Oya, that’s the winner!: Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal poking home the second and winning goal against England in the final. - AFP
BERLIN: While Spain’s exhilarating youngsters led the charge to a record fourth European Championship, it fell to a player who has lived through the hard side of football to clinch the title.
Mikel Oyarzabal went on as a second-half substitute and scored the winning goal when he poked in an 86th-minute winner to beat England 2-1 on Sunday.
The Spaniards had taken the lead through Nico Williams early in the second half but a Cole Palmer equaliser left them on tenterhooks - until Oyarzabal’s came to the rescue.
“I don’t know if it was karma, fate or who knows what, but something put me in that position to score that goal,” Oyazarbal said.
Oyarzabal, a 27-year-old player for Real Sociedad, has been a regular for Spain both under coach Luis de la Fuente and his predecessor, Luis Enrique. Not a flashy performer, Oyarzabal is valued for his speed in open space, his work ethic, and for being a cool-headed penalty taker.
But just when he seemed bound for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Oyarzabal was sidelined for several months with a left knee injury.
“After my injury, I am so fortunate to be able to feel this immense joy after having gone through what I went through. I am just incredibly happy and proud,” Oyarzabal said on Sunday. “It fell to me to score the winner, but it could have been any of my teammates.”
Oyarzabal was one of five Sociedad players in a squad that had a great mix of clubs – and not dominated by Barcelona and Real Madrid – and featured two breakouts with teenager Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.
Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino went off the bench to score a last-gasp winner to topple Germany in the quarter-finals.
As he has throughout the tournament, De la Fuente sent on Oyarzabal to replace starter Avaro Morata in the 68th minute. His mission was to help protect the lead Williams had given Spain, but after Cole Palmer equalised, he had to lead a renewed attack.
So when Oyarzabal saw Marc Cucurella making yet another run down the left flank, he played the ball wide to the Chelsea defender and then surged forward. Cucurella threaded a perfectly weighted ball forward for Oyarzabal to just stay onside before etching his name into Spanish football history.
“I did my job and was just lucky enough to score the goal for the victory,” Oyarzabal said. “At the end, after having gone through such a hard time, just being here among the 26 players on the squad is enough, but if you then get the chance enough to help out, well, you can’t beat that.”
That was his 12th goal in 37 appearances for Spain since his debut in 2016 under Vicente del Bosque. It was his only goal at Euro 2024 after appearing in all seven games. And it will join his winning goal for Sociedad in the 2020 Spanish King’s Cup final over fierce rivals Athletic Bilbao as his career highlights.
Mikel never lets you down,” De la Fuente said afterwards. “He can play on either flank and as central striker, like he did today. Today he scored, but he always provides us something.” — AP
