Tartan Army breathe sigh of relief as Scots react to Spain’s win over England

TARTAN Army leaders breathed a sigh of relief after Spain beat England in the Euro 2024 Final — to spare them decades of gloating.

Gareth Southgate’s men again fell at the final hurdle as they crashed to a 2-1 loss.

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They had been hoping to go one better after their penalty shoot-out loss to Italy at Wembley in the climax of Euro 2020.

But the Three Lions were tamed at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany.

It meant their hunt for a second major trophy continues — 58 years after their notorious 1966 World Cup win.

Meanwhile, Scotland supporters celebrated.

And Steve Clarke’s men were the only team to beat the Spanish during their qualifying campaign in the 2-0 win at Hampden in March 2023.

Hamish Husband, spokesperson for the Association of Tartan Army Clubs, said: “Spain have been the best team in the tournament and deserved to win.

I think Spain for their performances throughout the Euros deserved it

Iain Emersoneditor of the Famous Tartan Army Magazine

“But I feel sorry for my English football friends who have got to continue living with the glorious memory of 1966 that still haunts them.

“While we didn’t want England to win, we’re going to suffer another two years of 1966.”

Reflecting on Scotland’s dismal campaign in the tournament, Hamish said: “We don’t have the best players. We lost some good players.

“What will haunt us is the performance in the last game. It took me days to get over it.

“But Germany was stupendous. The experience was amazing.”

Iain Emerson, editor of the Famous Tartan Army Magazine, said: “I think Spain for their performances throughout the Euros deserved it.”

One Spanish fan at the match even sported a Saltire over his own team’s strip as the game kicked off.

The first half struggled to get into life and England’s Phil Foden had the first shot on target just before the break.

It was the Spaniards who were celebrating when Nico Williams put them ahead just two minutes into the second half.

Spain are an excellent team, possibly the best in the world just now, so losing to them is no shame

Brett Longwortha mechanic from Newcastle

But England were level on 73 minutes when sub Cole Palmer slammed home – just minutes after coming onto the pitch.

But the Spaniards won it with just four minutes left through Mikel Oyarzabal touched home from close range.

Hundreds of Spanish fans packed into the Three Sisters pub in Edinburgh for the final.

Among them was Carlos Fernandez, a 23-year-old waiter from the Canary Islands in Spain was in the capital on holiday.

He said: “This is brilliant. We have so much respect for our player.

“It’s been a great tournament and we are worthy winners.

“Now the celebrations start with more beer and a party. It was really good to beat England too.”

Student Maria Rodriguez, 19, from Barcelona said: “This has been a great night for Spain and the team. I am so proud of them.

“It has been a great Euros and now we will party for days.”

Brett Longworth, 25, a mechanic from Newcastle said: “Spain are an excellent team, possibly the best in the world just now, so losing to them is no shame.

‘NOT THIS TIME’

By Bill Leckie

IT was the moment when Gareth Southgate finally ran out of great escapes.

John Stones leaps, Unai Simon parries, Marc Guehi nods the rebound goalwards – and up pops Dani Olmo to head clear from right under the bar.

The man whose attacking brilliance had been at the heart of everything good about this Spanish side couldn’t have celebrated more wildly if he’d scored the winner itself.

But right then, his defensive heroics meant just as much – and made sure that justice was done.

Because for all that England had been resilient, they’d been stubborn, they’d been heroic at times and even though they’d dragged themselves off the canvas yet again here to give themselves a shot at glory, they hadn’t deserved to lift the trophy.

As so often in this tournament, they were too passive, too indecisive, too content to sit and wait for the opposition to make the first move.

And, yes, as so often they produced one of those moments of theirs when ice-cold sub Cole Palmer buried on of the best goals of the entire month.

Inside the final five minutes, though, another man who’d come off the bench – Real Sociedad journeyman Mikel Oyarzabal popped up to win it and make his nation the first to win the title four times.

This team of all talents are also the first-ever to win all seven games at a Euros.

They did it with a superkid in Lamine Yamal who only turned 17 on the eve of the final, with a left-winger in 22-year-old Nico Williams whose opener lit the touch paper on a thrilling second half.

They were the most free-flowing, the most exciting, the most intelligent, the most joyous of all 32 sides who came and went from Germany.

Truth is, they were everything England were not.

“We now need to regroup and go again.”

Logan Williamson, 22, a student from Inverness said: “I’m delighted for my Spanish pals that they have won it.

“They have been the best side and that’s why they are winners.”

It wasn’t just a happy evening for Scotland fans, as punters packing out bars offered the hospitality industry a much needed financial boost.

Stephen Montgomery, director of the Scottish Hospitality Group, said: “Any upturn in support that brings people into our pubs and bars is always welcomed, especially given where hospitality is just now.

“During the Euros we’ve seen pubs and bars filled and lots of home drinking. But from a bar perspective, it’s really nice to see an uptick in business.

“Bars and pubs geared up for a big day and it didn’t disappoint. It was nice to see one of the home nations still involved and it was a great Sunday.”

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