By Max Tijero, Year 12
For most young football fans, the Spanish national team has been quite a disappointment. Coming off a disappointing World Cup performance, being eliminated by underdogs Morocco in the round of 16, Spain had to prove themselves. They had recently appointed a new manager, Luis De La Fuente and with a renewed and young squad, the entire nation was counting on them.
In the group stage draw, Spain were placed in “the group of death”, with previous champions Italy, Croatia, who had placed 3rd in the World Cup, and Albania, who were by far the weakest team in this group. On the 15th of June, Spain debuted in the tournament against Croatia. Their lineup was filled with young prospects like Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Pedri, as well as some criticised players like Marc Cucurella, Fabian Ruiz and Alvaro Morata. However, Spain put the critics aside and delivered a splendid first half display scoring three goals, from Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Carvajal. The Carvajal goal was assisted by a perfect cross from 16 year old Lamine Yamal, who on this day became the youngest ever debutant in the Euros, and the youngest assistant in the history of the Euros.
In the two next gameweeks, Spain went on to beat both Italy and Albania 1-0 which made them advance the group stages as first in their group, and not having conceded any goals. These performances made the Spanish national team quite popular and they were even said to be the best playing team in the Euros, after Germany, the tournament host. Spain would play Georgia in the round of 16, and after a first half scare, with an own goal by Le Normand, Spain passed this stage comfortably after making a second half comeback and winning 4-1 with yet another assist by Lamine Yamal.
In the quarter finals, Spain would play arguably the hardest match of their entire Euro run, against Germany. This match was very tense, and beautiful football was on display. In the 52nd minute, a low cross by Lamine Yamal was passed into the net by Dani Olmo, who had been subbed on for injured Pedri. In the 88th minute, after Spain had been defending for most of the second half, Florian Wirtz scored from a volley, which sent the game to Extra-time. In this extra time, both teams would have chances. In the 104th minute controversy surfaced as Cucurella was said to block a shot with his hand. However, Nikolas Fullkrug was offside earlier on in the play, so the handball was not called. In the 119th minute, Dani Olmo put in a perfect cross for substitute Mikel Merino to fly and header the ball into the back of the net, sending Spain through to the Semi-finals, having eliminated one of the Tournament favorites.
In the Semi Finals, France was the next rival, an early goal by Kolo Muani was overshadowed by a beautiful strike from outside the box by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal who became the youngest goal-scored in the history of the tournament, and later on a volley from Dani Olmo put Spain in the lead. The rest of the match was dominated by “La Roja” who passed comfortably to the finals. Their rivals were England.
The first half was quite eventless, but in the 46th minute, yet another pass by Lamine Yamal was shot into the net by Nico Williams. Spain started dominating the match but a goal from bench player Cole Palmer tied the match. In the 85th minute, Marc Cucurella did a low driven cross for Mikel Oyarzabal who tapped the ball into the net, evoking euphoria into the Spanish fans. Spain were European Champions for the 4th time in history.
