By: Aiden Ding

The pressure in competitive sports is extreme – especially in the finals. So when England scored and tied the score in the 2024 Euro cup, Spain sensed their message. The heat was on.

In the closing minutes of the Euro cup finals, Spain scored, embracing the win with a score of 2-1. In the second half of the game, Spain’s Nico Williams scored the first goal, pulling them ahead.

In the first half of the game, efforts by England’s young substitute, Cole Palmer, tied them 1-1. Palmer’s blazing shot hit the bottom corner of Spain’s goal and scored them a point. The game stayed tied until the closing minutes where Spain netted a goal in the 86th minute, securing their win. This is the 58th year without England’s men’s soccer team winning a major tournament.

Though not playing well at the tournament, England’s captain, Harry Kane, scored three goals. He told BBC that the pain of losing was “as painful as it could be,” also stating that he thought they did well in the finals to be able to push to 1-1.

England’s team manager, Gareth Southgate, said that he didn’t think his team kept possession of the ball enough. “As always in these games, it’s were fine margins but I think overall Spain were the best team in the tournament and they deserved to win,” Gareth said respectfully.

The finals were held on the same day of the Copa America finals, where Lionel Messi and his team fought for the win against Colombia’s men’s soccer team.