Spain - England, summary: score, goals, highlights, Euro 2024 final
Spain - England: as it happened
Full-time thoughts:
Spain deservedly win Euro 2024 after being by far and away the best team at the tournament.
From minute one in game one they showed their class on and off the ball, playing how every team wished they would.
All of the players from the top of the pitch to the bottom they have shown to be world class and able to compete with the best.
They have beaten 4 world champions and won every game - a new record in the Euros.
We had doubts about whether or not Fabián, Nico Williams, Laporte, Cucurella - pretty much everyone except Rodri - could cope against the best and they have done so, while Lamine Yamal has made sure his name will not be far from people's lips for a long time.
Luis de la Fuente was also a figure shrouded in doubt ahead of the tournament, with plenty of people unsure of his ability to conduct an elite side in the toughest moments, but he's won his second trophy with the side, evolved his team in the perfect way and written his name into the history books of La Roja.
That's all, folks!
Thanks for following along with the action!
Joe
How Spain won the Euros:
Here's all of our Spain game coverage from the Euros so you can bookmark them and reminisce whenever you want.
Pedri gets his moment with the trophy
The Barcelona midfielder got injured against Germany but until that moment he was a key part of Spain's success.
Look away again, England fans...
It's not a great look for the Three Lions, who didn't blow anyone away with their football.
Are we allowed to have two more tournament MVPs?
Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams were the two standout players during the tournament. And what fun we've had watching them during the Euros.
And here is *the* photo!
Spain's captain Álvaro Morata lifts the famous trophy in the German capital.
AND SPAIN LIFT THE TROPHY
MORATA STARTS THE PARTY IN BERLIN!
Here come Spain's players!
Huge hugs from Rey Felipe for all the squad as they collect their medals.
England receive their medals
Sad faces all around as the Three Lions rush on and off the stage.
Real Madrid congratulate their players
Carvajal and Nacho featured tonight with the former shining for all 90 minutes.
Trophy time!
· Lamine Yamal wins Young Player of Euro 2024
· Rodri wins Best Player of Euro 2024
A quick look at the goals:
Statsbomb have given us their lovely graphic of the two Spain goals from the game.
Luis de la Fuente post-game:
I couldn't be happier. It was a marvellous day and a great team has won.
It was a tough game, England are a great side.
Our players are amazing.
Nico Williams voted MVP
The Athletic forward had a great game and a stunning tournament. Well deserved.
SPAIN WIN EURO 2024!!!!
GAME OVER IN BERLIN AND SPAIN ARE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE!!!
We are into the final minute of the game.
Cucurella goes down acrobatically. I'm surprised it took so long.
We're over halfway in added time. The two teams are playing head tennis.
Watkins fouls and Spain are in no rush to get the game going again...
4 added minutes for Spain to hold on and for England to find an equaliser.
OFF THE LINE FOR ENGLAND!!!!!!
That was SO CLOSE.
Rice heads towards goal and it's saved by Simón.
The header is pushed out and sent back towards goal by Guéhi where Olmo clears off the line!!!
Spain sub:
OFF: Lamine Yamal
ON: Mikel Merino
MASSIVE ENGLAND CHANCE
Watkins spins inside the box and is 1vs1... but his touch is loose and Spain survive!!!!
We're back underway.
NO OFFSIDE. GOAL STANDS.
Cucurella had space down the left wing and his cross was low into the box. Oyarzabal got their first to stab the ball underneath Pickford!
SPAIN ARE AHEAD AGAIN
Pickford, for the 1,000th time tonight, comes off his line superbly well to stop a cross.
Five to go of normal time...
Spain are pressing England back into their own box, but neitherCarvajal nor Fabián on the right can thread the ball through the bramble of legs in the six yard box.
That's a forced change for Spain, as Le Normand comes off with an apparent injury.
Another Spain change:
OFF: Le Normand
ON: Nacho
CHANCE FOR SPAIN
Spain win possession high up the pitch. Some delightful play on the edge of the box between Williams and Olmo sees Lamine Yamal find the ball and slam a close range shot at Pickford!
