The UEFA Champions League is one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world, showcasing the best football talents from 24 countries. As the final of the 2024 European Championship approaches, besides the championship being worth looking forward to, who will be the UEFA best player in Europe Award this year is also highly anticipated. With increasing excitement, it's time to start the prediction who might become the UEFA best player in Europe Award.
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Spain vs. France 2:1 into Euro 2024 Final
On July 9th(EST), the first match of the semi-finals of the 2024 European championship kicked off, with Spain ultimately defeating France 2-1 and advancing to the final of this year's European Championship. In the 9th minute, Mbappe provided an assist and Kolo Muani scored the first goal, giving France a 1-0 lead; In the 21st minute, at the age of 16 and 362 days, Yamal equalized the score with a beautiful curved ball in the penalty area; In the 25th minute, Olmo scored another goal and Spain overtook the lead 2-1! Afterwards, neither side was able to continue scoring goals, and in the end, Spain defeated France 2-1 to advance to the final.
Despite the overall excellent performance of the French team, especially Mbappe's assist, they were unable to withstand Spain's fierce counterattack in the second half.
The Spanish team demonstrated a strong team spirit in the absence of multiple key players, and the key performances of Rodri and Nacho were indispensable. This victory marks Spain's return to the European Championship final since 2012, with the entire team maintaining an unbeaten record.
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UEFA Man of the Match for Spain vs France: Lamine Yamal
Yamal was highly praised after the game, and his goal changed the game situation and contributed the huge power ot lead the Spain team to victory. His speed, technique, and calmness have been widely praised, and his teammates have also made outstanding contributions, jointly resisting the France team's attack. As the game ended, Spanish fans were immersed in joy, celebrating this hard-won victory. Next, Spain will seek new glory in the final.
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England vs. Netherlands 2:1 into Euro 2024 Final
On July 10th(EST), In the semi-finals of 2024, Southgate reversed the Netherlands and became the fourth team to win two consecutive finals. Southgate's tactical wisdom and key goals from players such as Watkins were widely recognized, demonstrating the team's progress and tacit understanding.
England were on the attack in the 14th minute with Harry Kane attempting a shot from a bouncing ball that was hit over the beam. He was caught by Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries after a shoot, and went down in pain. Referee Felix Zwayer pointed for a goal kick, but after a few moments it became clear the VAR decided a penalty.However, and Kane drew England level from the spot.
With ten minutes left in the game, Gareth Southgate's decision to choose Ollie Watkins to replace England's all-time top scorer Harry Kane and they were drifting towards extra-time for the third game in a row.Watkins biding his time on the bench before delivering a lethal strike to giving a 2-1 win over the Netherlands.The fantastic part is Watkins had only previously played 20 minutes in the tournament. Also we need to mention 3 players' great achivements. Bart Verbruggen doing well to defend, before he was the beneficiary of an assist from Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka. The victory brings England into a second consecutive Euros final, where they will face Spain on Sunday.
The success of the England team is attributed to multiple factors. The fighting spirit against the Netherlands, the role of substitute players, Southgate's tactics, goalkeeper stability, and overall strength improvement are all considered important factors. Under the leadership of head coach Southgate, England has shown an indomitable spirit, and this promotion also means that they are expected to win an international championship trophy for the first time since 1966.
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UEFA Man of the Match for Netherlands vs England:
Ollie Watkins
Great Achievements:
9 minutes played
4 touches
2 passes completed
1 touch in the opposition box
1 shot
1 goal
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The King of Euro 2024 : Spain Sets New Record as Champions
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On JUL 14 (EST), The 2024 European Championship came to a close with Spain defeating England 2:1 at Olympiastadion Berlin in Germany on Sunday.
Nico Williams provided the first goal for Spain, scoring less than two minutes into the second half after a scoreless opening 45. Nico Williams opened the scoring with a nifty slicer into the bottom right corner of the net, but England's Cole Palmer evened the tally just three minutes after he was subbed onto the pitch in the second half.
Mikel Oyazarbal reared himself as the hero of the day, sliding into the box to put away a beautiful deciding goal in the 86th minute. Most importantly, Spain did a good job in this European Cup. What an excellent team they are!!! Spain won all 7 games, creating the history of the tournament, and no team can win 7 consecutive games in a single tournament.
The win for Spain marked its fourth European Championship title, a record for the tournament. Spain beat England in the European Cup final to win their fourth European Cup title. Spain previously won the tournament in 1964, 2008 and 2012 and were tied with Germany as the only three-time champions. Moreover, Spain became the first team to win four European Championships, overtaking Germany for the most titles.
England's Heartbreak: Another Runner-Up
The Chelsea star scored a magnificent equaliser to cancel out Nico Williams’ strike early in the second half. Palmer had been on the pitch for just three minutes, having replaced Kobbie Mainoo in the 70th.
However, England could not wrest control from mightily impressive Spain side. Spain scored a goal in the 87th minute of the game, ending the game. England lost to Italy in the 2020 European Championship and to Spain this year, winning the runner up of the European Championship for two consecutive years.
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England’s heartbroken players dropped to their deck at the final whistle, including Palmer, who was spotted in floods of tears and being consoled by Dean Henderson.
Coach Southgate, expressed his hard feeling after the game, said: 'I think they [Spain] were the best team in the tournament. We didn't keep the ball well enough but we were right in it until the last 10 minutes. We had a little bit of momentum at that point. Big chance at the end to equalise as well but, across the 90 minutes, we didn't do quite enough. I'm devastated.'
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Conclusion
As the dust settles on this intense battle, Spain's triumph over England with a 2-1 victory will be remembered as a significant moment in their football history. Their outstanding performance on the pitch showcased their prowess and determination, securing them a well-deserved win. Meanwhile, England will undoubtedly reflect on their journey and work towards regaining their winning form in the future. With both teams displaying their passion and skill, football fans around the world eagerly anticipate the next chapter in their respective football journeys.