2024 UEFA European Championship Final in Quotes
Football is not coming home, in fact it has found a better home. A home where there is lots of sunshine and beaches to play the game without the freezing cold and rainy days. Yes folks, if you are reading this, England has lost yet another European Championship final and this time to the possession based football kings Spain, an incredible team who will now claim the crown as champions of Europe.
Whether you support England or Spain there is no denying the fact that the Spaniards were the better team in the final and throughout the tournament and deserved to win.
Let’s relive the final in quotes with reaction from players and coaches.
Mikel Oyarzabal:
“I have done my job. I did what I had to do at every moment to try to help,” Oyarzabal said after the match. “I was lucky enough to give the victory. Just the fact of being in the 26, you value it a lot here. To have the moment to help as it has happened to me is the best. It happened to me but could have happened to anyone.” [SOURCE]
Luis de la Fuente
“I couldn’t be happier. To see the fans, to see the players. A real team, European champions,” De la Fuente said. “I said I was proud and today I am even prouder. It confirms what we are. For me, they are the best in the world and today I confirm that definition.” [SOURCE]
Lamine Yamal:
“Very happy and looking forward to coming back to Spain and celebrating with all the fans. It is really the best present there is. It’s a dream. When we were drawing it was difficult. They pushed us hard, but I don’t know what this team is made of, but we always come back, we always win.” [SOURCE]
OptaJoe:
23 – Since the 2002 UEFA Champions League final, Spanish teams and the Spanish national team have played in 23 major finals (Champions League, UEFA Cup, Europa League, World Cup, European Championship) against non-Spanish teams and won the trophy on all 23 occasions. Campeones. pic.twitter.com/GBiCCCIYul
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 14, 2024
England FA:
17 – Aged 17 years and one day, Spain’s Lamine Yamal is the youngest ever player to feature in a FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championship final, surpassing Pele’s record from the 1958 World Cup (17y 249d). King. #ESPENG pic.twitter.com/wCD6wac3Zg
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) July 14, 2024
Cole Palmer:
“Spain have been brilliant all tournament and everyone can see what they can do. They are a great team and congratulations to them,” he told ITV Sport.
“We wanted to kick on but couldn’t and it hurts. We got to another final and everyone is gutted that we didn’t [win].
“The World Cup is in two years time and we need to remember this feeling and try to push on.” {SOURCE]
Harry Kane:
“Another tough moment for the team and for me personally. A tough tournament physically and mentally. You get so close to the highest of the highs, the pinnacle of our careers, now everyone is at the lowest of the lows.
“We haven’t found a way to win that trophy and it is going to hurt for a long time.” {SOURCE]
Gareth Southgate on his future:
“I don’t think now is a good time to make a decision like that. I’m going to talk to the right people,” Southgate told British broadcaster ITV after the final. “It’s just not for now.”
He added: “I think England are in a really good position in terms of the experiences they’ve got now, the age of the squad. Most of this squad are going to be around not just for the World Cup but the next Euros as well. There’s a lot to look forward to but at this moment that’s not any consolation.” [SOURCE]
Some History form OptaJose:
16 – Youngest players in history to score in EURO + World Cup:
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) July 9, 2024
1 – LAMINE YAMAL 🇪🇸 (16 years and 362 days).
2 – Pelé 🇧🇷 (17 years and 239 days)
3 – Manuel Rosas 🇲🇽 (18 years and 93 days)
4 – Gavi 🇪🇸 (18 years and 110 days)
Diamond. pic.twitter.com/3u3CET1pTm
2 – This is the first ever UEFA EURO or FIFA World Cup final to see two different teenagers start the match (Lamine Yamal and Kobbie Mainoo). Starboys. pic.twitter.com/UvbjS65JVD
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 14, 2024
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