We are into the final 10 minutes of normal time...
Spain win a corner after some good work from Nico Williams on the left sees the ball driven into the box and headed out behind goal.
England have switched to a 4-1-4-1 with Palmer and Bellingham in front of Rice in midfield.
Laporte clears the ball after Saka sends Cucurella to the cleaners down the right wing. The momentum is with England and Spain are wobbling...
Back underway.
England come at Spain and the ball is cleared to the edge of the box, where Cole Palmer sends a low, driven effort into the far corner of Unai Simón's goal.
Oyarzabal hits a weak shot at Pickford which is easily saved.
Twenty minutes to go...
England make a change:
OFF: Mainoo
ON: Palmer
Pickford does well to come out of his goal to push away a) the corner and b) the cross from the other side.
Fabián then tries his luck from distance but his shot zips over the bar.
Lamine Yamal tries to clip a cheeky cross onto the head of Oyarzabal, but England defend well.
Both sides have now taken off their first-choice strikers and captains. I feel like I've earned myself an Opta lab coat with that 'stat'.
Spain sub:
OFF: Morata
ON: Oyarzabal
SAVE FROM PICKFORD
Lamine Yamal squirms onto his left foot and sends a low drive towards Pickford's far post which is well saved and put out for a corner!
Watkins tries to latch onto a long ball over the top but Le Normand's positioning is solid and Spain have a goal kick.
With that and Bellingham finding space on the edge of the box to shoot, they're already seeing the benefits of having a different type of striker.
CHANCE FOR ENGLAND!
Beautiful form Bellingham. The Madrid midfielder spins away from three players on the edge of the box and uses the momentum to swing his left leg around and slash a shot just wide of Unai Simón's right post.
Laporte clears the free-kick. Danger averted for now.
Nico Williams forgets to displace his molecular structure in a split second and Saka crashes into him on the right wing after tapping the ball around the Athletic Club forward.
England win a chance to pump the ball into the box.
Kane may be a world class centre-forward, but Watkins will certainly give Spain's centre-backs something else to think about. Let's see how it plays out.
Southgate goes early with a change:
OFF: Kane
ON: Watkins
Carvajal clears Foden's low cross after the City player finds some space in behind Cucurella. The closest England have come this half.
An hour gone and Spain are turning the screw.
Seventeen-year-old Lamine Yamal receives the ball on the wing and holds up his hands, telling his team to slow down and calm the pace.
Ollie Watkins looks like he's getting ready to come on for England. While he's not as prolific as Kane in the buildup, he certainly stretches defences in a way that the Spurs forward fails to do.
AND ANOTHER FOR LA ROJA
Nico Williams fires a Saturn V rocket from distance that he drags just wide!
I can confirm that England are officially 'on the ropes'.
CHANCE FOR SPAIN
Morata finds space in behind and slides his shot towards the far post... Guéhi covers and clears a few yards from goal.
Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap... Spain are gushing with confidence and it looks like the England players are playing the game with kaleidoscopes over their eyes.
Stones gets a booking for bringing down Zubimendi as the Real Sociedad midfielder makes a driving run through the middle.
And they seem to have done so: the Three Lions are having a nice spell of possession as Spain catch their breath for the first time in the second half.
Walker sends a cross in that flies over the heads of everyone in the box. Breathe.
England need to recompose themselves, Spain are finding space in all areas of the pitch and have the juice running through them. They want more goals.
BIG CHANCE FOR OLMO
Nico takes the ball on the left and slides into the box where Olmo is waiting. He spins on his heels and drags his shot just wide!
Spain are in control here, the confidence is flowing through their boots.
Back underway.
Carvajal flicks the ball delighfully down the wing to Lamine Yamal, who cuts inside, slipping past Guéhi before rolling the ball across the box to Nico Williams, who fires under Jordan Pickford!
SPAIN ARE AHEAD!!!!!
And we're off!
Spain get us going for the second half.
Here come the players!
