The Euro 2024 final, a heavyweight clash between Spain and England, is finally here after a thrilling month of action in Germany. Get ready for Sunday’s title match with theScore’s comprehensive preview package.
The lowdown ?
Who: Spain vs. England
What: European Championship final
When: Sunday, July 14 at 3 p.m. ET
Where: Olympiastadion (Berlin, Germany)
Referee: Francois Letexier (France)
VAR: Jerome Brisard (France)
How to watch ?
TV: FOX, TUDN, Univision (U.S.); TSN, TLN (Canada)
Stream: fuboTV, FOX Sports (U.S.); CTV (Canada)
Betting odds ?
Odds via theScore Bet
Spain: +145
Draw: +180
England: +230
Key questions ?
Will Spain dominate possession?
It seems impossible, but it’s true: England has averaged a higher rate of possession than Spain at Euro 2024. The difference is marginal – England’s 58.8% mark narrowly tops Spain’s 57.3% – and it has a lot to do with the level of opposition each team has faced. Spain navigated a more difficult path to the final, facing Georgia, Germany, and France, while England fought off Slovakia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. La Roja’s type of football is no longer a byproduct of infinite possession anyway. Coach Luis de la Fuente allows his team to play riskier vertical passes and take on defenders. England could follow the same blueprint as Germany did in its narrow quarterfinal defeat to Spain. With 22 fouls in that game, Germany successfully disrupted Spain’s rhythm and nearly took it to a penalty shootout.
Will Kane win the Golden Boot?
Despite coming under heavy criticism from the likes of Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker, Harry Kane goes into Sunday’s final with a share of the lead in Euro scoring. His three goals have either given England the lead or leveled the score, and no one will forget the way he dispatched the winner in the round of 16 against Slovakia. While Kane usually delivers when England so desperately craves a breakthrough, the 30-year-old has played too deep to truly stand out up top. He only had 13 touches in the attacking third against the Netherlands, far too low of a figure for a player surrounded by so much talent. But sometimes the margins are indeed fine, and Kane has used his touches wisely. Now he has a chance to become a Golden Boot winner at both the World Cup and Euros. Gerd Muller is the only player to have achieved that feat. Kane just has to outscore rival Dani Olmo in the final.
Can Yamal do more damage?
Lamine Yamal is now officially 17 and all the wiser after becoming the youngest player to score in Euro history. We all know he’s capable of magic, but England’s width could stymie his and Nico Williams’ best attempts down the wing. Gareth Southgate has preferred a 3-4-3 formation as of late, with Bukayo Saka at right wing-back and fit-again Luke Shaw emerging on the left. Kyle Walker’s recovery pace on the right side of Southgate’s back three is an added bonus. So Yamal and Williams may not have as much freedom to dribble down the flanks and into dangerous areas. Then again, England hasn’t faced many dribblers like Yamal and Willimas at these Euros. The Three Lions have largely had to unpick low blocks of four and five defenders, so the challenge Sunday will be far different.
Further reading ?
Dive into some of the storylines surrounding the contest
Injury updates ?
The latest on the lingering lineup questions
| Player | Team | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alvaro Morata | Spain | Leg | Expected to start |
| Harry Kane | England | Foot | Expected to start |
| Kieran Trippier | England | Groin | Expected to start |
Projected lineups ?
Spain (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Marc Cucurella, Aymeric Laporte, Nacho Fernandez, Dani Carvajal; Fabian Ruiz, Rodri; Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal; Alvaro Morata
England (3-4-2-1): Jordan Pickford; Marc Guehi, John Stones, Kyle Walker; Kieran Trippier, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Bukayo Saka; Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden; Harry Kane
Kit matchup ?
(Photo courtesy: UEFA)
Path to the final ?
Reviewing how both teams got to Berlin
Spain
Group stage: First place in Group B
Round of 16: Beat Georgia 4-1
Quarterfinals: Beat Germany 2-1 AET
Semifinals: Beat France 2-1
England
Group stage: First place in Group C
Round of 16: Beat Slovakia 2-1 AET
Quarterfinals: Tied Switzerland 1-1 (won 5-3 on penalties)
Semifinals: Beat Netherlands 2-1
By the numbers ?
