For the past twenty-seven days, UEFA Euro 2024 has been the highlight for many football supporters worldwide. England and Spain will conclude the Euro 2024 as only one more game remains to be played on Sunday, July 14th, at 9 p.m. BST in Berlin. This is the most anticipated football match of the year, following the fall of current and former legends such as Italy.
The two emerging stars, Spain and England, get ready for combat at the Olympiastadion, where they will be facing off for the European Championship title for the first time since 2018. England advanced to their second Euro final after their 2021 defeat to Italy on their home soil. Thus, for the first time ever, England is participating in an away-from-home final and has the chance to break their trophy drought of 58 years. They would win their first European trophy on the men’s side if they defeated Spain. The England women’s team won the 2022 Euro championship at home.
Gary Lineker, a BBC sports broadcaster, stated, “Even when they (the England team) weren’t playing great, they were grinding out results. And it’s an old football cliche that if you can win when you play badly, then things are not that bad.”
According to BBC Sport columnist Chris Sutton, Gareth Southgate did well getting England to the finals. However, he thought their semi-finals against the Netherlands were England’s best game ever during the first half, when they controlled the game. Despite England being predictable to play against, having the leading scorer, Harry Kane, Watkins, and different types of players with the ability to affect games differently is advantageous to their chance to take the tournament home.
Contrarily, Spain has won the European championship three times, in 1964, 2008, and 2012, respectively, and also has the chance to win for the fourth time. They currently have the record for the most victories, tying with Germany. It is worth noting that Spain also won the World Cup in 2010. By taking home a fourth championship on Sunday, Spain will become the most successful country in European Championship history.
Sutton believes the Spain team has the capacity to win games in various ways. Although they can still control possession and be very effective with the ball, the Spain team can also go through devastation without seeing it.
Sutton also claims that despite everyone talking about the Spain team’s young wingers, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal, for known reasons, the team is strong almost everywhere you look. Right-back Dani Carvajal will have resumed from suspension, and they also have a choice to remove Nacho and bring back Robin le Normand at the centre-back.
They have the strongest midfield in the competition, making them particularly strong in the middle of the park, in addition to having the top two wide players. Besides, they have the best defence, having let up just three goals in six games.
This is going to be the best team ever to face the most tenacious opponent. May the best team win!
Article by Lena Ndolo