The two teams are out for the second period.
Spain forced into a change:
OFF: Rodri
ON: Zubimendi
Zubimendi coming on for Spain in place of Rodri
Spain are losing their metronome at half-time in the Euro 2024 final. Let's see how they cope in the second period.
Reports that Rodri could be injured
Real Sociedad midfielder Martín Zubimendi has been warming up during the break.
Should the managers change things at half-time?
Save for injuries, I would be surprised to see any changes at the break, given how finely poised the tie is at this point.
Opta's view of the tie:
They called the game 'cagey' and we have to agree. It's been incredibly nervous so far.
How Sofascore have seen the game:
Spain have dominated proceedings but the scoreboard remains level.
Half-time thoughts:
England have managed to stifle Spain in the first 45 minutes of the Euro 2024 final in Berlin.
Chances have come for both sides but as of yet, neither side has managed to find the breakthrough.
LaRoja have dominated the ball but England have stood strong on the edge of their box and have had their own chances to counter, although nothing clear has opened up in front of Unai Simón, who has been quiet.
HALF-TIME!
All square in Berlin at the break.
BIG CHANCE FOR ENGLAND
Foden connects with the cross and smashes the far post volley at Unai Simón!
2 added minutes.
Kane finds a yard on the edge of the box and smacks an effort towards goal that is well blocked.
The ball bounces out towards the right wing and England win a free-kick after a late leg is left in. it will be whipped into the box.
CHANCE FOR SPAIN
Laporte plays a sublime pass through the lines, all the way to Morata, who spins away from his marker.
The striker looks briefly to be 1vs1 but Guéhi catches up and manages to put him off enough to see Pickford get involved.
Nico Williams seems to have joined Lamine Yamal over on the right in an attempt to free up the Barcelona winger from his 2v1 prison that Shaw and Bellingham are keeping him in.
Five to go of normal time in the first half. Spain are still dominating the ball...
Morata must have lied on his CV about how tall he is. He's a big guy, but he is nowhere near the height of these crosses that his teammates are aimed towards his gelled hair.
La Roja have been keeping England locked into their defensive third for a while now, but they still can't find a clear sight on goal.
Nico Williams makes a yard for himself and sends a whipped cross in towards the far post, where an imaginary teammate is there to head...
It flies out for a goal kick.
Olmo tries his luck from distance but it rolls across the ground and lands kindly at the feet of Kane inside the England box. Danger over.
Spain win a corner after Shaw pokes behind following a dangerous Lamine Yamal run into the box.
The ball bounces off Guéhi and La Roja get a second.
A few angry Spanish arms fly into the air as Monsieur Referee gives a few quick fouls to England in the middle third.
Olmo gets a booking for falling over and crashing into Declan Rice.
Half an hour gone and there's no way I'm calling this one just yet. Shaky knees everywhere.
An attempt to open the play from Fabián is deflected into Pickford's path through a congested middle third but England are well placed to clear the danger that came out of nowhere.
So far, I'd say it's been a pretty even game with nervy moments from both sides.
Back underway. Nico Williams is also being seen to by medical staff. One to keep an eye on.
Fabián is receiving treatment after that crunching attempt at a tackle from the Spurs forward.
Kane gets a yellow for a high foot.
Cucurella's hair is there to clear the ball as England come flying at their opponents. Another shaky attempt at defending from Spain. So much for a positive spell.
Pickford is again ready to come off his line and collect a high cross that is sent in by Lamine Yamal.
The ball is played out and won back by Rodri, who plays to Lamine Yamal. The Barcelona winger goes up against his marker and wins a corner for La Roja.
A positive spell for Luis de la Fuente's side.
A slight stoppage in play as Jordan Pickford takes his sweet time with a free-kick. That's not like him...
Spain currently have England squished back into their defensive third as they probe like curious aliens. No way in just yet, however.
Pickford catches the cross from Carvajal with ease. The Real Madrid played spotted the far-post run from Morata, but the England goalkeeper was well ready for the jump.
