Euro 2024 finals: Manchester United Kobbie Mainoo scored for England as Manchester United new player Jamine Yamal equalised for Spain – England 1:1 Spain
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England vs. Spain score, highlights: Live updates from Sunday’s UEFA Euro 2024 final in Berlin
La Roja and the Three Lions meet at Olympiastadion in a continental showdown
By Jonathan Johnson
2m ago
Spain and England meet in Berlin this Sunday for the UEFA Euro 2024 final which could see the Spanish win their fourth European title at Olympiastadion or the English seal their first-ever continental triumph. In a matchup mirroring that of the Women’s World Cup final in Australia last year, this is arguably the most high profile meeting between La Roja and the Three Lions in men’s soccer history.
Spain won the 2008 and 2012 editions consecutively to add to their maiden success in 1964 to lead the field along with host nation Germany on three wins apiece. However, England’s 2020 final defeat on home soil to two-time winners Italy was the closest they have ever come to getting their hands on the Henri Delaunay Trophy.
Luis de la Fuente and Gareth Southgate will lead their sides out at the German capital for what could be a high octane encounter to close what has otherwise been a slow burner of a tournament. Could this be the start of a dominant new generation of talent for La Roja? Or, will this be the international success that the Three Lions have craved and come so close to since their run to the 2018 World Cup semifinals?
With the likes of Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka on show this Sunday, it promises to be an unmissable finale to this Euro. You can follow all the build up and team news ahead of the final right here before all the action and goals from the final itself in Berlin.
Spain 0, England 0 (first half underway)
Live updates
Walker worry
It looks like England already have a bit of concern for the City man who was down on the field moments ago and looked like he had hurt himself when trying to keep the ball in play. A Spanish corner passes with no major worry but Trippier, who dropped out of the XI for Shaw, is already warming up. That is one to keep an eye on.
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 3:13 pm ET
Opening 10
It has been a bit of a cagey first 10 minutes or so in Berlin. Both sides sounding each other out and Spain not zipping the ball around with their usual speed and accuracy just yet. Williams does look dangerous going forward, but so far there is yet to be a true opening for either side. A great atmosphere and spectacle at the historic Olympiastadion.
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 3:10 pm ET
Underway
Referee Francois Letexier of France has kicked us off after a belting rendition of the Euro 2024 anthem before the national hymns to a sea of color and noise in Berlin. There are 90 minutes or more ahead of these two to write history — either Spain with their fourth title or England with their first. Either way, we are hoping for the sort of spectacle that we have not seen as often as we would have liked over the past few weeks in Germany.
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 3:00 pm ET
Some similarities, but who can stand out?
Spain and England have some things in common when looking at the roster. Generally speaking, they both have a balance of some experienced players and talents that already showed their potential for the future. Yamal, Bellingham, but also Nico Williams, Phil Foden, Pedri, Kobbie Mainoo are playing alongside the experienced Alvaro Morata and Harry Kane, for example. While Spain are currently building a team after Luis Enrique left his role in 2022, Southgate is looking for his trophy after taking charge in 2016 and missing out the potential Euro win in 2021. For sure, both national teams have a lot to achieve in the coming years and a defeat on Sunday won’t change what their ambitions will look like in the coming years, starting from the 2026 World Cup. But due to their similarities and potential going forward, this game will be about limiting mistakes and potentially an individual moment of brilliance. — Francesco Porzio
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 2:48 pm ET
Lamine Yamal vs. Jude Bellingham
The two stars to watch on Sunday, and it’s been their tournament so far. Spanish star Lamine Yamal and English midfielder Jude Bellingham were the players that impressed most this summer. Yamal, after making his professional debut at FC Barcelona under Xavi, quickly became a key player for the side coached by de la Fuente and also became the youngest ever to score at the Euros, as he will turn 17 one day before the final. More than the records and the age, Yamal impressed with the quality of football expressed, and how he’s already becoming a key player for the team while scoring stunning goals such as the one against France in the semifinal. On the other side, Bellingham has launched into superstardom after he joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2023 for €103 million and won the Champions League and La Liga in his first season under Carlo Ancelotti. Both Yamal and Bellingham are now brattling to win the MVP award of the UEFA Euro 2024, and Sunday’s match will probably also determine the winner of it. — Francesco Porzio
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 3:11 pm ET
Euro meetings
1968: Fast-forward 18 years and the Three Lions and La Roja meet again in Italy at Euro 68 which sees England win both quarterfinal meetings back in the days when that stage of the tournament was played over two legs. A 1-0 win at Wembley thanks to Bobby Charlton was followed by a 2-1 win at Santiago Bernabeu thanks to Martin Peters and Norman Hunter overturning Amancio’s opening goal, but England would go on to be beaten by defeated finalists Yugoslavia in the semifinals.
