Three Things We Learnt as Cucurella Laughs Last and Nico Wills Spain to Euro 2024 Victory | OneFootball

Spain sauntered to victory in Berlin thanks to a late Mikel Oyarzabal goal.

The now four-time European Champions took the lead just after half-time as Nico Williams coolly slotted the ball past Jordan Pickford, but England regrouped.

Two minutes after coming on, Cole Palmer equalised from 20 yards.

Both sides had chances to win it but Spain were more composed.

With four minutes remaining, the Real Sociedad substitute got ahead of his defender to divert Marc Cucurella’s cross home to seal a memorable win in the Olympiastadion.

Here are three highlights from the Euro 2024 final.

Cucurella Laughs Last

“I think he [Cucurella] is one of the reasons I think Spain probably can’t go all the way”

At the start of the tournament, former England and Manchester United defender-turned-pundit, Gary Neville predicted Spain would fall short at Euro 2024.

Neville would come to rue that prediction as Cucurella provided the assist for Spain’s tournament-winning moment.

However, Neville’s prediction was grounded in recent evidence.

Only three months ago, an Arsenal team of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice danced around a Chelsea defence consisting of Spain’s Marc Cucurella.

In a devastating display of attacking football, Saka and England teammate Rice, overwhelmed a frail and vulnerable Chelsea defence as Arsenal moved top of the Premier League with a 5-0 win.

Ben White and Martin Odegaard took the plaudits, but Saka’s pace on the right wing, his confidence cutting inside, and Rice’s vision were central to the victory.

For Chelsea, Cucurella was weak, frequently out of position, and powerless to resist Arsenal’s attack.

For Spain, he has been more consistent, starring in wins over Georgia and Germany as Spain made it unbeaten to their fifth European Championship final.

But, like a recurring nightmare, Saka haunted the Spanish left-back in the first half of the final.

With Kyle Walker eager to overlap, Saka and England overwhelmed Spain’s left wing.

In the 15th minute, Cucurella was caught at sea as Saka and Walker ganged up on the right to find space and cross into the box.

This was the theme of the first half and eventually crucial for England’s equaliser.

Just two minutes after the introduction Cole Palmer, Saka crossed into Jude Bellingham, the England midfielder played it back to Palmer and Chelsea’s finest finished calmly into the bottom right corner from 20 yards.

However, Cucurella had the last laugh.

He found space on the left and delivered a pin-point cross for substitute, Oyarzabal to divert past Pickford.

It was Cucurella at his best.

It was a fitting end to a wonderful tournament for the Chelsea defender and European Champion.

Kane Struggles for Fitness

With Harry Kane vying for the Tournament Golden Boot and so often England’s talisman, the Bayern Munich striker is widely perceived as ‘undroppable’.

However, any casual observer of England’s European Championship campaign will see that Kane has tested that moniker.

Kane scored three goals (including one penalty) to finish joint top-scorer but he has been far from his best.

Known to be carrying a back injury, England’s captain has battled through the pain.

His resilience is to be commended but it has, at times, come to the detriment of his side’s performance.

In the 57th minute, more than 10,000 England fans chanted for Ollie Watkins as they saw Kane wander around the pitch, barely breaking into a trot whilst his teammates scrambled in defence.

Kane was eventually hauled off for Ollie Watkins in the 60th minute to loud cheers having managed just one touch in the opposition’s box over two European Championship finals.

It was a devastating end to Euro 2024 for the England captain, a victim of reputation as much as Southgate’s fixation on playing players out of position.

Spain Dance to Nico’s Tune

It has been an extraordinary year for Nico Williams.

His eight goals and 16 assists for Athletic Bilbao were critical as they won the Copa del Rey for the first time since 1984 and finished fifth in La Liga.

For Spain, Williams has barely put a foot wrong in this European Championship campaign.

In the final, Williams was, deservedly, player of the match.

Williams’ performances have often been overshadowed by the brilliance of Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal but Williams was outstanding in Berlin.

His goal in the 47th minute was well-time and clinical.

Williams held his run to latch onto Yamal’s pass and calmly slid the ball past Pickford.

Having turned 22 only two days ago, Williams became the second youngest scorer in a Championship final (after Pietro Anastasi for Italy in 1968).

Overally, it was a complete performance.

Williams terrorised England’s defence with his footwork and pace.

With over 90% pass accuracy, three key passes, and 64 touches, Williams was the edge to Spain’s incisive attack.

Both frightening and exciting is that Spain’s starting 11 had only two players aged over 30.

Combined with the young player of the tournament, Lamine Yamal at 17, the fantastic Dani Olmo at 26, and Zubimendi at 25, Williams and company may be initiating an international footballing dynasty.

You would be a brave or foolish person to predict their downfall.

Get Football | Oscar O’Mara