Some nerves from Spain in defence as they scramble to clear the ball from the edge of the box.
Foden's touch was just too heavy and a red shirt was there to sweep up the danger. We're almost 20 minutes in but the tension has not yet dissipated.
Rodri goes to ground to block Rice's shot from the edge of the box after being set up by Saka, who had the beating of Marc Cucurella on the wing.
England win a corner after their first decent spell on the ball. Saka slides the ball to Walker who is flying up the wing. He belts in a corner that's played behind.
Nico Williams finds yet more space on the left and sends a cross in with the outside of his right boot. It bounces in front of Morata and Guéhi clears.
ANOTHER CHANCE FOR SPAIN
The corner comes in, is headed back across goal by Rodri and the overhead kick from Le Normand flashes just wide of Pickford in goal!
BIG CHANCE FOR SPAIN
Nico Williams finds a yard inside the box after being released down the wing by Fabián.
He feints right before darting left and smashes a shot that crashes into Stones' leg. A great chance.
Bellingham goes down after a late leg is left in by Rodri.
England are setting up strong in the middle third as Spain try to probe in between the lines. Every pass is being examined by their jumping midfielders, and so far there's been no way through the defensive block.
Sublime link-up play on the edge of the box from Spain almost sees Nico Williams sneak away and line up a potential goalscoring chance, but Stones gets a toe on the ball that's passed around the corner.
With Rodri dropping deep in between the centre-backs, it's a straight up 2vs2 in the middle: Mainoo and Rice against Olmo and Fabián.
Spain are still passing it calmly around the back.
Bellingham is defending as a left-sided midfielder when Spain have the ball at the back - something we've seen him do a lot for Real Madrid. This time, it'll help Shaw have some extra cover against Lamine Yamal.
Nico crosses in from the left and Stones sticks a boot at the ball which skews out for a corner to La Roja.
England are defending in something of a 4-4-2 with Foden up by Kane on Spain's two centre-backs.
Both sides are feeling each other out like two cockroaches touching antennae from a safe distance.
It's a jittery start from both sides as a few simple passes go wayward of their targets.
Spain work the ball well from Unai all the way to Morata, but the striker's pass through the lines to Lamine Yamal is cut out.
The tension is through the roof inside the stadium.
England are pressing Spain incredibly high in the opening moments.
And we're off in the Euro 2024 final!
England get us underway!
Ready to go...
National anthems over, the pitch is being cleared for kick-off.
National anthem time!
The England national anthem is belted out by both the players and fans in the ground. A great rendition.
Spain's is hummed to perfection.
Here come the players!
The two teams are on the pitch!
An Italy legend on the pitch
Georgio Chiellini carries out the trophy to the adoring fans ahead of kick-off...
How are the nerves?
Whether you're a Spain fan, an England aficionado or otherwise, the nerves are high inside the ground for this one!
Both teams are in the tunnel!
Spain and England have emerged from the dressing rooms and are waiting for the green light to step out onto the pitch!
And that's the pre-game show over!
One Republic did a good job there of getting the crowd going.
Now it's time for the football!
Who is performing at the Euro 2024 Closing Ceremony?
The closing ceremony is produced by Filmmaster and starts with choreographer Sadeck Waff leading dancers from Lunatix Dance group, a Berlin-based outfit. They were then followed by Meduza, One Republic and Leony performing the official Euro 2024 song, Fire.
Fans in Cataluña are excited for the game!
Another curious thing about this Spain team is how much it has brought people of different regions and clubs together. The mix of players in the squad is a huge factor, added to the fact that they're playing beautiful football and winning games. Hats off to Luis de la Fuente.
Here's how the stadium looked earlier.
Here's a look at how the sunset peeked through the iconic gap in the stadium... back before we had to watch the pre-game performers.
The pre-match show is underway!
We've got a series of men in white coats flicking their arms in various directions to nightclub music. And you thought watching England was eye-scrapingly bad...
There is not a free seat in the house!
