Spooky Express previews Sunday's Euro 2024 final between Spain and England, including the latest team news, possible lineups, and our prediction.
The grand finale of Euro 2024 will see Spain and England clash in a highly anticipated encounter at Berlin's Olympiastadion. Both teams battled fiercely to reach this stage, and the stakes couldn't be higher as they competed to be crowned champions of Europe.
The last competitive match between Spain and England occurred in the UEFA Nations League on October 15, 2018. The Three Lions triumphed with a 3-2 victory over Spain at the Estadio Benito Villamarín in Seville. Raheem Sterling scored twice, Marcus Rashford scored another goal for England, while La Roja's goals came from Paco Alcacer and Sergio Ramos?. None of the goalscorers will feature tonight. This match followed an earlier encounter on September 8, where Spain defeated England 2-1 at Wembley.
Spain and England have had vastly different finals experiences at major tournaments, especially in the 21st century, and it is fair to say that the Spanish side has historically been much better in these matches.
However, given England's recent history of reaching the Euro 2020 final and the fact that this will be Spain's first major final appearance since Euro 2012, the outcome of Sunday's clash is far from certain, even though Spain won the UEFA Nations League finals last year.
Spain won its maiden European title in 1964 with a 2-1 win over the Soviet Union on home soil (Madrid). Now, it is bidding to claim its fourth continental title.
Luis de la Fuente's side navigated the so-called' Group of Death' with an impressively perfect record, defeating Croatia, reigning champions Italy, and Albania without even conceding a goal.
La Roja has lived up to its billing as one of the Euro 2024 favorites. It overcame significant challenges in the knockout stages, including a dramatic quarter-final victory over hosts Germany and a hard-fought semi-final comeback win against France.
Spain has shown resilience and tactical understanding, especially when dealing with the suspensions of key players Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand. Both key defenders return for the final, bolstering a squad that effectively combined youth and experience throughout the tournament.
Captain Alvaro Morata will lead the line for Spain, flanked by Nico Williams and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, whose screamer inspired Spain's comeback against France in the semi-finals.
La Roja will likely stick to their possession-based style, utilizing the talents of Yamal, Williams, and Olmo to break down England's defense. With experienced Carvajal and Le Normand back, they will be more robust at the back, aiming to neutralize England's attacking threats.
Pedri is injured, but in-demand Dani Olmo is expected to continue in the middle of the park. The Spanish boss is expected to keep changes to a minimum bar the aforementioned trio returning.
Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old sensation who celebrated his 17th birthday, has been one of the standout performers. He made history as the youngest scorer in the Euros.
Aymeric Laporte and Robin Le Normand were already paired at center-back when La Roja won the UEFA Nations League last summer, with Jesus Navas on the right flank and Jordi Alba on the left. Luis de la Fuente now has Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal and Chelsea's Marc Cucurella at his disposal, making the defense even stronger.
All in all, Spain's balanced tactics-attacking prowess and stable defense-have been crucial in their journey to Berlin. They are strong contenders to clinch their fourth European title, making them the most successful nation in the competition's history.
After their heartbreaking defeat to Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, England will be hoping for second chance luck when Gareth Southgate's side faces Luis de la Fuente's Spain in the final of Euro 2024 on Sunday.
England's journey to the Euro 2024 final has been marked by periods of struggle but also by moments of brilliance. Gareth Southgate's side has shown its mettle in crucial moments, most notably in their semi-final against the Netherlands.
Despite the controversy, Harry Kane's penalty and Ollie Watkins' last-gasp winner highlighted England's ability to seize key opportunities.
The Three Lions became the first to reach the Euros final after trailing in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Harry Kane has also made history, becoming the highest scorer in major tournament knockout stages among European players.
Despite facing criticism and doubts about his future, Southgate has led England to consecutive finals, a feat never achieved by the senior men's team on foreign soil.
Southgate will rely on a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Kane leading the line supported by Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden. Southgate's tactical adjustments and substitutions have been key in their journey, and the fitness and form of players like Luke Shaw might be crucial in the final.
Hours away from the showdown, both teams are preparing for what promises to be a thrilling encounter. Spain aims to secure a historic fourth European Championship title, while England looks to end their long wait for a major tournament triumph since 1966.
With high stakes and immense talent on both sides, the Euro 2024 final is set to be a memorable showdown.
The 1-1 draw between Italy and England at Wembley three years ago was the first European Championship final in which both sides scored in the 21st century. This includes two wins for Spain over Germany (1-0) and Italy (4-0) in 2008 and 2012, respectively.
So, could we witness another European Championship final with both teams scoring, regardless of the outcome?
