In a night of high drama and heartbreak, Spain edged past England in a tense penalty shootout to claim the Euro title, leaving Gareth Southgate's men shattered after a valiant effort.
The final, played in front of a packed stadium, saw both teams locked in a fierce battle for 120 minutes, with neither side able to break the deadlock in regular or extra time.
Penalty Agony for England
The match went to penalties, where Spain held their nerve to triumph 5-3. England's dreams were crushed as their final spot-kick sailed over the bar, sparking wild celebrations from the Spanish players and fans.
Gareth Southgate, who knows all too well the pain of penalty shootouts, was left to console his devastated squad. "The players gave everything," he said. "We're gutted, but we'll come back stronger."
Spanish Joy
For Spain, it was a moment of redemption after years of underachievement in major tournaments. Their captain led by example, converting the decisive penalty to seal their first European Championship in over a decade.
The Spanish manager praised his team's resilience: "This is for the fans who never stopped believing in us. The players showed incredible character tonight."
As the Spanish squad lifted the trophy, England's players were left to reflect on what might have been in a tournament where they came so close to glory.
