From an initial pool of 24 teams, only two remain in contention for European international football’s most coveted trophy.
Spain and England are set to clash on Sunday, July 14th, in the final of the 2024 European Championships. Spain, aiming for their fourth Euros title, will face England, who are vying to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
Gareth Southgate’s England find themselves in familiar territory, having reached the final three years ago only to suffer a narrow defeat to Italy on penalties.
As we approach the climax of Euro 2024, we delve into their head-to-head records, their journey to the final, and spotlight the key players to watch.
Spain’s performance throughout the tournament has been characterized by their recognizable and consistent style.
They have consistently taken the initiative against their opponents rather than adopting a defensive approach.
This approach reflects the work done by De la Fuente over the past decade with the Spanish Football Federation.
His successful tenure includes winning the U19 Euros, U21 Euros, a silver medal at the Olympics, and last summer’s UEFA Nations League.
Many of the current senior players, such as Rodri, Dani Olmo, Marc Cucurella, and Pedri, came through the ranks under his guidance at youth level.
These long-standing relationships and De la Fuente’s tournament experience have been instrumental in Spain’s success in Germany.
Despite his flaws, Gareth Southgate has overseen an unprecedented period of deep tournament runs with England.
His commitment to making his nation proud is evident from his track record, which includes managing the team through 102 games over eight years.
Spain’s contentious quarter-final match against Germany saw defensive stalwarts Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand suspended, but both are now available for selection in the final, providing fresh legs to the Roja XI.
Carvajal, in particularly fine form over the past year, is expected to replace Jesus Navas, the lone survivor from Spain’s Euro 2012 squad, while Le Normand could edge out former Real Madrid captain Nacho.
Unfortunately, Spain will be without Pedri, sidelined by a knee injury sustained in the quarters, and Ayoze Perez, who has a quadriceps tear.
However, Alvaro Morata, despite a minor injury scare, has recovered and is set to lead Spain’s attack.
In England’s camp, with Luke Shaw back to full fitness, there are no major injury concerns.
Shaw’s potential inclusion in the starting lineup against Spain remains uncertain, but his recent performances suggest he could play a key role.
Coach Gareth Southgate is likely to stick with a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Harry Kane leading the attack, supported by Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
Nineteen-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, who made an impressive debut in the semi-final, is expected to continue in midfield for England, showcasing his seamless integration into the team.
Both teams are expected to field strong lineups for what promises to be an electrifying final showdown in Berlin.
