Football often divides opinion – but everyone was united to hail Spain’s Euro 2024 success as fully deserved.
La Roja won all seven games without needing penalties, a record at a European Championship. A 2-1 win over England in the final made them European champions for an unprecedented fourth time.
And they did it the hard way, beating every other European nation who have ever won a World Cup – Italy, Germany, France and England, plus beaten 2018 finalists Croatia – on the way to glory in Berlin.
In Rodri they had the player of the tournament. In teenage sensation Lamine Yamal they had the young player of the tournament. Dani Olmo shared the Golden Boot. Yamal had the most assists.
It is easy to forget they did not come into the tournament as one of the absolute favourites, with England and France the two tipped for glory.
Even England boss Gareth Southgate admitted Spain were deserved champions.
“Congratulations to Spain. They deserved a win not only tonight, but across the whole tournament,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
It was not the same style of Spain team which dominated football more than a decade ago – winning Euros 2008 and 2012, and the 2010 World Cup.
That team was based on passing teams off the park – with geniuses Xavi and Andres Iniesta in midfield – but wingers are crucial to this team.
Nico Williams scored the opener and substitute Mikel Oyarzabal netted the late winner – with Yamal setting up Williams’ goal.
Williams and Yamal, good friends, had their birthdays on Friday and Saturday – turning 22 and 17 respectively.
Barcelona’s Yamal is the youngest player to ever play at, score at, assist at and win a European Championship.
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton, who won one cap for England, said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “It is a good thing for football that Spain won the tournament with the brand they have played.”
BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, who used to play for Barcelona, said: “It is a hard defeat for England to take but in some ways, it is a victory for attacking football.”
Former Spain midfielder Juan Mata, on BBC One, added: “We played great football, always tried to win the games and I think we deserve to win this tournament,
“We have young players and older players. It is not only a team for the present, but also a team for the future.
“They are playing such a high level now.
“We are so proud of them and really believe they can keep growing and believing and keep winning trophies.”
Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague said: “Spain surprised me again.
“They said ‘we are going at it without fear by being brave and courageous’ – that is what has won them the tournament.”
England boss Southgate was criticised for his perceived negative tactics at times this summer – although dissenting voices quietened as they went deeper into the tournament.
They changed formation midway through the Euros and often improved when players like Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer, who scored big goals, came off the bench.
Southgate had the Premier League’s player of the year Phil Foden, La Liga’s player of the year Jude Bellingham and the Bundesliga’s top scorer Harry Kane in his squad.
Spain, in contrast, had two centre-backs who will be playing in Saudi Arabia next season and several players from sixth-placed La Liga side Real Sociedad. Marc Cucurella, much-maligned at Chelsea, ended up being the tournament’s best left-back.
Only one player from each of Real Madrid and Barcelona were in Spain’s starting XI.
Sutton said: “Spain played the beautiful game and England didn’t. Spain are a team. England are bits and pieces.”
Ex-England defender Micah Richards agreed: “What’s great about this Spain team, they know their roles and how to fit in. With England at times, we’re sort of just getting our best players on the pitch.
“This Spanish side just managed to find a way and pick the players who are going to impact in this system.”
Former England defender Matt Upson, who scored against Germany at the 2010 World Cup, said: “Spanish subs come on and you see more of the same – it is a system.
“We want an English player to come on and change it – that speaks a lot for the two teams.”
This is the peak of Luis de la Fuente’s career for sure.
The 63-year-old has been Spain’s senior manager since 2022, having previously managed several of the current first team with the under-19s, U21s and U23s.
This is his third European Championship win with his nation – having won with the U19s and U21s, and now the senior team.
In that successful U19s team in 2015 were Rodri, who was named the best player of Euro 2024, Mikel Merino, who scored the winner against Germany in the quarter-finals, and first-choice keeper Unai Simon.
The hero of the final Oyarzabal, Merino, three-goal Olmo and regular starter Fabian Ruiz all featured in the U21s final in 2019.
De la Fuente has never managed in La Liga and was sacked from his last club job, Alaves, after just four months in 2011.
“De la Fuente knew most of these players from the academies and they are growing as a team,” said Mata.
“He deserves all the credit – him, his assistants and the players.”
Balague added: “He is a manager who doesn’t want the attention and has taken the national football level to a new height.
“Spain have beaten everyone put in front of them – that is not easy to do.”
