenting voices quietened arsenic they went deeper into nan tournament.

They changed statement midway done nan Euros and often improved erstwhile players for illustration Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer, who scored large goals, came disconnected nan bench.

Southgate had nan Premier League's subordinate of nan twelvemonth Phil Foden, La Liga's subordinate of nan twelvemonth Jude Bellingham and nan Bundesliga's apical scorer Harry Kane successful his squad.

Spain, successful contrast, had 2 centre-backs who will beryllium playing successful Saudi Arabia adjacent play and respective players from sixth-placed La Liga broadside Real Sociedad. Marc Cucurella, much-maligned astatine Chelsea, ended up being nan tournament's champion left-back.

Only 1 subordinate from each of Real Madrid and Barcelona were successful Spain's starting XI.

Sutton said: "Spain played nan beautiful crippled and England didn't. Spain are a team. England are bits and pieces."

Ex-England defender Micah Richards agreed: "What's awesome astir this Spain team, they cognize their roles and really to fresh in. With England astatine times, we're benignant of conscionable getting our champion players connected nan pitch.

"This Spanish broadside conscionable managed to find a measurement and prime nan players who are going to effect successful this system."

Former England defender Matt Upson, who scored against Germany astatine nan 2010 World Cup, said: "Spanish subs travel connected and you spot much of nan aforesaid - it is simply a system.

"We want an English subordinate to travel connected and alteration it - that speaks a batch for nan 2 teams."

This is nan highest of Luis de la Fuente's profession for sure.

The 63-year-old has been Spain's elder head since 2022, having antecedently managed respective of nan existent first squad pinch nan under-19s, U21s and U23s.

This is his 3rd European Championship triumph pinch his federation - having won pinch nan U19s and U21s, and now nan elder team.

In that successful U19s squad successful 2015 were Rodri, who was named nan champion subordinate of Euro 2024, Mikel Merino, who scored nan victor against Germany successful nan quarter-finals, and first-choice keeper Unai Simon.

The leader of nan last Oyarzabal, Merino, three-goal Olmo and regular starter Fabian Ruiz each featured successful nan U21s last successful 2019.

De la Fuente has ne'er managed successful La Liga and was sacked from his past nine job, Alaves, aft conscionable 4 months successful 2011.

"De la Fuente knew astir of these players from nan academies and they are increasing arsenic a team," said Mata.

"He deserves each nan in installments - him, his assistants and nan players."

Balague added: "He is simply a head who doesn't want nan attraction and has taken nan nationalist shot level to a caller height.

"Spain person beaten everyone put successful beforehand of them - that is not easy to do."