With fifteen minutes to go, the Berlin Olympiastadion is full to the brim with fans of both nations as we watch the pitch get prepared for the pre-game show.
Can England be brave against Spain?
Spain have crushed teams into alternate dimensions during this tournament with their press, and England's setup - with wing-backs - has the problem that it can easily morph into a defensive line of 5.
If that happens, Spain would have control over the space just outside the box, and that is where the problems have arisen for their opponents.
Olmo, Fabián and the two wingers can threaten from distance, so England must be brave and try to fight fire with fire, as Spain will concede chances at some point during the game.
Is it actually Coming Home?
It has been coming home since 1996 (and the Baddiel and Skinner song), at which point it was 30 years of hurt, so it's now 58 years of hurt. The question is, if it does come home today, will England fans stop saying it or will the Years of Hurt clock reset?
Gareth Southgate to English TV:
We've got to use the ball well today. Everybody knows how well Spain keep possession, but we've got players that can do that and we've got a goal threat. Moving the ball quickly through their press is key to the game
A huge amount of resilience. We've found ways to win. The end of the games have been ours. Any team that scores late goals, it's a good sign. That's helped breed confidence and belief in the group.
We realise this is a wonderful opportunity, the chance to make history. It's a privilege to be in the position we're in, and we want to make it count.
Sublime skills from the Stockport talent
Phil Foden looked to have found his feet against the Netherlands, and he will have a big part to play when it comes to England keeping the ball against Spain's soul-destroying press.
Mr François Letexier is the man with the whistle tonight, as he continues to add to his stellar CV at just 35 years of age.
Here's the full list of officials on duty:
· Referee: François Letexier (France)
· Referee assistants: Cyril Mugnier, Mehdi Rahmouni (both from France)
· Fourth referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
· Reserve assistant referee: Tomasz Listkiewicz (Poland)
· Video assistant referee: Jérôme Brisard (France)
· VAR assistant: Willy Delajod (France)
· VAR support: Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)
A reminder of the starting XIs:
SPAIN [4-2-3-1]:
GK: Unai Simón
DEF: Carvajal - Le Normand - Laporte - Cucurella
MID: Rodri - Fabián - Olmo
ATT: Lamine Yamal - Morata - Williams
ENGLAND [3-4-2-1]:
GK: Pickford
DEF: Walker - Stones - Guéhi
MID: Saka - Rice - Mainoo - Shaw
ATT: Foden - Bellingham
ST: Kane
I haven't really mentioned Pedri's absence until now, which is quite the testament to just how well Dani Olmo has filled in the boots of the Barcelona midfielder.
It was against Germany when Pedri got a big boot from Toni Kroos, who probably could count himself lucky to have stayed on the pitch at that point in the game.
Poor Pedri went off in tears, and it remains to be seen just when he'll be back. Injury after injury has dotted the short career of the marvellous midfielder, and this is unfortunately another time where he needs to find the mental strength to carry on.
Euro 1964, 2008, 2012…
Spain have a chance to make it Euros number 4 in their history with a win tonight in the German capital.
Their first one came back in 1964, against the then-Soviet Union. Held in Spain, the trophy was known as the European Nations' Cup and was won 2-1 by La Roja with goals from Pereda and Marcelino.
Their second triumph came a lot more recently, but not as recent as you'd like to believe, back in 2008. Spain, under Luis Aragonés, moved away from a tough, direct style of play to a version of what we're used to today. In the final, against Germany, Fernando Torres scored the only goal that set them on an historic path to greatness.
A World Cup quickly followed, as did another continental trophy. This was Spain at their peak, in 2012, and an emphatic 4-0 win over Italy in Kyic cemented the Spanish generation of the time as potentially the greatest set of players ever to grace the pitch at once.
Now, they stand on the edge of greatness once again. While the win would not have the same sense of grandeur as their previous victories, it would open the door for an incredibly bright future and one to be excited about.
Both teams are on the pitch!
Don't worry, it's not kick-off just yet. The two squads are just going through their pre-game warmup routines with the physical coaches.
