After four weeks of round leather game artistic at its best, the Euro 2024 Championship in Germany will come to an end Sunday night with Spain and England locking horns for the coveted trophy in Berlin.
While the Spaniards are seeking their fourth European Championship title, England are hoping to have their hands on the elusive trophy for the first time, in the Euro 2024 final.
Spain have emerged as the standout team in the tournament, dazzling fans with their dynamic and attacking prowess in style.
Combining the wisdom of seasoned players like Rodri and Alvaro Morata with the flair and potential of young talents such as Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, Spain have outshone formidable opponents like defending champions Italy, hosts Germany and semifinalists France.
Statistics
The Spanish will become the outright record winners of the competition, moving clear of Germany, if they lift the trophy for the fourth time, while the English will be crowned continental champions for the first time if they come out on top.
Spain have enjoyed a remarkable run to the final, having already created history with a 100 percent record from their six games, and are clear favourites in the run-up to the match.
England, in contrast, have stuttered, spluttered and dragged themselves from the brink of elimination to reach the final in the German capital, Berlin.
With victories in 1964, 2008 and 2012 already behind them, along with a 2010 World Cup win, the Spanish can enter the match without fear of failure, while boasting a form book that is fluttering freely.
They swept through their group without conceding a goal and have rarely looked challenged in the knockout stages despite being pitted against the host nation, Germany and the pre-tournament favourites, France.
After a limp display of one win and two draws in the group stage, England were seconds away from elimination in the round of 16 against Slovenia before Jude Bellingham’s last-gasp overhead kick took the tie to extra time. Harry Kane settled matters without the need for penalties.
Gareth Southgate’s side were pushed all the way to spot kicks by Switzerland, when Bukayo Saka was among the heroes and banished the memories of his miss in the Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy.
It was against Netherlands in the semifinals, that Gareth Southgate produced their most stirring performance at Euro 2024 I Germany.
The first-half display was comprehensive, while Netherlands produced a more obdurate response in the second period.
That nearly wore down Southgate’s team but, with extra-time looming, Ollie Watkins came off the bench to score a deserved injury-time winner.
So, there is little to no doubt that England possess the potential as a team to overcome Spain in the final but that is based on the quality of the individuals at Southgate’s disposal.
Should the England manager get a song out of his stars then football may well be “coming home” and 58 years of hurt will come to an end with only a second piece of international silverware for the nation heralded with the greatest domestic league in the world.
Teams’ update
Spain welcome back Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand from suspension. Both full-backs started the quarterfinal victory against Germany with the former sent off in extra-time for a cynical second bookable defence in the sixth minute of additional time in extra-time.
The former picked up a 29th-minute yellow card before being withdrawn at the interval. The Spaniards have no new injury concerns otherwise, so are unlikely to make many more changes as they seek a seventh straight win at the tournament.
England captain Harry Kane was substituted in the semifinal victory against Netherlands due to fatigue, having also limped out of the quarterfinal win against Switzerland.
A tumble into the water bottles in the technical area during the last-eight encounter caused both Kane’s calves to cramp, leading to his withdrawal. Following the last-four win against the Dutch, the Bayern Munich striker declared that he would be fit and ready to go in the final.
Luke Shaw has made his first two appearances of the tournament from the bench as he continues his recovery from injury, but Southgate may be inclined to opt for the Manchester United defender’s experience from the start for the final.
Head-to-head Records
Since their first meeting in 1929, Spain and England have gone head-to-head 27 times. Tonight’s Euro 2024 final will be their latest since October 2018, when the Three Lions secured victory by a 3-2 score line in the UEFA Nations League.
England have had the upper hand against Spanish La Roja with 14 wins while Spain have registered 10 victories. Three draws have been contested.
At the Euros, the English side is unbeaten against Spain with three wins and one penalty shootout triumph from four matches.
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