England and Columbia Suffer Euro And Copa America Heartbreak With Late Defeat

Spain are European champions again after England were beaten 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final.

The Three Lions huffed and puffed during the opening period and did well to limit the threat of the pre-match favourites.

England looked to have been handed a huge psychological advantage at the start of the second period when Spain’s midfield maestro Rodri failed to emerge and was replaced by Martin Zubimendi.

That boost was quickly forgotten, however, with Spain taking the lead just 70 seconds after the re-start through a Nico Williams goal, created by the drive and thrust of 17-year-old Lamine Yamal.

Gareth Southgate rolled the dice on the hour mark, hauling off captain Harry Kane and replacing him with semi-final hero Ollie Watkins.

The change galvanised England and they drew level with 17 minutes remaining when a fine flowing move involving Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham culminated in a fine low shot from another substitute Cole Palmer.

An increasingly even contest looked set for extra-time but Spain’s super-sub Mikel Oyarzabal proved the hero, converting Marc Cucurella’s fine low cross.

After a forgettable first half, Spain moved up several gears with Nico Williams slotting the opener on 47 minutes from a lovely Yamine Lamal pass.

Despite Harry Kane toiling before being replaced by Ollie Watkins in the second half, England never stopped fighting with Cole Palmer stroking home a fine equaliser from 22 yards on 73 minutes only moments after coming on for Kobbie Mainoo, but it was ultimately rendered futile.

While Spain celebrates seven straight wins in the finals as the tournament's outstanding team, England's 58-year wait for a major trophy continues as the inquest into another failure begins.

England have certainly made progress under Gareth Southgate since he took on the role of national manager in 2016, but they cannot argue with their latest setback in losing the final of Euro 2024 to a better, more progressive side.

After edging Serbia by a goal, and drawing with Denmark and Slovenia in winning Group C in unconvincing fashion, they needed a last-gasp wonder goal from Jude Bellingham to avoid defeat to Slovakia in the last 16, required penalties to overcome Switzerland in the last eight and benefited from a poor decision by VAR in earning a penalty in their 2-1 win over Netherlands in the last four.

There is little doubt that England carried some luck on the field and in the draw in the knockout phase, but their stodgy approach caught up with them in the end.

Unless England learn to play more expansive football and keep better possession of the football, these sort of regretful nights at Berlin's Olympiastadion will not disappear shortly. Whether under Southgate or a new manager. "We didn't keep possession of the ball well enough," conceded Southgate. "They had more control of the game, and that can wear you down a bit.

"As always in these games it is fine margins, but I think they were the best team in the tournament and overall they deserved to win."

In Miami, Argentina beat Colombia after crowd chaos to win the 16th Copa America. Lautaro Martinez scored an extra-time winner as Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 to win a record 16th Copa America title, in a Miami final delayed by over an hour. People without tickets tried to get into the Hard Rock Stadium and gates had to be shut as organisers tried to get control of the situation. Angel Di Maria goes out of international on a high, describing it as a “dream” finale.

Argentina claimed a record 16th Copa America title with a 1-0 extra-time win over Colombia, but the final was overshadowed by crowd trouble which caused a kick-off delay of over an hour in Miami.
Lautaro Martinez scored the winner in the 112th minute after an emotional Lionel Messi was forced off in the second half because of injury.

In scenes which brought to mind the Euro 2020 final at Wembley (in July 2021), fans without tickets tried to gain access to the 65,000 sell-out Hard Rock Stadium - a venue for World Cup 2026 - leading to organisers shutting the gates and denying access to supporters who did have them.

A statement by the stadium said, “Thousands of fans without tickets attempted to forcibly enter the stadium, putting other fans, security and law enforcement officers at extreme risk”. The game eventually started an hour and 22 minutes later than scheduled.

Another statement followed in the hours after, with the Hard Rock Stadium defending its preparations with CONMEBOL and CONCACAF and admitting some fans with tickets never got into the venue because some supporters engaged in “illegal conduct, fighting police officers, breaking down walls and barricades and vandalising the stadium”.

Once the match kicked off, Julian Alvarez missed an early chance for Argentina. At the same time, Liverpool winger Luis Diaz also went close, with Emiliano Martinez making several saves before Messi had to withdraw in tears in the 66th minute with an ankle problem.

After a further delay for a half-time show by Shakira, extending the midway break by almost half an hour, Argentina began to look more of a threat, with Angel Di Maria, who was playing his last game for Argentina before retiring from international football, going close. At the same time, Nicolas Gonzalez had an effort well saved by Camilo Vargas.

The score remained level after 90 minutes but the world champions had players in reserve and Martinez entered the field seven minutes into extra-time.
Within 15 minutes the Inter Milan forward had put his side ahead, latching on to a through ball by Giovani Lo Celso before scoring past Vargas.

“The truth is, it’s hard to describe,” said Di Maria, after playing his last game for Argentina.
“It was written like that. I told the guys last night at dinner that I dreamt it. That’s why I said it was my last Copa America. I dreamt we made it to the final and we won it so I could go out this way.

“I’ll always be grateful to this generation who gave me everything and helped me win what I always wanted and today, I am leaving like this, It could not be better.”

Colombia’s James Rodriguez was named player of the tournament, while Martinez finished as top scorer with five goals.