Spain vs England (Berlin 21:00)
Spain and England are set to face each other in the UEFA Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. The Spaniards are looking to win their fourth European Championship under Luis de la Fuente's guidance, making them the most successful nation in this competition, overtaking the current host, Germany.
On the other hand, England are chasing their first-ever Euro title after their heartbreaking loss in the 2020 final to Italy on penalties. The Three Lions have not won a major international honour since their maiden World Cup victory in 1966, making this final an opportunity to end a 58-year drought.
The desire to bring a trophy to England is stronger than ever, and a win for them here could have huge implications for all those involved in bringing it home.
Road to Final
Spain began their Euro 2024 campaign in Group B alongside Croatia, Italy, and Albania, widely considered the tournament's toughest group. They secured their spot in the knockout stages with a dominant performance, winning all three of their games. On their path to the finals, they defeated last year’s champions Italy and the host Germany.
A semi-final win against World Cup finalists France made their run even better, setting them up as the favourites for the final. Spain is coming into this game with a huge boost of confidence, and all they need now is one more win to seal the deal.
England were placed in Group C with Denmark, Slovenia, and Serbia, and while this was not an easy group, fans were expecting their team to cruise through comfortably. They progressed to the knockout rounds as the group winners but only won one of their matches at that stage.
Their first knockout match against Slovakia was a narrow escape, with a late equaliser from Bellingham and an extra-time goal from captain Harry Kane securing their win. England continued to grind through the knockout rounds, relying on late goals against both Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Match Analysis
Spain's footballing style has evolved recently, but they still stick to their core principles of possession-based play. De la Fuente has introduced a more modern approach to this side, combining the "tiki-taka" with quicker transition plays and vertical play with wingers to suit the demands of modern football.
Players like Rodri and Dani Olmo are pivotal to this change. Rodri's versatility in midfield, combined with Olmo's creativity and offensive contributions, enable Spain to control possession and launch direct attacks to strike when needed. This adaptability has been very important in Spain's recent success, and a final win will give them more confidence in their philosophy going into other tournaments.
England have a widely different approach compared to Spain and relies on their solid defence, which lets them transition into swift counter-attacks. Talents like Bukayo Saka are crucial in this style of play as they combine with the fullbacks behind them to keep a balance of attack and defence.
Kyle Walker is usually the defender behind Saka who brings defensive contributions while at the same time allowing the man ahead room to make something productive for the team. The tactical battle between the managers is going to be very important in determining who comes out on top.
Players to Watch
We could have selected a number of Spanish players. They have been the only team this tournament to truly play attacking football and, without a doubt, deserve to be in the final. We have highlighted two players who are likely to have a huge say in this final.
- Rodri: A lot of emphasis has been placed on the number of options the England manager has on his bench, but this man would walk into the team above them all. His presence in midfield is huge and his performance is likely to have a huge influence on the result of this game.
- Lamine Yamal: This young man will turn 17 one day before the final, but only his birth certificate will give you any indication of his age. He is a superb talent and a player seemingly not phased by the big occasion. The English defence will be having nightmares about him playing in the area of the pitch where England are the weakest
England have not been anywhere near as impressive as this Spanish side throughout the tournament, but they, of course, have many players worth highlighting
- Ollie Watkins: This man might not even start, but after his winning goal the other evening, you must appreciate why we have decided to highlight him. England has great, creative players, but his pace up front could prove to be crucial.
- Jude Bellingham: The Real Madrid man might not be having the best tournament despite some special moments. However, you can't doubt his ability to hog the limelight. Who would be surprised if this young man is at the centre of a historic match for England?
Match Prediction
Reaching their second final in a row is a remarkable achievement for England. Spain has won all their games so far, and their squad's mix of young and experienced players makes them formidable.
Spain has adapted well to any opponent it has faced so far and are expected to do the same when it counts the most. Spain will likely emerge victorious, continuing their impressive tournament form and securing their fourth European Championship title, while England settles for another disappointment.