Oyarzabal strikes gold as England suffer at the last

If football is going home, it is only because this final belonged to Spain.

- Jacob Steinberg

A record fourth European Championship title was their reward for a splendid performance in Berlin, even though it briefly seemed England would produce another illogical escape act.

Anything other than a 27th consecutive win for a Spanish team in a final would have been a travesty.

They led when their flying wingers combined, Lamine Yamal setting up Nico Williams, and they gathered their thoughts after Cole Palmer's equaliser. When the substitute, Mikel Oyarzabal, scored with four minutes to go, it was not a surprise. There was no misfortune to Gareth Southgate's heartache. England were outclassed by Luis de la Fuente's side and it was another occasion when Harry Kane failed to perform on the big stage.

In a tournament dominated by debate over Southgate's decisions, few have felt bigger than his call on Luke Shaw. A few weeks ago, it seemed illogical to have picked a squad containing one hamstrung leftback. Yet Southgate has constantly backed himself and here, with Shaw ready for his first start in 148 days, there was the boldness to replace Kieran Trippier with the 29-year-old on the left and trust that he would deal with Lamine Yamal after the teenager's defenestration of France.