1980: After another 12 years, these two meet again and also in Italy once more at Euro 80 with Group 2 pairing them together. Unfortunately, despite a 2-1 win for the English, both sides went out at the group stage having finished behind Belgium and their Italian hosts. Trevor Brooking and Tony Woodcock did the damage but it counted for little with both going home as the Belgians went all the way to the final before losing out to West Germany.
1996: It would be 14 years until England and Spain met again in 1996 with the Euro on English soil and both teams crossing each other in the quarterfinals after advancing from their groups. A goalless draw at Wembley required penalties and it was the hosts who held their nerve to win 4-2 with the shootout arguably best remembered for Stuart Pearce’s celebrations after successful scoring from the spot despite Paul Gascoigne actually sealing the triumph 4-2 with his penalty. The joy was short-lived though as Germany would inflict heartache on the home nation from the spot in the semifinals on their way to winning it all via the first-ever golden goal.
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 2:24 pm ET
Nations League meetings
2018-19: Six years ago now, England and Spain met in an early iteration of the UEFA Nations League which saw the two together in Group A4. A 2-1 win for the Spanish in London was canceled out by a 3-2 win for the English in Seville which helped the Three Lions to top the group and advance to the final stage. However, a 3-1 extra time loss to the Netherlands sent Gareth Southgate’s side into the third-placed playoff which they won against Switzerland on penalties after a goalless draw.
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 2:12 pm ET
World Cup meetings
1950: The first competitive meeting between these two came at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil with both teams drawn in Group 2 along with Chile and Joe Gaetjens’ U.S. side. Spain won 1-0 in Rio de Janeiro thanks to a Telmo Zarra goal at Maracana which ensured top spot ahead of the other three on two points. However, the Spanish would go on to finish last in the final round with just one point from three games taken from a draw with eventual winners Uruguay.
1982: Two years later and the World Cup was hosted by Spain and these two found themselves together again in the group stage having both advanced from the initial group stages from groups four and five respectively. In Group B of the second group stage along with West Germany, both the Three Lions and La Roja failed to advance with a goalless draw between them in Madrid although the West Germans would go on to lose the final 3-1 to Italy.
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 2:00 pm ET
Spain’s Luis de la Fuente and Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni
Achieving greatness is rarely done solo. No matter what the profession, what gifts you were born with, and the skills and experience acquired along the way, it’s more than likely that somebody was a key teacher or influence on the path to success. As Argentina prepare for Sunday’s Copa America final and Spain do the same for the Euro 2024 final, the two high-flying national teams share something in common — a bond between teacher and student.
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente, 63, having worked for the Spanish FA since 2013, has coached the nation’s U19, U21 and U23 teams. Now the senior national team boss, his side has been the best-performing one at the Euros, producing a stylish run to the final after beating France in the semis on Tuesday. The Spanish manager was actually Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni’s professor back in 2017, when the now-46-year-old Santa Fe native was getting his coaching license before taking the Argentina U20 job a year later.
Scaloni has deep ties to Spain, having played for Deportivo La Coruna, Racing Santander and Mallorca, and it’s his home. His wife, Elisa Montero, with whom he has two children, is Spanish. But his ties with de la Fuente date back to the 16th of November of 2017 at La Ciudad del Futbol de Madrid in Las Rozas, where the Spanish soccer federation offers classes for those who want to get into coaching, including a special program for players who played at least eight years in Spain. There, Scaloni got his UEFA Pro license, the highest you could get, taking classes alongside former fellow Argentina national team players such as Javier Saviola and Fernando Redondo.
