Mikel Oyarzabal earned himself a place in Spanish football's pantheon with his 86th-minute winner against England to secure a record fourth European Championship for La Roja.
Cole Palmer cancelled out Nico Williams' opener in the Euro 2024 final, and the extent to which England took Spain deep was underlined by Dani Olmo clearing Declan Rice's header off the line in stoppage time.
However, there could be no real dispute that Spain were thoroughly deserving winners on a night where they outclassed Gareth Southgate's team. The same could be said for most other sides they faced on a stunning run of seven wins out of seven in Germany.
As such, players with winners' medals around their necks dominate The Sporting News' Euro 2024 Team of the Tournament.
MORE: Relive all the action from the Euro 2024 final, as it happened
The Sporting News' Euro 2024 Best 11
SN Team of the Tournament (4-3-3): Girogi Mamardashvili (Georgia) — Jules Kounde (France), Manuel Akanji (Switzerland), Marc Guehi (England), Marc Cucurella (Spain) — Fabian Ruiz (Spain), Rodri (Spain), Arda Guler (Turkey) — Lamine Yamal (Spain), Georges Mikautadze (Georgia), Nico Williams (Spain).
Goalkeeper: Girogi Mamardashvili
Honorable mentions here to Turkey's Mert Gunok — who capped a fine showing with his save for the ages to deny Christoph Baumgartner in stoppage time of a pulsating last-16 tie with Austria — and Jordan Pickford. The England No. 1 now has a fairly iron-clad case over being his country's best-ever tournament goalkeeper after once again coming up strong in all the clutch moments. Now, if he could just stop booting the ball back to the opposition…
But Giorgi Mamardashvili gets the nod after a virtuoso showing. Having one of the best goalkeepers in the world — a bracket in which the 23-year-old Valencia star now surely belongs — gave the tournament's outsiders license to play with such thrilling brio. Mamardashvili made 30 saves in the competition; the next most prolific goalkeeper was Netherlands' semifinalist Bart Verbruggen with 17. Mamardashvili's 4.67 xG prevented (as per Opta) was also far and away the best at Euro 2024.
Full-backs: Jules Kounde and Marc Cucurella
France's dour run to the semifinals convinced most onlookers that we've probably seen quite enough of Didier Deschamps' decade-long tenure as coach, during which a solitary World Cup has somehow come to feel like a slight under-achievement given the talent pool.
Les Bleus were formulaic and cautious throughout the tournament, with Randal Kolo Muani's opener in the 2-1 semifinal defeat to Spain the first time and only time one of their own players scored from open play. That wasn't for the want of trying on Jules Kounde's part, as the Barcelona defender's 11 chances created was only bettered by Ousmane Dembele in Deschamps' squad.
Kounde had the defensive solidity his coach required and was also a consistent progressive outlet for France in possession. Spain were never short of such options, so it speaks volumes that Marc Cucurella excelled to the extent he did at left-back. The 25-year-old built upon his quiet renaissance at Chelsea to thrive in Luis de la Fuente's side, capping a superb tournament with his assist for Oyarzabal to seal glory.
Centre-backs: Manuel Akanji and Marc Guehi
It says plenty about England's curious run to the final that Marc Guehi is the only member of Southgate's team in this 11 and, Pickford aside, you can't really make a compelling case for any other inclusions.
When Harry Maguire was left out due to injury, Guehi was viewed as a potential weak link in England's backline, but he excelled alongside John Stones in the heart of defence. Spain effectively targeted him in possession in the final, showing there is still work to do, but the 24-year-old Crystal Palace man should have a long career ahead of him at this level.
England's run might have ended a couple of rounds earlier but for Manuel Akanji erring at the start of their penalty shootout against Switzerland. As is so often the case in these situations, the Manchester City defender's miss felt particularly cruel. Akanji was exemplary in his one-on-one defending and driving forward in possession as Murat Yakin's side almost beat Germany and dispatched holders Italy.
Midfield: Fabian Ruiz, Rodri, Arda Guler
Even though he was forced out of the final at halftime, there were few qualms over Rodri being named player of the tournament. Ballon d'Or chat is now swirling around Spain's midfield talisman, who is far and away the best player in his position in the world. When Spain were surprisingly behind against Georgia, Rodri stepped up with one of his customary vital goals. His semifinal display against France was a masterpiece and he dictated most of La Roja's swaggering play.
Alongside Rodri, Fabian Ruiz flourished. A technically gorgeous player, he weaved irresistible patterns across the final third and weighed in with two goals and as many assists.
It would been very easy to round out an all-Spain midfield by including the fabulous Dani Olmo but it felt right to recognise Turkey's entertainers and the majestic Arda Guler. A Real Madrid teenager with the world at his feet, Guler scored one of the goals of the tournament against Georgia, while his swaggering creativity and dead-ball threat ignited two of the best games of the knockout stage, when Vincenzo Montella's men went blow-for-blow with Austria and the Netherlands.
Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Georges Mikautadze, Nico Williams
In many ways, Spain's opening goal in the final was a perfect encapsulation of what made them one of the most exciting tournament sides of this or any era. For years to come, fans will not be able to think about Lamine Yamal without thinking about Nico Williams, and vice-versa. Sure enough, the Barcelona sensation's darting dribble to sew panic through the previously impeccable England defence was crowned by an unerring finish from Athletic Club's favourite son.
That moment and countless others — not least Lamine Yamal’s incredible strike against France that made him the youngest goalscoring in European Championship history — elevated the Spain duo above several excellent wide and support attackers.
Jamal Musiala lived up to his billing as Germany's star attraction and will continue to thrill over the next decade, while Cody Gakpo’s influential performances from the left flank for the Netherlands should give new Liverpool boss Arne Slot foot for thought.
By contrast, the cupboard is pretty bare when it comes to picking an outstanding centre-forward. To greater or lesser extents, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe fluffed their lines. In the final, Alvaro Morata added plenty to Spain's play but remained scoreless since the tournament opener, while Harry Kane's status as joint-top scorer with three goals belied a laboured showing from the England captain that hindered his team overall.
Which leads us to Mikautadze, who netted three in three during the group stage for Georgia's fearless adventurers, including a couple of nerveless penalties, alongside an assist. A big move this summer looks set to be the Metz striker's reward.