Raw statistics for the two finalists
| Spain ?? | England ?gbeng | |
|---|---|---|
| 6-0-0 | Record | 3-3-0 |
| 12 | Goals Scored | 7 |
| 2 | Goals Against | 4 |
| Olmo (3) | Top Scorer | Kane (3) |
Advanced metrics
| Spain ?? | England ?gbeng | |
|---|---|---|
| 10.9 | Expected Goals (xG) | 5.5 |
| 6.2 | xG Against | 5.3 |
| +4.7 | xG Difference | +0.2 |
Tournament pedigree ?
Best European Championship finish for both nations
Spain: Champion (1964, 2008, 2012)
Spain is the only team to have won back-to-back European Championships, and the country is looking to become the first to win four in total. La Roja’s reign of terror from 2008-2012 – during which time they lifted the World Cup – is considered one of world football’s most defining eras. Spain also has an incredible record in finals. Since May 2001, Spanish teams competing in the Champions League, Europa League, World Cup, and Euros have won all 22 finals in which they’ve faced non-Spanish teams.
England: Finalist (2020)
England is playing in a major tournament final on foreign soil for the first time. It won the 1966 World Cup at Wembley Stadium and lost there to Italy during the Euro 2020 final. No team has ever been defeated in consecutive Euro finals before, and England will hope to avoid making the wrong kind of history. A win in Berlin would end England’s 58-year wait for a major men’s championship. England’s women’s team won the Euro in 2022 after beating Germany at Wembley.
Fun facts ?
3: Dani Olmo, who started the tournament on the substitutes’ bench, has scored a goal in each of Spain’s three knockout matches. David Villa is the only player who’s scored in four consecutive matches at either the World Cup or Euros.
3: England has come from behind to win all three of its knockout matches at Euro 2024, tying the Czech Republic (2004), Turkey (2008), and France (2020) for the most consecutive comeback victories at a single Euro.
8: Spain has won eight straight matches across all competitions, including all six at this year’s Euro. England has won five of its last eight.
14: Spain needs just one more goal to tie France’s 1984 team as the most prolific side in Euro history with 14 goals in a single tournament.
255: No team at Euro 2024 has won the ball more times than Spain, which has battled off opponents to claim possession on 255 occasions. The statistic is a testament to Spain’s high press and commitment to winning duels in midfield.
What they’re saying ?
De la Fuente: “Our idea of football is based on our self-assurance. I know that we are able to play football, we’ve seen it throughout the tournament. Individually, (the players) are fantastic, but they offer the collective benefits of their individual qualities … they always work for the common good, for the collective effort. They are very generous in their efforts and work rate. This is just one more sign that this is an insatiable team, that they want to keep improving with the spirit of sacrifice. I want you to know that this may surprise you more than it surprises us because we knew the possibilities we had.”
Southgate: “We all want to be loved, right? When you’re doing something for your country, and you’re a proud Englishman, when you don’t feel that back, and when all you read is criticism, it’s hard. So to be able to celebrate a second final is very, very special, especially with fans that travel. The traveling support is amazing. The amount of money they’ve spent to travel, the commitment to do that, to be able to give them nights like this – and we’ve definitely given them a few over the last six years from Russia onward – means a lot.”
Prediction ?
Spain 1, England 1 (England wins 4-3 on penalties)
On paper, Spain should beat England. But the game is played on grass, and in Germany, the Three Lions have already snatched victory from the jaws of defeat more than once. England has won games like Real Madrid have won titles, scoring in critical moments and doing just enough to advance. All you need in tournament football is a great sense of timing, and England appears to have it. Expect Kane, Phil Foden, or Jude Bellingham to score the goal that takes the game to extra time. Spain will limit England’s chances using possession as a form of defense but will eventually fall in a shootout, handing the English their first-ever European Championship.
