The stage is set. After four weeks of exhilarating action involving 24 teams, we have reached the final showdown, promising a classic EURO finale. Spain has been a standout throughout the tournament, dazzling fans with their dynamic attacking style, combining the wisdom of veterans like Rodri and Álvaro Morata with the flair and promise of rising stars such as Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.
Heavyweights like Italy, Germany, and France couldn’t withstand La Roja, and Luis de la Fuente’s squad is poised to make history by becoming the first nation to claim four EURO titles.
However, England stands in their way, having found their stride after a sluggish start. Ollie Watkins’ dramatic late winner in the semi-final against the Netherlands showcases the depth and versatility at Gareth Southgate’s disposal. With memories of their heartbreaking loss to Italy in the EURO 2020 final still fresh, the Three Lions are mentally prepared for the challenge in Berlin.
Their recent 3-2 victory over Spain in the Nations League in Seville adds to their confidence. Brace yourselves: this could be an epic clash.
We anticipate the Euro 2024 final in Berlin with our Spain vs. England prediction and preview.
Spain vs England: Match Preview
To everyone who doubted those who pegged England as the favorites to win Euro 2024 at the start of the tournament, it’s time to prepare your apologies.
Admittedly, the Three Lions had not played their best until, arguably, Wednesday night’s semi-final. They still have the final to win, but their presence in this stage, despite widespread skepticism, is a testament to the efforts of Gareth Southgate and his resilient team.
On Sunday, they will face Spain, another team that was underestimated before Euro 2024. However, Luis de la Fuente’s squad has been outstanding in Germany, winning all six of their matches, already setting the record for the most wins in a single edition of the UEFA European Championship.
La Roja navigated a challenging group stage with Italy, Croatia, and Albania, before defeating Georgia, Germany, and France to secure their place in the final.
After conceding an early goal to France in their semi-final on Tuesday, Spain responded with strikes from Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo, securing a 2-1 victory in Munich. At 17 years and one day old, Yamal could become the youngest player to ever appear in a World Cup or European Championship final, breaking Pelé’s record from the 1958 World Cup (17 years, 249 days).
Yamal’s remarkable goal against France made him the youngest player to score at a Euros. He also has three assists in the tournament, with no Spaniard having ever provided four assists in a single European Championship.
Spain will be confident, having triumphed in their last three major tournament finals: the European Championship in 2008 and 2012, and the World Cup in 2010. No European team has ever won four consecutive World Cup/Euro finals.
They will be seeking their fourth European Championship title, with previous wins in 1964, 2008, and 2012. Spain’s only final defeat in this competition was against France in 1984. They have the chance to become the first team to win the European Championship on four separate occasions.
England, on the other hand, have never won the competition and are making only their second Euros final appearance. Their first was the last tournament (Euro 2020), marking back-to-back appearances in the final. Under Gareth Southgate, England has now reached more major tournament finals in four attempts (2) than they did in their first 23 World Cup/Euros appearances combined (1) before his tenure as manager.
This will be England’s first major tournament final played on foreign soil, with their previous finals in the 1966 World Cup and Euro 2020 both held at Wembley Stadium. The Three Lions have a strong record in Berlin, winning four and drawing two of their six games in the German capital.
England topped a group featuring Serbia, Denmark, and Slovenia, before defeating Slovakia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands to reach the final.
Ollie Watkins was the hero in the semi-finals, coming off the bench to score a 90th-minute winner against the Dutch. The Netherlands had taken an early lead through Xavi Simons, but Harry Kane equalized with a penalty before England secured a 2-1 victory.
It’s not unexpected if Spain takes the lead in the final. England has conceded the first goal in all three of their knockout games at Euro 2024, while Spain has scored 13 goals—only France in 1984 (14) scored more in a single European Championship edition.
However, England is unbeaten in their last six Euros matches when conceding first (W5 D1), with no side winning more such games in the competition’s history.
England manager Gareth Southgate has faced criticism during the tournament for his team’s perceived lack of ambition. Nevertheless, they are in another final, and Southgate will be only the third manager to lead more than one European Championship final (excluding replays), following Helmut Schön (1972, 1976) and Berti Vogts (1992, 1996), both with Germany, and all three in consecutive editions. No manager has ever lost two finals in the competition, and Southgate will hope to avoid making history in that regard.
His counterpart, Luis de la Fuente, will be 63 years and 23 days old on the day of the final, making him the third-oldest manager to lead a team in a European Championship final after Luis Aragonés, also with Spain, in 2008 (69y 337d) and Otto Rehhagel with Greece in 2004 (65y 330d), both of whom won the trophy.
It promises to be an intriguing contest at the Olimpiastadion. Will Spain reclaim their place at the top of European football, or is football finally ‘coming home’ for England?
Read More: Spain’s Euro 2024 Stars: Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, and Nico Williams Shine for La Roja
Spain vs England: Head-to-Head
This will be the third encounter between Spain and England at the European Championship. England won 2-1 in the 1980 group stage and progressed 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the 1996 quarter-final.
England has failed to score in three of their four major tournament (World Cup/Euros) matches against Spain, with the last two ending 0-0 (1982 World Cup, Euro 96).
Spain has only lost four of their last 14 meetings with England across all competitions (W7 D3), after previously losing seven consecutive matches against the Three Lions.
