Euro 2024: Can Spain Go All The Way?

One more win stands between Luis de la Fuente’s side and a fourth European Championship title for Spain. 

They have had a strong run to the final, coming from a goal behind against France in their semi-final draw, scoring twice after France’s early opener. 

On a tough side of the draw, Spain have also knocked out hosts Germany in a thrilling 2-1 victory in a game that looked set to go all the way to penalties. 

After going 1-0 down early in the second half, Germany scored a late 89th-minute goal to take Spain to extra time in their home campaign. 

An incredible 119th-minute winner scored by Merino secured Spain a place in the final 4, with a strong showing from both nations seeing Spain edge on top. 

Throughout the tournament, they have set a number of European Championship records, most recently with Lamine Yamal’s goal against France which made him the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Euros. 

At 16 years and 362 days, the youngster has been in search of his first Euro goal all campaign, and a curling effort from outside the box clipped the inside of the left post came in a critical moment for Spain, cancelling out France’s early lead. 

It was an incredible moment for the youngster, who has had an outstanding campaign so far, and who will no doubt play a vital part in the final on Sunday. 

Spain now go on to face England in one final fixture in which both teams will be eager to secure the European Championship title. 

In another late decider in this tournament, substitute Ollie Watkins secured England a place in the final with his 90th-minute finish against the Netherlands on Wednesday. 

Back-to-back European finals for the Three Lions will see Southgate’s side in search of redemption after their 2020 Euros loss to Italy at Wembley Stadium in the last campaign. 

In this fixture, England took an early lead through Luke Shaw, but Italy were able to equalise and subsequently win on penalties, meaning that Southgate had to settle for second. 

Previous Euros meetings between the two finalists seemingly favour England, with the nations lining up against each other twice before in this competition, and the Three Lions securing victory in both matches. 

The most recent tie between these two nations was one in which England were also able to triumph. The 3-2 win in Seville in the 2018 Nations League, however, saw goals from Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford, both of which were not included in Southgate’s squad this campaign. 

Spain have shown threat all over the field throughout their campaign, and have scored the most goals of any nation in the competition.

They will be looking to continue this momentum on Sunday, but going a goal up against England will still feel nervy, as Southgate's side have come from a goal down to secure victory in all their knockout fixtures thus far.

A defensive boost for Luis de la Fuente is that both Le Normand and Carvajal will be available for selection after their suspensions, an added challenge for the English attack. 

In terms of the English defence, Luke Shaw will be looking to start ahead of Kieran Trippier after proving his fitness after injury, but the right call has to be made by Southgate to try and limit Lamine Yamal’s involvement on Spain’s right wing.

Every decision both on and off the field has to be right, as two top teams battle it out in Berlin to become Euro 2024 Winners, with the hopes of two nations riding on one final fixture.