EM-Final - A Dream": Spain intoxicated - England bitterly disappointed
The Spanish title party with the King began on the lawn of the Berlin Olympic Stadium - and it is expected to end late on this Monday in Madrid. The new European champions celebrated wildly after winning 2:1 (0:0) against the bitterly disappointed English team. "Oh my God. What a day. Probably the most beautiful day of my football career", said Rodri, who was named the best player of the tournament.
The Spanish King Felipe VI and his daughter Sofia had first cheered on the honorary tribune and then came down to the players for the presentation of the EM Cup. The Spanish Football Federation even announced the schedule for the fans: The selection of coach Luis de la Fuente is expected to land at Madrid Airport at 14.10 hours. From there, it goes towards the town hall, where celebrations are planned from 20.00 hours with tens of thousands of people. Open-ended.
Even midnight? No problem!
"I am proud and happy", said de la Fuente late on Sunday evening - but the time was no problem. "Midnight is actually quite early", said the national coach, looking also at home. The people in Spain have "every reason to go out and celebrate now. I'm excited that the people are there." There's no one angry if someone comes to work late. Employers would want to "celebrate" too, said the national coach.
It's a "wonderful day for us", said de la Fuente immediately after the final whistle. "My team deserved to win. Thank you to all of Spain for your support. We can always get better. That might be a little secret of ours: We can always get better."
On the way to the final, the Furia Roja knocked out the German national team in the quarterfinals. Marc Cucurella, who had taken the ball in the penalty area against the DFB team without causing a penalty, was booed by some fans for a long time. Late in the evening, the 25-year-old celebrated happily with his teammates.
Worthy successors of the great winners
At the previous tournaments, the Spaniards had struggled to step into the oversized footsteps of the European and World Champions of 2008, 2010 and 2012. Players like Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Fernando Torres had shaped an era. Twelve years after the third EM title in Berlin, in particular, the 17-year-old Lamine Yamal and the 22-year-old Nico Williams, who had shaped the Spanish game during the tournament, were jubilant. Williams scored the leading goal in the 47th minute after a pass from Yamal.
"A dream has come true. I'm already looking forward to going back to Spain", said Yamal, who celebrated his 17th birthday in Germany on Saturday. "It was very difficult at the beginning. We made it. We keep fighting." Williams looked directly towards the WM 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the USA: "We deserve it, also our friends, the fans. Hopefully it continues - also at the World Championship."
England's football wait goes on
The English had nothing left but a quiet departure on Sunday. It didn't quite make it in the final, as it hadn't three years ago at home in Wembley Stadium against Italy. Cole Palmer (73.) managed to equalize temporarily, but Mikel Oyarzabal (86.) made Spain jubilant - it was not the end of their waiting period for the second major title since the World Cup victory in 1966.
"Losing a final is very, very hard," said National Coach Gareth Southgate, avoiding commenting on his own professional future. That's not the time for it, the former world-class defender added. Encouraging words came from the home of King Charles III. "Even though the victory this evening has been denied to you, my wife and I, along with our entire family, invite you and your team to keep your heads high," reads a message from the King, shared on X.
The earlier substitution of Captain Harry Kane after about an hour raised eyebrows. However, the Bayern star seemed like an outsider in the English game. Kane went into the tournament with an injury, Southgate explained. The striker himself, who is also personally still waiting for a title, was visibly disappointed. "It's extremely painful and will take a long time to heal," Kane said.
- Despite the late finish on Monday in Madrid, the Spanish fans are excited to celebrate the EM win with their King Felipe VI.
- Luis de la Fuente, the Spanish coach, expressed his pride and happiness late on Sunday evening, acknowledging that midnight is not an issue for the celebrations.
- De la Fuente expressed gratitude towards Spain for their support, assuring that employers would also want to celebrate and there would be no anger towards late workers.
- The Spanish team, led by coach de la Fuente, performed exceptionally well, defeating Germany in the quarterfinals and eventually winning the EM against England.
- Nico Williams, one of the young stars of the Spanish team, scored the leading goal against England, further solidifying Spain's dominance in the soccer tournament.
- Players like Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal have emerged as worthy successors to the legendary players of the 2008, 2010, and 2012 teams, including Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Fernando Torres.
- England, disappointed after losing the final, will return home with a quiet departure, continuing their wait for the second major title since their World Cup victory in 1966.
- Some controversy arose during the tournament after Marc Cucurella, who had a collision in the penalty area against the German team, was booed by some fans, but he was able to celebrate his victory happily with his teammates.
