BERLIN, Germany: England aims to end a decades-long drought in men’s major international tournaments by defeating an outstanding Spain team in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday. The match, set to kick off at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, marks the culmination of a thrilling month of football. Spain, featuring teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, has been the most impressive side, eliminating several heavyweights en route to the final and winning all six matches.
Spain is vying for a record fourth European Championship title, having previously won in 1964, 2008, and 2012. England, meanwhile, has often struggled against lesser opposition but delivered their best performance yet in the semi-finals, defeating the Netherlands 2-1, with Ollie Watkins coming off the bench to score the decisive goal. This marks England’s second consecutive European Championship final, aiming to erase the memory of their penalty shootout loss to Italy at Wembley three years ago.
England would win the tournament for the first time in 58 years if Gareth Southgate’s team prevails, since the 1966 World Cup. In response to England’s recent near misses—including finishing in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup and losing in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup.
England, led by Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, arrived in Germany as strong contenders but managed only one win against Serbia and scored just two goals in the group stage. They required Bellingham’s late heroics against Slovakia in the last 16, eventually winning in extra time, before prevailing on penalties against Switzerland and narrowly defeating the Netherlands.
Their greatest struggle to date is Spain. The teams’ most recent big tournament matchup occurred in the quarterfinals of Euro 96, where Southgate’s England team prevailed on penalties. “The belief has grown as we’ve gone through the tournament,” Kane stated. “Our experiences with late goals and penalty shootouts have strengthened our belief and resilience. It’s clear that the team is confident.”
Spain’s new generation, under coach Luis de la Fuente, has taken the nation to its first men’s major tournament final since their triumphant run at Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup, and Euro 2012. With Rodri Hernandez commanding the midfield and wingers Nico Williams and Yamal—who turned 17 on Saturday—lighting up the tournament, Spain has been formidable.
Spain won all their group games without conceding a goal, defeating 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Croatia and reigning European champions Italy. They overcame hosts Germany in extra time in the quarter-finals and came from behind to beat Kylian Mbappe’s France in the semi-finals, with a stunning goal from Yamal.
“Tomorrow is when I will ask the least of my team. They have been giving everything. Tomorrow is simply about enjoying it,” De la Fuente said. “We are two great sides, the best two teams. Of course, it will be a very even game. It really is just little details that decide matches like these. The team that makes the fewest mistakes has more chances of winning.”
Spain will have right-back Dani Carvajal and central defender Robin Le Normand back from suspension. England is likely to remain unchanged, with Kane leading the attack and Watkins starting on the bench despite his match-winning performance against the Netherlands.
UK media reports suggest that England fans could make up half the crowd inside the 71,000-capacity Olympiastadion, despite each finalist receiving only 10,000 official tickets. The historic venue, which hosted the 2006 World Cup final, sets the stage for a highly anticipated showdown between two football powerhouses.
