Spain and England go head-to-head in Euro 2024 final
12th July 2024
This will be the first meeting of the nations at either a World Cup or Euros since 1996.

- Unlike the country's women, who won their equivalent competition two years ago, England's men have never won the European Championship.
- Spain have been the outstanding side at this European Championship, beating Italy, Germany and France in their run to the final.
- Spain's form means they are the favourites going into the first meeting of the nations at either a World Cup or Euros since 1996.
A brilliant Spain team featuring teenage sensation Lamine
Yamal stands between England and a first major men's international trophy in
almost 60 years in Sunday's Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
Spain have been the outstanding side at this European
Championship, their run to the final taking in wins against title-holders
Italy, hosts Germany and pre-tournament favourites France.
England, in contrast, have laboured their way to Berlin,
going four straight games without winning inside 90 minutes before a stunning
last-minute strike by Ollie Watkins gave them a 2-1 semi-final victory over the
Netherlands.
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But a team led by Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane contains
enough match-winners to believe it can go toe to toe with Spain and end
England's wait for glory which goes back to the 1966 World Cup.
Unlike the country's women, who won their equivalent
competition two years ago, England's men have never won the European
Championship.
This, however, is their second straight continental final
after their agonizing defeat on penalties against Italy in 2021, and the memory
of that will help drive them on in their first-ever final on foreign soil.
"Seeing Italy lift that trophy will haunt me
forever," midfielder Declan Rice told the BBC.
"We are now presented with another opportunity where we
can write our own history but we are up against another top side who we have to
massively respect."
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England produced their best football at the tournament against the Dutch in Dortmund, even if they needed a controversial Kane penalty to cancel out Xavi Simons' opener before substitute Watkins won it at the death.
Since beating Serbia 1-0 in their first game, Gareth
Southgate's side have been ahead in normal time for a combined total of about
20 minutes across five matches.
They had unconvincing draws with Denmark and Slovenia before
overcoming Slovakia in extra time in the last 16, only after being rescued by a
Bellingham bicycle kick in injury time.
They came from behind against Switzerland in the last eight
before progressing on penalties, but the Dutch performance should give them
real belief.
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"We've come here to win. We play the team who've been
the best team in the tournament and we have a day less to prepare so it's a
huge task," admitted Southgate, whose future beyond Sunday's final is
currently uncertain.
Spain's form means they are the favourites going into the
first meeting of the nations at either a World Cup or Euros since 1996.
While England have consistently reached the latter stages of
tournaments under Southgate, Euro 2024 has confirmed the revival of the nation
that dominated international football just over a decade ago.
La Roja won back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and
2012, either side of their triumph at the 2010 World Cup.
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They didn't win another knockout game at a tournament until
a run to the semi-finals of Euro 2020, but that was followed by a last-16 exit
at the last World Cup.
However, Luis de la Fuente then became coach and has
overseen a remarkable run of results.
Spain won the UEFA Nations League last year and started
their Euros campaign by thumping 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Croatia 3-0 in
Berlin.
They outclassed Italy and should have won by more than a 1-0
margin on their way to ending the group stage as the only team with maximum
points and no goals conceded.
The knockout rounds have seen them ease past Georgia before
coming through gruelling tests against Germany in Stuttgart and then France on
Tuesday in Munich, where Yamal became the youngest ever Euros goal-scorer, aged
16 years and 362 days.
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With Yamal, 17 on Saturday, on one wing, Nico Williams on
the other, and Dani Olmo supporting Alvaro Morata through the middle, Spain
have an attack that has scored 13 goals en route to the final, compared to
England's seven.
De la Fuente can also call on the world's outstanding
holding midfielder in Rodri, but Spain remain wary of their opponents.
"England have shown so far that they can come back in
games when they've started losing," Olmo said on Friday as Spain target
lifting the Henri Delaunay trophy for a record fourth time.
"They are a team that never gives up, that's for
sure."
Defenders Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand both missed Spain's semi-final win over France due to suspension but are set to return for the final which will be refereed by Frenchman Francois Letexier.
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