Carvajal, Nacho and Joselu win Euro 2024 for Spain with final victory over Bellingham’s England

Dani Carvajal, Nacho and Joselu were crowned champions of Europe for the second time in two months as they added a European Championship title to their Champions League exploits with Real Madrid. Spain beat Jude Bellingham’s England with a dramatic 2-1 win in Berlin in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday night.

Carvajal and Bellingham started on either side, but it wasn’t until the second half that the deadlock was broken in a tense battle. That moment came as Athletic Club’s Nico Williams countered and found space at the far post to fire beyond England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

England pulled one back when Gareth Southgate made changes, allowing Jude Bellingham more freedom to move into the box and tee up Chelsea’s Cole Palmer to fire in from the edge of the box and level the tie.

The Three Lions continued to push, but the winner on 87 minutes came from substitute Mikel Oyarzabal, whose fresh legs helped him get a toe on the end of Marc Cucurella’s cross into the box to make it 2-1.

Carvajal ended the game as captain

Luis de la Fuente was forced into changes for Spain, including the decision to introduce Nacho from the bench to replace Robin Le Normand, and to remove Álvaro Morata for matchwinner Oyarzabal and hand the captain’s armband to Carvajal.

The right-back led by example as he kept Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden quiet down England’s flank, with Southgate clearly instructing them to focus more of their efforts on Cucurella down the left side of Spain’s defence.

With the win, Spain have become European champions for the fourth time, adding to 1964, 2008 and 2012 with their first major title in 12 years. In doing so, they became the first nation to win the competition having beaten all European winners of the World Cup. It also reinforces De la Fuente’s leadership, having committed to a contract until 2026 before the tournament.