The fans are piling into the stadium... but there are still more to come!
England fans are outnumbering Spain fans by a huge number today, and there are plenty still hanging around outside the stadium with just over half an hour to go before kick-off.
Under an hour to go!
The votes on the poll are flying in like Lamine Yamal goals and plenty on fans are guessing which way the game is going to go!
But there's not long left to cast your vote, as it ends around kick-off! Get moving!
No words...
England fans aren't generally very well liked by other European nations. This isn't going to help.
Spain's semi-final win over France was instantly seen as a milestone in their modern era. La Roja overcame the team that many considered to be one of the best in the world, with talent up and down their squad as well as depth on the bench.
However, Spain's youngsters caused chaos and Lamine Yamal's wonder-strike levelled things up after an easy Kolo Muani header put Les Bleus in front.
After that, Dani Olmo flicked past his marker and smashed into the far post to put Spain into the final and convince everyone watching that they were more than just playful kids in the park: Spain are world class side and a threat against anyone they come up against.
Opta with the goods, as per usual
In the toughest of pub quiz questions ever, Shaw becomes the first player to make his Euros tournament debut in the final since Delvecchio in Euro 2000.
You may have heard it once, you may have heard it a few times, you may be sick to the back teeth of hearing it. I'm not telling you where I sit on this particular spectrum. I'm asking you.
So then, why do England fans sing 'It's coming home'?
Official team sheet:
We always get requests for this, so here you go: the official team sheet for the final.
Gavi is with the Spain squad
The Barcelona midfielder has made the journey to Berlin to be with his teammates. Gavi suffered a torn ACL while on internationalduty and that's why he's missed this tournament.
England pre-game quotes:
Players don't need motivating for matches like this; we've got to make sure we're on the right side of the fine margins that decide these games.
[Spain] have a very clear way of playing; they have a settled team who press very well with real intensity. They keep possession very well so you have to be very organised. But we've also kept the ball very well in the last few games in particular.
We know what it would mean to everyone at home and us as a squad – not just this group but all of the players who've been involved and all of the staff. They've all contributed to the culture of this group. We'd love to give everyone a special night tomorrow.
Southgate goes as we all thought he would
The 'big doubt' ahead of time was whether or not Luke Shaw would make the starting side in the England team for the game in place of Kieran Trippier.
Gareth Southgate's comments prior to the game hinted at the Manchester United defender coming in, and alas, he is here in the starting XI.
Whether or not Shaw plays the full 90 remains to be seen, but I certainly wouldn't want to go up against Lamine Yamal for that long...
England's style of play
How do you describe wading through mud in jeans and flip-flops?
That's what England's players have been seemingly having to do during games at the Euros this year.
The side have had no recognisable style of play either on or off the ball, and as such they have sent many fans to sleep with their sideways, stodgy, directionless football across Germany.
However, against the Netherlands, something appeared to click, with Gareth Southgate's side, in their 3-4-3 formation, looking to play on the front foot and attack their opponents with flair and solid decision making.
They have certainly got the players to put teams under pressure, but it's just something we haven't seen too often in this tournament. Having said that, they're into the final of the Euros and are one step away from immortality, so who are we to criticise?
ENGLAND XI REVEALED!
No surprises from Gareth Southgate as he names the XI we all expected.
Shaw makes the cut on the left, as we thought might happen.
Here's a closer look at that embrace
While their faces look serious in LaLiga's Twitter photo, I can assure you that there were plenty more smiles!
Did you know?
· Spain could become the first team in Euros history to win all of their 7 games.
· They would also have won the Euros by beating 4 world cup champions on the way.
Can you name them all?
England pre-game quotes:
A lot of us were heartbroken after that result [in the EURO 2020 final]. It's always a long journey to get back to where we are now. Full credit to the resilience shown by the boys, and it says everything about the mentality of this group that we're back in another European final.
Belief has grown as we've gone through the tournament. Our experiences build resilience and confidence. We know we have great players and great togetherness; we're going to need all that and more. I'm sure there'll be a few nerves, but when you go out on the pitch, it's about doing your job.