England last faced Spain in the UEFA Nations League in October 2018, winning 3-2. Raheem Sterling scored twice, and Marcus Rashford added a third, giving the visitors a 3-0 lead at halftime in Seville. Paco Alcácer and Sergio Ramos scored for Spain in the second half.
England have not achieved back-to-back victories against La Roja since winning seven consecutive matches between 1960 and 1980.
Spain vs England: Team News and Predicted Line-up
Spain: Team News
Spain striker Álvaro Morata is expected to be fit for the Euro 2024 final against England.
There were concerns that the Atlético Madrid forward might have sustained a freak injury when a member of the team’s security accidentally knocked him over while dealing with a pitch invader following Spain’s semi-final victory over France.
However, reports from Spain indicate there is no major worry over Morata’s condition, despite him appearing to injure his knee in the incident. It seems the security guard’s mishap has even become a source of humor within the Spanish camp for almost injuring a player.
Morata himself has brushed off the incident, calling it a “yellow card, nothing more,” and he has made a swift recovery.
This good news for Luis de la Fuente means he will have nearly a full-strength squad for the Euro 2024 final against England in Berlin, with only Pedri absent due to a knee injury sustained in the quarter-final against Germany.
Dani Olmo will continue to play behind Morata in Spain’s 4-2-3-1 formation, with Barcelona’s 17-year-old Lamine Yamal on the right wing and Nico Williams of Athletic Club on the left.
Rodri, who has lost only one game in 90 minutes all season (the FA Cup final), and Fabián Ruiz will control the midfield, supported by a defensive pairing that is yet to be decided.
Robin Le Normand returns from a one-match ban, but there is intense competition between the Real Sociedad player, Nacho Fernández, and Aymeric Laporte for the centre-back spots.
Marc Cucurella is set to start at left-back, and Dani Carvajal will return to the right following his suspension for the semi-final. The Real Madrid defender benefits from yellow cards being wiped after the quarter-final stage, meaning he missed only one game despite two bookings and a red card in the quarter-final against Germany, which would have resulted in a two-match ban in other competitions.
Unai Simón will be the starting goalkeeper ahead of Arsenal’s David Raya, completing a formidable line-up for Spain. While this squad poses a strong challenge for England, it arguably lacks the same depth on the bench as Gareth Southgate’s team. Veteran striker Joselu will be available to make an impact off the bench, alongside Ferran Torres, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Ayoze Pérez.
Spain: Predicted Lineup
- Goalkeeper: Simon
- Defenders: Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella
- Midfielders: Rodri, Ruiz, Olmo
- Forwards: Yamal, Williams, Morata
England: Team News
Gareth Southgate faces a key decision at left-wing-back as he prepares his England team for Sunday’s historic Euro 2024 final against Spain.
The Three Lions are aiming to end a 58-year wait for a major men’s tournament victory after their dramatic 2-1 win over the Netherlands in Wednesday night’s semi-final.
Kieran Trippier started the semi-final on the left side of defence, a position he has occupied throughout the tournament while Luke Shaw has been recovering from a hamstring injury.
However, Shaw was introduced at half-time, and Southgate hinted that Trippier’s substitution might not have been purely tactical.
“We didn’t want to take any chances,” Southgate said. “We had planned to bring Luke into the game at some point and were still deciding how long he would play.”
“We’ll see how Tripps is, but he has been a soldier.”
Shaw made his return as a late substitute in the quarter-final win over Switzerland after five months on the sidelines, but he might now start the final in Berlin, three years after scoring the opening goal in the previous final against Italy.
Despite concerns over fatigue due to the quick turnaround between matches, Southgate is expected to stick with the same starting XI.
Harry Kane should retain his place up front ahead of semi-final hero Ollie Watkins, with Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden providing attacking support. Bukayo Saka will line up on the right wing in a deeper role.
Kobbie Mainoo, who started Euro 2024 as a substitute, has earned his spot in the lineup and will partner Declan Rice in midfield.
Jordan Pickford will continue in goal behind a defence of Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Marc Guehi, who returned to the XI against the Dutch after serving a suspension for the quarter-final.
England: Predicted Lineup
- Goalkeeper: Pickford
- Defenders: Walker, Stones, Guehi
- Midfielders: Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw
- Forwards: Foden, Bellingham, Kane
Spain vs England: Match Prediction
This match-up could very well become a recurring feature in the latter stages of major tournaments for years to come.
Spain are a youthful, well-organized, and dynamic team brimming with flair and a ruthless edge. Aside from a few uninspired performances at this Euros, a similar description could easily apply to England.
If the game becomes a tactical, hard-fought battle, it will play to the strengths of the Three Lions. However, Spain will pose a significant threat if given any opportunities to exploit space on the attack.
It’s a difficult one to predict and could easily go the distance…
Prediction: Spain to win on penalties.
When and Where to Watch the Match LIVE in India?
UEFA Euro 2024 matches will be broadcast live on Sony Sports channels: Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 2 HD, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 3 HD, Sony Sports Ten 4, Sony Sports Ten 4 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5, and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD in India. Live streaming of Euro 2024 can be accessed through the SonyLIV app and website.
You can watch the match in 15 July from 12:30 am onwards on Sony Sports channels: Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 2 HD, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 3 HD, Sony Sports Ten 4, Sony Sports Ten 4 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5, and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD.
Live streaming of the match can also be accessed through the SonyLIV app and website.
Who won Euro 2020?
Italy