Argentina, under Scaloni, continue their massive return to the global stage, looking to win back-to-back Copa Americas on either side of a monumental triumph at the 2022 World Cup, ending years of suffering, including a title drought that stood from 1993 until 2019. Spain did just that over 14 years ago when they won the 2010 World Cup along with Euro 2008 and Euro 2012. Now, both hope to add to the silverware their nations managed to accumulate with so many fans watching. As de la Fuente cheers on Argentina and Scaloni does the same for Spain, their history and what they’ve learned from each other is helping them achieve even more. — Roger Gonzalez
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 1:48 pm ET
Southgate handling the pressure
While Spain just started a new cycle under de la Fuente after he was promoted in 2022 as the Spanish manager after coaching the U23 team, England head coach Gareth Southgate became the manager of the national team in 2016 and since then England started a cycle that still didn’t bring any trophies, including the disappointment of 2021, when the Three Lions lost to Italy in penalties in the final at Wembley. After the 2018 semifinals at the World Cup, the 2020 final and the quarterfinals of the last World Cup, this is probably the last chance for him to win a trophy with the national team. After some criticism and public doubt, it’s not impossible to think that he might leave his job one way or another. However, we thought the same could happen to France manager Didier Deschamps, but it looks like he will stay in charge for the 2026 World Cup. Southgate must continue like he did in the semifinals by pressing the right buttons against the tricky Spanish. — Francesco Porzio
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 1:36 pm ET
England need ruthless Southgate
As mentioned earlier, the England boss does have a few posers and not just in defense. Konsa did look more reassured against Switzerland than Guehi and the rest of the rearguard against the Netherlands. Also, Ollie Watkins was sharper in front of goal than Kane and even Ivan Toney have been. Although the Aston Villa striker probably does not yet have a case to start over Kane, he can justify getting minutes earlier in a game of this magnitude.
Konsa could be a more solid option at the back given his ability to play centrally but also out wide so it is up to Southgate how he counters the threats posed by this Spanish attack which will be the best that the English have faced. His decision making will not only be limited to that though as he has to get tough on his underperforming stars as throwing Watkins on showed against the Dutch. If Kane, Bellingham or Foden are not in the game, he cannot risk them seeing the final pass them by completely.
This tournament has shown that England have some of the best depth around with midfield combinations also taking time until the current blend was established. Southgate has largely stuck with Kieran Trippier too despite being tempted by Luke Shaw at times despite his fitness issues. It is vital though that the England boss is prepared to make big calls which could potentially make the difference between this game being won or lost over 90 or 120 minutes or even worse on penalties.
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 1:24 pm ET
Official XIs
La Roja are first to have their team news in and the Spanish lineup is as follows with Luis de la Fuente welcoming Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand back from the suspensions that forced them out of the win over France. That means the France-born central defensive pairing of Le Normand and Laporte is reunited while Carvajal provides a natural right-sided option again in defense ahead of the veteran Jesus Navas. The midfield trio of Rodri, Ruiz and Olmo is untouched while the wing threats of Yamal and William will be more than a handful.
Spain XI: Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Ruiz, Rodri, Olmo; Yamal, Morata (c), Williams.
Elsewhere, the whispers that Gareth Southgate was going with Luke Shaw in his England starting XI later have been proved correct with Kieran Trippier dropping out. That is a back three with Walker and Stones joined by Guehi. Saka is more of a right-sided marauding wing back with Mainoo and Rice maintained in the middle. Foden and Bellingham behind Kane once more is no surprise, but how long does Southgate wait to make his first change?
England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Foden, Bellingham; Kane (c).
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 2:57 pm ET
Most likely to score a goal
Harry Kane — Whether it is from a penalty or open play, England’s captain and talisman is the most likely to find the net for the Three Lions despite his below-par tournament overall. The Bayern Munich man needs a big performance and perhaps the silverware on offer and the big stage elicits a major response from Kane. If he does score, and the same goes for Dani Olmo, one of the two could move outright into the lead as tournament top scorer.