Have your say!
Get involved with our live poll on X and have a guess about who you think is going to win. If you're feeling brave, dear reader, drop a score prediction down below and I promise not to make fun of you if it's wildly wrong.
The players are at the stadium and are on the pitch!
Bellingham and Joselu, former teammates at Real Madrid, have just spotted each other and raced over for a big bear hug.
The trophy is waiting in the stadium
As well as the fantastic trophy, there's also a lot of prize money on offer for the winner of the game today:
· Group-stage qualification: €9.25 million ($10.1 million)
· Per group-stage win: €1 million ($1.1 million)
· Per group-stage draw: €500,000 ($546,000)
· Last-16 qualification: €1.5 million ($1.6 million)
· Quarter-final qualification: €2.5 million ($2.7 million)
· Semi-final qualification: €4 million ($4.4 million)
· Runners-up: €5 million ($5.5 million)
· Winners: €8 million ($8.7 million)
Spain's style of play is not what we're used to
Luis de la Fuente was questioned by many when he was promoted to the role of first team manager. People were worried about his lack of experience at the top level but so far, he's shown his ability to guide elite professionals in major tournaments.
Spain won the Nations League, and now they're on the verge of eternal glory with the Euros, and Luis de la Fuente has moulded their possession-heavy style into something extremely exciting.
It's not exactly the Spain we're used to seeing, as while La Roja dominate the ball and the space on the pitch, they are also capable of opening wide and playing extremely direct football, with their two young wingers providing endless danger in wide areas while Fabián, Pedri and Rodri control the middle channels.
It's a mixture of possession play and playground football that we have fallen in love with, and now they're just one step away from making history with this new version of tweaked tiki-taka.
Fans in Madrid are getting warmed up!
The famous Plaza de Colón in the Spanish capital is heaving with fans ahead of kick-off, and they're making a great noise!
La Roja to wear la roja
The Spanish side will indeed be wearing their home kit for this game, while England will be wearing their famous white strip (more on that later).
In case you've forgotten, Spain's away strip is kind of a lemon-y yellow, and was worn in the group game against Albania, which they won 1-0-
Spain pre-game quotes:
I'm happy. I don't have time to accumulate negative things in my life, only the good things. To be in a European final is one of the biggest achievements you can have in football. We are very calm and eager to play tomorrow.
It's a final so it'll be a very equal game, very competitive. People need to understand that these games are always down to the smallest details.
The team that make fewer mistakes will win the game. The team is approaching this game in its best moment.
England's wait continues...
Unless you’ve been on Mars recently and have not had any contact with the English-speaking world of sports media, you will know that England have not won an international trophy for quite a while.
It’s been 58 years, in fact, since the Three Lions tasted international success, winning the 966 World Cup on home soil.
Since then, every tournament has come and passed them by, seeing England knocked out at various stages for various reasons (or not qualifying at all), all of which have added to themyth of the great team of ‘66 as well as piling on the pressure for current generations.
SPAIN XI REVEALED!
De la Fuente goes early with his starting XI:
GK: Unai Simón
DEF: Carvajal - Le Normand - Laporte - Cucurella
MID: Rodri - Fabián - Olmo
ATT: Nico - Morata - Lamine Yamal
England fans prepared to pay through the nose for a seat
The numbers flying around put England fans at 5 to 1 against their Spanish counterparts, with fans of the Three Lions having travelled in huge numbers to Germany.
It seems their pockets are quite deep too, with some willing to pay thousands on the secondary market for a ticket in Berlin.
As well as following the live text coverage of the tie, here's all the information you could possibly need if you fancy getting the game on your TV screen or streaming device.
Time for Lamine to shine again?
He's been a revelation this season for Barcelona but now the whole world knows Lamine Yamal's name. At just 17-years-old, he's got a bright future ahead of him.
“We didn’t want to take any chances,” Southgate said before the game regarding the fitness of Kieran Trippier. “We had it in our minds bringing Luke into the game at some point and still deciding how long for. We’ll see how Tripps is, but he has been a soldier.”
