The Henri Delaunay Cup will be on the line when Spain and England go head-to-head in the UEFA Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion on Sunday.
After a month-long extravaganza spanning ten cities and 50 matches, the 17th edition of the European Championships has reached its red-letter day. Spain vs England will bring the curtains down on UEFA Euro 2024, with the two teams looking to end their long trophy droughts when they lock horns at the Olympiastadion on Sunday night.
Spain reached the UEFA Euro 2024 final by coming from a goal down to beat France 2-1 in the semi-final. Luis de la Fuente’s men have been, by far, the best team in the competition, even though they have faced some tough opposition. So, La Roja will be flying high as they look to end their 12-year trophy drought by winning the Euros for a record fourth time.
As for England, they have reached the latter stages of another major tournament under Gareth Southgate and their second successive European Championship final, albeit unconvincingly so. The Three Lions have not produced an impressive performance in any outing thus far. However, Southgate’s men have shown incredible resilience to reach the final, coming from a goal down to win all three knockout games.
The most recent Spain vs England match-up was engrossing from start to finish as the Three Lions took a three-goal lead in the first half before La Roja threatened a comeback with two strikes in the second period. However, Southgate and his charges clinched a 3-2 win.
Meanwhile, there is an interesting sub-plot in the build-up to the UEFA Euro 2024 final, with Dani Olmo and Harry Kane level on top of the goalscoring charts. Six players can win the Golden Boot if the duo draws a blank on Sunday, although Olmo and Kane can claim sole ownership of the trophy. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Spain
Luis de la Fuente has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 final. Against England on Sunday, Spain’s head coach will be bereft of the services of only two players.
Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand are available after serving their suspensions in the semi-final against France. However, Pedri (knee) and Ayoze Perez (muscular) remain on the sidelines due to their respective injuries.
The decision between Robin Le Normand and Nacho’s selection as Aymeric Laporte’s central defensive partner has been one of the talking points for Spain ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 final vs England. The former should get the nod, joining Laporte, Marc Cucurella and Dani Carvajal in the backline. The quartet should protect Unai Simon, who will take his spot between the sticks.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Fabian Ruiz, Rodri, and Dani Olmo in the middle of the park. Finally, Alvaro Morata will lead the line for Spain vs England, with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams picking themselves in the offensive trifecta.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Ruiz, Rodri, Olmo; Yamal, Morata, Williams
England
Unlike his counterpart in the Spanish dugout, Gareth Southgate has no issues to deal with ahead of the trip to the Olympiastadion. England’s head coach will have a full-strength squad in the UEFA Euro 2024 final this weekend.
The main talking point for England is the potential inclusion of Luke Shaw. Southgate has done well to manage Shaw’s fitness and build his sharpness in the knockout matches. And a return to the starting eleven is on the cards for the Manchester United defender.
Jordan Pickford will take his usual spot between the sticks, with England lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Spain. The central defensive unit should feature Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Marc Guehi.
Bukayo Saka will continue as the right wing-back, with his directness allowing Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden to take up central positions. Meanwhile, Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo pick themselves in the double pivot in the middle of the park. Finally, England’s captain, Harry Kane, will spearhead the attack for the Three Lions against Spain.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Rice, Mainoo, Shaw; Bellingham, Foden; Kane
Key Stats
- Sunday’s match will be the third meeting between Spain and England at the European Championship, with England winning 2-1 in the 1980 group stage before progressing 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the 1996 quarter-final. Meanwhile, England have failed to score in three of their four major tournament (World Cup/Euros) games vs Spain, with the last two matches finishing 0-0 (1982 World Cup, Euro 1996).
- Spain have won their last three major tournament finals, winning the Euros in 2008 and 2012 and the FIFA World Cup in 2010. No European side has ever successfully won four consecutive World Cup/Euros finals before.
- The Three Lions will play a major tournament final outside of England, with Wembley hosting the 1966 World Cup final and the UEFA Euro 2020 final. They have never lost a match in Berlin in six attempts (W4 D2), only playing more in Helsinki (8), Amsterdam (7) and Sunderland (7) without ever suffering defeat.
- Spain have won all six games thus far at UEFA Euro 2024, the most wins for any side in a single edition of the European Championship. Since the introduction of the group stage in 1980, only France in 1984 (5/5) won the competition while maintaining a 100% win rate. Meanwhile, Luis de la Fuente’s men have scored 13 goals at Euro 2024. Only France in 1984 (14) scored more in a single edition of the UEFA European Championship.
- England’s five shots on target against the Netherlands in the second semi-final were their most in a single match thus far at UEFA Euro 2024. Meanwhile, Spain have managed five or more attempts on target in four of their six games at the tournament.
- Spain have applied more pressure in the final third than any other side at UEFA Euro 2024 (890), while England have had the most pressure received so far at the tournament (3,369).
Player to Watch
Declan Rice
Sunday’s UEFA Euro 2024 final will feature a few incredible prodigies like Lamine Yamal and Jude Bellingham. Top-class attackers like Harry Kane, Nico Williams, and Bukayo Saka will also take the field. However, we have picked a player who will have the onus on him to restrict the opposition rather than try to create goals. We are talking about Declan Rice.
Rice has had more touches (300) and completed more passes (236) while under high pressure than any other player thus far at UEFA Euro 2024. He has also made seven line-breaking passes that have led to a shot within 10 seconds, more than any other England player.
The Arsenal midfielder was slow off the blocks at UEFA Euro 2024 but has gradually grown in stature in the tournament. If he rises to the occasion, England can successfully temper Spain’s offensive trifecta and stretch the game. That will be the Three Lions’ best chance to end their 58-year wait to win an international trophy.
Prediction
Spain 2-1 England (After Extra Time)
Sunday’s match features two teams with vastly different styles and routes to the UEFA Euro 2024 final. While hardly any team have troubled Spain, most have taken England to the hilt before failing to get the better of the Three Lions.
Meanwhile, Spain have only lost four of their last 14 meetings vs England in all competitions (W7 D3), having lost seven in a row against the Three Lions before this. With La Roja having the upper hand in recent clashes, they will look to capitalise and get the better of Gareth Southgate’s men.
However, the Three Lions tend to heavily restrict their opponents even if they do not create many chances for themselves. So, the UEFA Euro 2024 final can go down the wire, with the regulation time ending in a 1-1 draw despite dazzling displays by Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. But Spain will step up during extra time to return to the summit of European football.
