Substitute Mikel Oyarzabal scored a dramatic late winner as Spain triumphed in Sunday's Euro 2024 final, beating England 2-1 to confirm their re-emergence as a force on the international stage.
England had been dreaming of winning a first title in almost six decades and it looked as if it could be their night as Spain lost influential midfielder Rodri to injury at half-time.
Yet Spain shrugged that off to take the lead within two minutes of the restart through Nico Williams, who was set up by his fellow star winger, Lamine Yamal.
England came from behind as they have done so often at this Euros, substitute Cole Palmer driving in the equaliser on 73 minutes, moments after entering the fray.
But their resurgence in the game was cut short when Oyarzabal, the Real Sociedad forward, turned in a cross in the 86th minute to hand Spain a record fourth European Championship crown, and a third in the last five editions.
"It has been a marvellous day in which a team has been deservedly crowned champions of Europe," Spain coach Luis de la Fuente told broadcaster TVE.
They previously won in 1964, 2008 and 2012, the last two titles coming either side of their triumph at the 2010 World Cup during the golden era of Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso and Andres Iniesta.
Whether this generation, led by the brilliant Yamal playing here a day after his 17th birthday, manage to repeat the achievements of that magnificent side remains to be seen, but theirs was a fitting victory.
Spain have been comfortably the best team over the last month in Germany and were not intimidated by the atmosphere at the Olympiastadion, where the majority of the crowd were given over to England's cause.
England had hoped to finally claim a first men's international title since their fabled victory at the 1966 World Cup, but fell just short in their first ever final on foreign soil.
"To lose the final is incredibly tough," said their manager, Gareth Southgate.
"Congratulations to Spain, they were the best team in the tournament and the best team tonight."
After the agony of their defeat on penalties to Italy three years ago, England are the first side ever to lose back-to-back Euros finals.
Captain Harry Kane, meanwhile, is left at the age of 30 still looking for the first trophy of a career so rich in goals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip3VRAV0PXw
- Spain overcome Rodri injury -
It was always likely that Spain would control this game, and England spent most of the first half chasing the ball.
Despite Spain's domination, it took until first-half stoppage time for either team to manage a shot on target, with Phil Foden's effort from a Declan Rice free-kick being saved by goalkeeper Unai Simon.
But it was just before that chance that Rodri hurt himself, sliding into teammate Aymeric Laporte as he blocked a Kane shot.
Spain's outstanding holding midfielder was unable to continue, and made way for Martin Zubimendi at the restart.
It felt like the loss of such a presence in the middle could completely throw Spain off course, and yet they wasted no time in opening the scoring.
England were braced for the danger to come from Spain's two wingers, and it was they who combined for the goal, as Yamal collected Dani Carvajal's pass and darted inside.
He released Williams, who scored with a controlled, low shot into the far corner.
England would now need to come from behind, but that was what they had done in their three previous knockout games.
Southgate took off his talisman Kane on the hour mark and sent on Ollie Watkins, a repeat of the substitution that won the semi-final against the Netherlands.
Spain had chances to increase their lead and their fans began to greet every pass with an 'ole', as Southgate decided to send on Palmer for Kobbie Mainoo.
Within three minutes of that England were level when Bukayo Saka's ball from the right was laid off by Jude Bellingham for Palmer, who found the net with a low first-time effort into the corner.
However, Spain grabbed the winner with four minutes to go thanks to their own super-sub.
Oyarzabal played the ball to Marc Cucurella on the left before racing into the middle to turn his teammate's cross into the net, staying just onside in the process.
Spain then held on, although only after a vital clearance off the line from Dani Olmo to deny Marc Guehi.
Wing wizards magic
Mikel Oyarzabal struck Spain's Euro 2024 final winner against England on Sunday but La Roja's triumph was inspired from start to finish by explosive wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal.
The youngsters have been key on their side's run to the final in Berlin and combined to send Spain ahead against England, a moment that felt fitting given their supreme summer.
Williams' well-taken strike gave Spain a deserved lead and the duo both came close to extending it before Cole Palmer's equaliser for England.
Yamal, 17, and Williams, 22 -- both celebrating birthdays in the days ahead of the final -- have given Spain an exciting cutting edge in attack they have lacked for much of the last decade, pulling the team to a record fourth European Championship triumph.
Spain previously last won a major trophy in 2012, ending a golden era that saw them lift the Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup trophies.
Since then, they have struggled in the wilderness both on the field and more recently off of it too because of their crisis-hit football federation.
This summer many did not consider them among the top favourites to lift the trophy, but Yamal and Williams' flair and contagious spirit added vital spark to a national team known for their ability to dominate possession.
Yamal became the youngest ever Euros goalscorer at 16 in the semi-final triumph over France with a brilliant long-range effort and was named young player of the tournament after Spain's triumph.
"This is the best (birthday) present I could have, it's a dream," said Yamal after winning the first trophy of his short career.
Williams was instrumental in the group stage win over Euro 2020 winners Italy and shone in the last 16 victory over Georgia where Spain came from behind to triumph.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said the pair had a "gift from god" earlier in the tournament and he deserves credit for choosing to deploy both, rather than choosing a more cautious path.
As a result, Spain did not always end up with more of the ball than their opponents but that did not matter to them or their fans as they celebrated with the trophy.
- Nerves -
Despite their superb performances leading up to the final, De la Fuente's young Spain side, many playing in the biggest match of their careers, failed to hit their stride in the first half against England.
Gareth Southgate's cautious team stifled them to an extent but La Roja also showed some nerves, misplacing some passes, making more errors in precision than on the road to the Olympiastadion.
Yamal, the youngest ever player to play in a Euros or World Cup final, initially struggled to impose himself on Luke Shaw, despite it being the Manchester United defender's first start since February.
The England coach switched his system to 4-2-3-1 to ensure there was less space for Spain's wingers to take advantage of and for a while it worked.
However they came out for the second half renewed, encouraged by their coach, and quickly reaped the reward.
Yamal surged in from the right and looked for Williams with a cutting low pass into the area. The Athletic Bilbao winger caressed the ball beyond Jordan Pickford and into the far corner, an assured finish.
It was the 22-year-old's second goal of the tournament and Yamal's fourth assist, the most this summer with various other players tied on two.
"I wanted the game to end there and then but it didn't, we had to suffer, we suffered like animals," Williams told reporters.
Williams fed Dani Olmo who dragged wide and then hammered a low drive inches past the post, offering Spain's biggest threat by far.
Yamal played a cute pass for Alvaro Morata but Spain's captain could not find a clean finish.
In the end it was substitute Oyarzabal that settled the game, but Spain's successful campaign will rightly be remembered for their swashbuckling wingers.
"Lamine is incredible, no? He won young player of the tournament, he's showing it day to day, I don't think he's got a ceiling," said Williams, himself named player of the match in the final. "He's a very good person too."
The Athletic winger has been Yamal's 'big brother' during the tournament, a role model for the youngster, even though he is only at the start of what promises to be a glittering career himself.