Tale of the tape: Spain vs. England: Who will prevail in Euro 2024?

The 58-year wait for international triumph for England’s men since winning the World Cup in 1966 is poised to end in the Euro 2024 final, when three-time European champions Spain will try to stop England’s men from winning the tournament for the first time.
With both teams depending on the next generation of football superstars in Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal, it looks to be a battle of styles in Berlin between England’s combination of force and speed and Spain’s unmatched possession game.

England failed to perform up to par until a 2-1 semifinal victory against the Netherlands, whereas Spain has been the most impressive and successful team at Euro 2024—the only team to win every game. However, Luis de la Fuente and Gareth Southgate have strengths and flaws to overcome, and both sides have the talent and experience necessary to succeed.
By taking home a fourth championship on Sunday, Spain hopes to become the most successful country in European Championship history. The three continental championships won by Germany in 1964, 2008, and 2012 are tied with their three prior victories.
The men from England have never won the Euros. At Euro 2020, the Three Lions made it to the final for the first time, although they were defeated by Italy in a penalty shootout at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Who will raise the Henri Delaunay Trophy at the Olympiastadion on Sunday, Harry Kane of England or Álvaro Morata of Spain? Prior to the championship game, here is how the two teams compare.

Goalie

Jordan Pickford of England and Unai Simón of Spain are the two most dependable and steady goalkeepers in Euro 2024, and their respective tournament records are strikingly comparable. These two players are headed to the championship game.
The 27-year-old Simón can play as a backup defender and is at ease handling the ball. The No. 1 Athletic Club has made 12 saves in five games while giving up only three goals.
Since the 2018 World Cup, Pickford, 30, has been England’s first choice. He saved penalties against Colombia and Switzerland in the quarterfinals of the Euro 2024 competition. The Everton player’s distribution with his feet is longer-ranged than Simón’s, but a crucial component of England’s strategy is his ability to identify attackers and wingers. Like Simón, Pickford is a dependable player when it comes to gathering crosses; in six games, he has made 14 saves and given up four goals.
Drawbacks? With the ball at their feet in the penalty area, both are willing to take chances, which might let quick-witted strikers get the better of them.

Defense

Coach De la Fuente is likely to reinstate right-back Dani Carvajal and center-back Robin Le Normand, who were suspended and missed Spain’s semifinal victory over France, along with left-back Marc Cucurella and Aymeric Laporte. Spain has played with a back four throughout Euro 2024.
In terms of the individual player attributes, it is a conventional back four. Arguably the greatest right-back in the world, Carvajal of Real Madrid is strong both offensively and defensively, while Cucurella of Chelsea provides balance on the left. Cucurella’s troubles the last two seasons at Stamford Bridge have been in sharp contrast to his successes in Germany. Real Sociedad’s Le Normand and Al Nassr’s former Manchester City star, Laporte, provide physical presence, exceptional ball handling skills, and a left-and right-footed combination in the center. In the air, both are equally powerful.
Spain’s defense lacks quickness in the middle, but because England’s striker Kane is expected to play through the center, Laporte and Le Normand won’t be put to the test.
In Germany, England has used both three- and four-man defenses, but Southgate is predicted to go with a back four on Sunday. Luke Shaw, a left defender, is probably going to play for the first time since Kieran Trippier is still recovering from a groin injury. The defensive lineup is completed by Marc Guéhi, John Stones, and Kyle Walker, a right back.
While Guéhi has been a revelation, missing just the Switzerland quarterfinal due to suspension, Stones has been one of the tournament’s best defenders. Stones and Guéhi combine strength, speed, and game reading in the ideal combination. Walker has once again shown himself to be a top-tier full-back at right-back. However, how Stones, Guéhi, and defensive midfielder Declan Rice work together to neutralize Spain’s Dani Olmo’s threat might be crucial on Sunday.

Midfield

De la Fuente was forced to change from a 4-3-3 configuration to a 4-2-3-1 due to Pedri’s injury sustained in the quarterfinal victory against Germany. Rodri and Fabián Ruiz now play behind a more forward three, with Olmo positioned between the midfield and attacking lines. Despite losing a player as talented as Pedri, the swap has increased Spain’s offensive threat without weakening their midfield.
The reason for it is Rodri’s complete dominance of the midfield defensive zone and his capacity to both dominate and demolish. Ruiz’s more daring traits are the ideal complement to the Manchester City player’s skills.
Although Rice and Kobbie Mainoo vary from Rodri and Ruiz in several aspects, they play the identical two-man midfield axis for England. While Mainoo, a young player for Manchester United, provides the flair and composure, Rice, who signed a record with Arsenal, contributes the intensity and drive. Although Mainoo has emerged as the tournament’s breakout star, the 19-year-old’s defense may sometimes let him down. In contrast, Rice’s ability to pass in open play may be restricted, despite the fact that his set-piece deliveries have proven quite successful for the club.
Bellingham connects England’s offense and midfield going forward. The Real Madrid star has had a lackluster campaign and is worn out after scoring twice at Euro 2024, but he is still a player of elite ability, and Spain will view him as the guy to stop after seeing him up close in La Liga this season.
On paper, Spain dominates the midfield fight in terms of quality and experience; England must find a way to overcome that.

