After a whopping 50 matches, the Euro 2024 gears up for its ultimate clash, as Spain and England are set to meet in Sunday’s final at 9pm local time (19:00 GMT) at Olympiastadion in Berlin. Spain are aiming for a record fourth title at the continental championship, while England will be playing in their second consecutive Euro final.
England were the host of European Championships in 2020 and they lost to Italy by 3 goals to 2 on spot kicks in the finals. Ollie Watkins fired home a 90th-minute winner against the Netherlands to secure a memorable win in the semi-final after England came from behind for the third game in a row.
But they will not be the favorites to beat Spain, who are the tournament’s top scorers. La Roja booked their place in a fifth Euro 2024 showpiece on Tuesday night after a thrilling 2-1 win over pre-tournament favorites France in Munich. Spain have won all of their past 10 games, averaging 2.2 goals from 17.0 attempts and 5.6 shots on goal.
They have averaged 62.9% possession, 642.0 passes and 5.9 corners per game, conceding 0.5 goals and 2.5 corners from 8.5 attempts and 2.6 shots on goal. Top goal scorer Dani Olmo has found the net 3 times, with Lamine Yamal, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres and Alvaro Morata scoring 2 each. Lamine Yamal has the most assists with 3, while goalies Unai Simon and David Raya collectively have 5 clean sheets.
England on the other hand have 6 victories and 4 draws, with an average of 11.4 attempts, 3.5 shots on goal and 1.9 goals. They average 61.2% possession, 641.6 passes, 3.8 corners awarded and 2.0 corners against them, while 1.0 goals have been conceded from 2.6 shots on goal and 8.1 attempts.
Harry Kane is the leading scorer with 6 goals, followed by Jude Bellingham on 2, with Ollie Watkins and two others bagging 1. Bukayo Saka is top assists provider with 2, while Jordan Pickford has kept 3 clean sheets in the previous 10 games.
The paths these two teams have taken to the German capital are starkly different. Spain have been the darlings of the tournament, the only heavyweights to consistently turn in eye-catching performances that convey a coherence and clearly defined identity.
England, meanwhile, have largely looked like less than the sum of their parts, but their collection of stars have managed to dig deep and grind out the results required to reach a second consecutive European Championship final.
No one is arguing that Spain is the best team at Euro 2024. They have won all six matches and have already beaten hosts Germany and pre-tournament favorites France in the knockout rounds. They have done so scoring the most goals (13), creating the most chances (96) and by playing front-foot, attacking football.
A lot of the focus has been on the verticality added to a previously possession-heavy side by wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal. Thanks to them, they can now go direct and cause problems in transition, although they also still manage the ball so well. They press diligently, have a nice balance to the side, a clear idea of how they want to play and in Rodri they might have the Player of the Tournament.
If you ask me? I believe Spain will lift the Euro 2024!
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