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 1:12 pm ET
Spain need Olmo and Yamal performances
Although La Roja’s run to the final has featured strong performances and consistency across the board, two players have shone brighter than most: Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal. The Barcelona star was the hero with a stunning goal against the French as part of what has truly been a breakout 2024 for him at club and international level. The RB Leipzig has been the most regular source of Spanish goals with three so far to be level with Harry Kane before this game takes place.
De la Fuente has also see Paris Saint-Germain’s Fabian Ruiz chip in with some timely goals but Olmo and Yamal have been almost irreplaceable — as was evidenced against France without some suspended players such as Dani Carvajal, Robin Le Normand and Pedri. The Barca midfielder’s absence could yet come back into focus against England but Carvajal and Le Normand will be back for this one in Berlin.
If Olmo keeps his form up and Yamal remains a menace, Spain’s chances of scoring are not only boosted, but they may well end up pinning the Three Lions back on either side and cutting into a defense which looked stronger with Ezri Konsa than Marc Guehi. Factor in Xavi Simons’ ability to catch the English back line napping in the semifinal and this is set up for La Roja to give it a real go as they chase another title.
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 1:00 pm ET
Man of the match pick
Lamine Yamal: He was the player of the tournament so far and all the expectations are that he will also be the man of the match in the final against England. Yamal scored a stunner in the semifinal against France that decided the game and he will play alongside Nico Williams and Alvaro Morata in the final. Yamal turned 17 one day before the final and he will contend for top player of the tournament with Jude Bellingham. The future is on his side, but I expect him to be a deciding player in the final on Sunday. — Francesco Porzio
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 12:48 pm ET
Rodri for Ballon d’Or?
Much as it seems a pity that one of the greatest prizes in team sport ends up being viewed through the lens of individual honors, there comes a time and a place where it is necessary to stoke the coals of the hype train. He may not have Rio Ferdinand shouting Ballon d’Or every second he is on the ball, but perhaps that is because Rodri has such a persuasive case to win the prize anyway. The 74-match unbeaten streak might have been ended by Manchester United, but one loss in 80 games isn’t to be sniffed at, is it?
The best player in the Premier League last season has been the best at the European Championships too, even if his midfield partner Fabian Ruiz is putting up a sterling fight. By almost every measure in which a midfielder can impact a game, Rodri is excelling.
He passes the ball frequently and accurately, getting the ball into the attacking third and keeping it for Spain when required. Should the ball break loose he is a monster in the duels, winning nearly 60 percent of the 49 he has been involved in and recovering possession on more occasions than anyone other than Fabian Ruiz. That clutch scoring trait he developed at Manchester City was on full display when La Roja wobbled against Georgia. Rodri might need to apply any or all of those traits at a given moment in the final. He has proven time and time again that he reads the moment better than anyone else.
For all the burgeoning talents of Kobbie Mainoo and Rice’s off-ball excellence (infrequently seen as he has tired through the knockout stages), England do not have a midfielder who can run the game quite like Rodri can. He will doubtless have studied how Jorginho, Luka Modric and Frenkie de Jong have got the Three Lions on their passing carousel and left them dizzy en route to defeat in previous tournaments. Repeat that trick on Sunday and he might just have the individual prizes that he is utterly disinterested in. — James Benge
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 12:36 pm ET
One matchup to watch
Rodri vs. Declan Rice — In many ways this has been the defining battle of the English football calendar so it is appropriate that Manchester City and Arsenal’s linchpins do battle one last time in a season where they have continually one upped each other from afar. Rodri has had by far the better Euros, Rice visibly fading as the weight of all those minutes for club and country weigh him down. He will need to find something from somewhere at the last or else it could be a familiar tale for England in the big games, cut to ribbons by a midfield that can dominate them with and without the ball. — James Benge
Jonathan Johnson
Jul 14, 2024 at 12:24 pm ET
Spain XI focus
Jesus Navas performed well in spite of the circumstances the 37 year old found himself i
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