LIZ HEIDHUES – EUROCUP 2024 WRAP UP – JULY 14, 2024
https://www.foxsports.com/watch/fmc-arstp1msiedlhxjy – Final agonizing 5 minutes of EuroCup 24 final in Berlin as Spain edges England 2-1
Is the Euro Cup beginning to look like Copa America that has just a few teams dominating the competition — as Spain makes history becoming the first team to win four European championships?
I really wanted England to win. England, birthplace of soccer, where my father’s family tree has deep roots.
The underdog of this championship duel, not having won a soccer trophy since 1966, when England won the World Cup. When Cole Palmer scored the only goal for England, I forgot that I was on a lonely barstool in my kitchen watching the shootout match on a tiny TV a continent away, with no backs of fellow fans to pound on.
I listened as the British announcer on Fox TV Ian Darke exulted, “Pure bedlam among the tens of thousands of England’s fans who have made their way to Berlin!!” I imagined I was back in Berlin.
Then I flashed back to my favorite movie of all time “Gladiator” when the announcer said, “There’s gonna be a lot of English kids pretending they’re Cole Palmer now.” This evoked the scene in Gladiator where Lucillus’ son Lucius is sparring with the guards, feinting with his sword and Commodus assumes Lucius is playing a Roman soldier. But the kid brags he’s a Gladiator, he’s Maximus. Arousing an ominous foreshadowing of what’s to befall his hero.
The announcer yelled dramatically, “That was out of nowhere…the foot stretching…” and I watched the ball hit the net over and over in a score of TV replays, believing this game would be concluded with England as the victors. It was not to be.
The sensation of the match, the teenager on the Spanish team, was everywhere. Kicking balls like there was no such thing as fatigue on the 94 degree Pitch at the historic Berlin Olympic Stadium. Trying to whiz one past the English Jordan Pickford goalkeeper who did an amazing job of defense. “There’s another great save against the teenager,” the announcer intoned.
“What kinda game is this?” I asked myself. A teenager who turned 17 the day before the match beating up on a bunch of older, more experienced players? Lamine Yamal, on the Spanish team, was indefatigable.
The announcer admitted, “The 17-year-old. He’s something we’ve never seen before”
In the end, England fell asleep at the switch. Spain scored a goal that at first was discounted. But announcer Ian Darke hollered, “The goal stands!!!” to my chagrin. I had to agree with the announcer, even though I was crushed. “They (Spain) have been the best team in the tournament. They won it in style!”
Berlin put on quite a show, too. The fireworks and the blizzard of confetti were amazing in Berlin when the Spanish team hoisted the EuroCup2024 trophy high above their heads. “Spain 4X Champion team: 1964, 2008, 2012, 2024.”
Top photo – English fans in despair as its team goes down to defeat.
Text and photos by Liz Heidhues with editorial assistance – Lee Heidhues
Lee's Perspective 