Assault

Both teams’ strength is wide rather than in the center, where Morata and Kane have had difficulty making an impression. The two center strikers have had disappointing tournaments, but Morata has only scored once in six games while Kane has three, and Kane still has a chance to win the Golden Boot. However, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka’s track record and Yamal and Nico Williams’ talent for Spain might make the difference in this match.
Williams and Yamal have performed well for Spain. Both have shown quickness, awareness, and goal threat, and Yamal—who turns 17 on Saturday—has established himself as a player of a generation.
While Saka did score a vital equalizer in the quarterfinal matchup against Switzerland, Foden and Saka have not yet reached the same heights for England. Although Saka and Foden have yet to reach their peak, Spain will be confident that either of them may win the match for England with a moment of exceptional skill. Both are equally at ease on either wing and are capable of scoring from long range.
Even if Yamal and Williams are the better players, Foden and Saka are still a danger.

Impact alternatives

Both De la Fuente and Southgate have won games at Euro 2024 with well-timed replacements, and both Spain and England have outstanding depth. Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer, two replacements, combined to score a goal in the ninetieth minute to give England the victory in the semifinal match against the Netherlands, less than ten minutes after play began. However, Mikel Merino did a similar thing for Spain in the quarterfinals, heading home the game-winning goal against Germany in the 119th minute after being substituted late in the contest. La Roja can also win games with players like Mikel Oyarzabal, Joselu, Ferran Torres, and Ayoze Pérez; in an emergency, De la Fuente may also depend on Nacho Fernández, a multiple Champions League champion, at the back.
England has equally great alternatives. Every time Palmer has been substituted in, he has made a significant impact; forwards Ivan Toney and Eberechi Eze have both shown promise. From the bench, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s wide delivery and set-piece skills may be a game-changer, while Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon also have the speed and attacking flair to contribute late in the game.

The supervisors

The two teams will play in the final on Sunday, but it’s also a sign of how important youth team coaches are, since Southgate and De la Fuente were promoted to the senior squad after spending a lot of time coaching the younger teams.
Southgate managed the England under-21 team for three years until his sole club position culminated in relegation from the Premier League with Middlesbrough in 2009. He was only appointed senior manager in 2016 after Sam Allardyce’s dismissal due to off-field scandals following only one game in charge. Southgate, 53, oversaw the development of young players for eighteen months as the head of the English FA’s top development team before taking on his U21 post.
Although De la Fuente’s last senior position until taking over Spain in 2022 was a four-month contract with Alaves in 2011, his career path has been comparable. The 63-year-old spent time managing Spain’s under-19, U21, under-23, and Olympic teams (earning a silver medal in Tokyo). His career began with development squads and young teams. After the 2022 World Cup, he replaced Luis Enrique as head coach of the senior team. The following year, he guided them to a title by winning the UEFA Nations League.

The umpire

UEFA has assigned French official François Letexier the task of overseeing the championship match. Although the 35-year-old has officiated three matches so far in the tournament—including Spain’s victory over Georgia in the round of 16—this will undoubtedly be the greatest match of his career.
His most memorable moment to date was officiating the UEFA Super Cup match between Manchester City and Sevilla the previous season. Last month, he was named the fourth official for the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
Nonetheless, the people who will be seated in front of the TV screens at the VAR center may be the most important appointments at a tournament when VAR has significantly impacted the games. Jérôme Brisard of France will serve as the primary VAR, with assistance from Willy Delajod of France and Massimiliano Irrati of Italy.

A recognizable fixture

Although this is the first time Spain and England have faced off in a senior men’s final, the two countries have grown to be frequent competitors throughout the sport, and Sunday’s highlight presentation demonstrates how well the two national associations have progressed their squads.
Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon both started for England in the 2023 Euro U21 final in Batumi, Georgia, while Spain defeated England in the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney, Australia, in August of last year.
Should England triumph on Sunday, it would mean that the nation has won both the men’s and women’s European titles. The Lionesses, who overcame Spain in the quarterfinals, will go on to win the 2022 European Championship.

The award

The victorious captain will hoist the Henri Delaunay Trophy, which bears the name of the former French Football Federation president who served as UEFA’s first general secretary and founded the European Championship.
Made of sterling silver, the trophy is 60 cm (23½ in) tall and weighs 8 kg (17½ lbs). It was crafted by the well-known jeweler and goldsmith Asprey London. This is the second iteration of the trophy; in 2008, UEFA took the place of the first, smaller cup.

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