The question at left-back is the big one ahead of kick-off, so here's how we expect England to line up for the game today.
Are we allowed to be bored by a team in the final?
In a way, the exact opposite can be said for England. Ahead of the first whistle of the tournament, many had England down as favourites, and before the competition began, talking about England vs Spain would have only brought out one winner: the Three Lions.
But football is not played on paper and England have shown that time and time again: they have struggled against all levels of opponents in almost every game.
Player for player, they may just have the strongest squad in the world.
No other team on Earth can bring Cole Palmer (22 goals last season), Ollie Watkins (19 goals) and Anthony Gordon (11 goals & 10 assists) and still have room for more attacking threat. Despite the Mariana trench levels of depth, the way they have gone about their business has had fans scratching their eyes in boredom.
Gareth Southgate has ripped thousands of tactical sheets to pieces and tossed them into the bin throughout the tournament, but he’s finally settled on a way to play and England are, despite the fact they’ve huffed and puffed, into the final.
The ball has changed for the final...
Today we've got a 'new' ball, with a shiny silver colourway instead of the white one we've been used to seeing slapping the back of the net this summer.
Funnily enough, the semi-final against the Netherlands was the first time during this tournament that England have looked like a cohesive unit in all areas of the pitch.
The opening stages of the game saw them dominate and after the Netherlands went ahead, it was England’s game for large swathes of the tie, with Foden, Bellingham and co running the show in the middle of the field.
They pressed and pursued the Dutch goal, finally finding a way through in the last minute thanks to a close-range strike from Ollie Watkins to seal the deal and send them through to the final. Yet again, it was a last-gasp effort that put England into the next round. Somehow, they find a way.
And here is the famous trophy!
Spain have won it four times, while England are yet to get their hands on the famous trophy that is on offer today.
Surprising Spain...
Spain’s victory over France was another demonstration of La Selección doing something that not many would have assumed they could pre-tournament: overcome one of the top sides in world football.
While everyone was confident about the Spanish side going deep, it was widely agreed upon that when the time came to face one of the elite sides with a stellar 1-11 on the pitch, the quality of the opposition would show and Spain’s game would unravel.
Now, in the final, having played the best football in the entire tournament, Spain have shown that they too have the talent to compete with the best in the world and they have knocked down every obstacle that has been put in their way in extraordinary fashion.
Players such as Fabián, Olmo, Nico and Lamine Yamal appear to have cemented themselves in the conversation when it comes to talking about the best in the world, something that was unthinkable before they kicked a ball in Germany this summer.
They have one more step to go, and could complete and unbeaten tournament, beating 4 world champions along the way…
Today's stage for the game:
The famous Berlin Olympiastadion is the venue for the game today. The iconic setting was opened in 1936 ahead of the summer Olympic Games and since it was renovated in 2004, it can hold just under 75,000 fans inside.
And let me tell you, there won't be a single free seat in the house for this one.
It has hosted games in both the 1974 and 2006 World Cups, including the final of the latter.
JAVIER GANDUL / DIARIO AS
Who's the ref?
The referee for today’s game is Monsieur Francois Letexier, from France.
The 35-year-old has over 60 UEFA games under his belt and was the fourth official in the recent Champions League final, as well as the dreaded VAR man in the 2021 Europa League final. Let’s hope he has a quiet night.
England team news:
It's all systems go for Gareth Southgate as he has a fully fit squad for today's game, with Luke Shaw expected to be match fit.
Spain team news:
Spain come into the game with good news, as both Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand have served their 1-game suspensions and will be back in the starting lineup for the game.
The injury to Pedri suffered against Germany will see him miss out on the game, while Betis forward Ayoze Pérez is alsounfit to feature.
Welcome!
Well, well, well… this is the big one.
Here we are, folks, at the final of Euro 2024.
Spain take on England in the all-or-nothing clash.
It’s Joe here to guide you through the action as it unfolds in the German capital of Berlin.