Euro 2024 Final Showdown: England Seeks Victory Against Spain

Gareth Southgate is confident that England can surprise Spain in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday. However, he emphasised that the Three Lions must excel both with and without the ball. England reached their second consecutive European Championship final after Ollie Watkins scored a last-minute winner against the Netherlands in Wednesday's semi-final.

England have now made it to more major tournament finals under Southgate (two) than they did in the 23 campaigns before his 2016 appointment (one). To end a 58-year wait since their 1966 World Cup win, they must overcome Spain, the only team to win all six of their matches at this tournament.

Spain reached the final by defeating France 2-1 on Tuesday. Their 13 goals in this edition of the Euros have only been surpassed by France in 1984 (14). The Spain squad watched England's semi-final together before coach Luis de la Fuente began preparations for Sunday's match. He said, "Both teams were very tough opponents. We are going to have played all the great teams in this competition, and it couldn't be any other way."

De la Fuente added, "The two best teams made it to the final. We had dinner and were watching the match, and then we were in our office, analysing it in a more relaxed way. Now our work begins to analyse England in more detail."

Spain: Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal made history by becoming the youngest player to score at a World Cup or Euros with his equaliser in the semi-finals. At just 17 years and one day old, he could break Pele's record as the youngest player to feature in a World Cup or European Championship final. Yamal has three assists at Euro 2024, with no Spaniard providing more at a single edition of the tournament.

England: Phil Foden

Phil Foden delivered his best performance of the tournament in the semi-finals, recording three shots and hitting the post once. He also completed all 40 of his passes before being substituted for Cole Palmer, who assisted Watkins' winning goal. England's switch to a back three has allowed Foden to play from the right-hand side, cutting onto his favoured left foot.

Historical Context and Predictions

This will be the third meeting between Spain and England at the Euros. England won their previous encounters: 2-1 in the group stage in 1980 and on penalties after a quarter-final draw in 1996. However, Spain have only lost four of their last 14 meetings with England overall.

The Opta supercomputer gives Spain a 60.4% chance of lifting the trophy compared to England's 39.6%. Spain have won their last three major tournament finals and could become the first European nation to win four consecutive World Cup/Euros title matches.

England's Record

England will play their first major tournament final on foreign soil after previously playing finals at Wembley during the 1966 World Cup and Euro 2020. They have never lost a match in Berlin across six attempts (four wins, two draws), only playing more often without losing in Helsinki (eight times), Amsterdam, and Sunderland (seven each).

"We will have to get the ball off them first," Southgate said about Spain. "It is not as simple as us having the ball and making them run. We have to be exceptional with the ball and without it." He added that while Spain has been outstanding, England are showing an improved version of themselves.

"We have as good a chance as they do," Southgate stated confidently. "We have come here to win it. It is a huge task, but we are still here and fighting."

7 - England have knocked out Netherlands, ranked 7th in FIFA rankings - highest ranked nation they eliminated from World Cup/EURO knockout tie since Spain EURO '96 quarter-final (6th). Overcome.pic.twitter.com/PT1rKVu4LT

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 10, 2024

Match Prediction: Spain Win

The Opta supercomputer predicts that Spain has a higher probability of winning with a breakdown as follows:

The anticipation builds as both teams prepare for what promises to be an exciting final showdown.