From the sunshine of Berlin on the second day of the European Championship to the coronation in the capital of Germany, only one national team left you breathless, lived for a goal more, only one won everything - and that in the most difficult way possible.
Europe bowed to Spain's footballing mastery for the fourth time in history, and the third time in the last 16 years.
And while in 2008 and 2012 the whole world knew that "la roha" played the best and most beautiful football, this summer the "Spanish Armada" sailed into history from the shadows, when there were not many who believed in it.
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the finals of major club and representative competitions (EP, World Cup, Champions League and Europa League) since 2001 have been played by Spanish teams and the national selection of that country - they won each
It started from the "group of death", defeated the finalist and semi-finalist from the last two World Cups, Croatia (3:0), and at that moment the European champion, Italy (1:0), in order to "do" Albania with a combined team (1:0 ).
"Fireworks" against Georgia (4:1) was the announcement of the most difficult and beautiful path to the throne.
All the way to the silver cup in front of the boys Luis de la Fuente there were big armies, selections that were much bigger favorites before the Euros - host Germany, powerful France and, according to many, the main contender for the crown of England.
Spain got them all. And not only that - Rodri, Nico Williams, Lamin Jamal and comrades forced them all to defend themselves, even though they have world-class magicians in their ranks.
Super champion
On its cover, the famous "Marka" called the "fury" exactly "the Spanish (invincible) armada", connecting the final with history and wars at sea with England.
"As", another well-known sports newspaper from Madrid, writes about the glory of Spain, while the Catalan media were also in euphoria.
"Champions", is the title of "Mundo Deportiva", which connected the success of football players and the new triumph of tennis players at Wimbledon Carlos Alcaraz.
"Super champion", emphasized "Sport" and recalled the dominance of "la rohe" in Germany.
Don Luis
Seven games, seven victories, and none of them went to the penalty shootout... Perhaps the only objection to Spain's title could be the match with Germany in the quarter-finals when, according to many, a clean penalty for the home team was not played in extra time, but practically they don't exist. who will say that the "fury" in the end did not celebrate deservedly in Stuttgart.
Now in the Pyrenees everything looks idyllic again after a big fall from the third European title won in 2012 in Kiev, all thanks to the calm and for many almost not very famous Mr. Luis de la Fuente.
"Don Luis", as "Marka" called him, never managed a big club, and he started building his career through the younger selections of Spain - with the young fury he was the European champion in the under-19 and under-21 age groups, while he led the U23 selection to the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
He arrived on the bench of the senior national team in December 2022 after Spain's failure at the World Cup in Qatar, and his biography perhaps best explains why he has boundless faith in young players like Williams or Jamal today.
On the wings of youth and the character of the Basque Country
The aforementioned tandem is the "trademark" of De le Fuente's Spain... They used to be magicians in the middle of the pitch. Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta i Xabi Alonso, today they are two supersonic wings - Jamal on the right and Williams on the left.
The sensation from Barcelona, who turned 17 the day before the final, recorded four assists and a (super) goal, while the Athletic Bilbao maestro finished the Euro with two goals and two set-up goals. In addition, they were constantly preying on the defenders of the rival selections.
The commander of Spain was Rodri, the "brain" of the team who was eventually chosen as the best player of the Euros, while it will be remembered that the two perhaps most important goals on the way to the crown were scored by the Basques from Sociedad - Mikel Merino in the 119th minute of the quarter-final with Germany (2:1) and his namesake Ojarzabal four minutes before the end of the big final with England (2:1).
And the English say - deservedly so
That Spain is deservedly at the top is acknowledged even by the country that was defeated in the final by England.
"Opinions are often divided in football, but everyone is united that Spain's triumph at Euro 2024 is fully deserved," writes the BBC.
The legendary English football player had a similar message Gary Lineker.
"As Englishmen, it is difficult for us to bear defeat, but in a way this was a victory for attacking football".
The Pyrenees are shaking again, the "fiesta" is in all the cities of Spain - until 2028, the silver cup will once again reside where it has been the most times throughout history.
And then football will return home - Great Britain and Ireland will organize the 18th European Championship, it will be a new chance for England, but also for Spain to show by defending the crown that a new great story was born in Germany this summer.
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