History beckons as Luis de la Fuente’s Spanish Armada take on Gareth Southgate’s unconvincing English Lions in the summit clash of Euro 2024 on Sunday at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
The two sides have battled hard to set up a date with destiny as Spain look to pick up a record fourth Euro title, while the Englishmen go in search of their first-ever continental honour.
Spain, who claimed back-to-back Euro titles in the years 2008 and 2012, have managed to reach the final of a major tournament after a wait of over a decade as La Furia Roja hadn’t reached the championship clash of the following Euros or World Cup despite strong showings.
Including the 1964 Euro title, La Roja have triumphed on the continental stage thrice before and share the honour of being the most successful side in the tournament with hosts Germany. Spain now have the chance to pull clear of Die National Elf in terms of the all-time record and poetically on German soil to boot.
Now the unit led by their former U-21 coach De la Fuente will look to join the inspirational golden generation of Spanish football guided by Luis Aragones, who paved the path for Spanish dominance with the 2008 Euro title, and Vincente del Bosque, who pushed the envelope further as he helmed the 2010 World Cup-winning unit, before doubling down on his record with the 2012 Euro.
Spain have thrilled the world with some scintillating performances throughout their campaign in Germany as breakout stars Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams have given defenders nightmares.
Lamal’s star has shone brightly in Germany as he validates his claim to the Barcelona throne, while Williams has left defenders flatfooted time and again as he has weaved past hapless oppositions to bolster the Spanish attack.
Gareth’s gamble:
Southgate, once hailed as the man whose genius kept the Three Lions’ dreams afloat at major tournaments, witnessed a decline in his popularity following sub-par performances in the lead-up to the tournament in Germany and during the initial phase of the continental event as England failed to muster up any inspiration or thrill to their gameplay.
The feeling for Southgate is said to have turned for the worse after they slipped up in their quest for a first Euro title a couple of years back as they surrendered the title to unfancied Italy in their own backyard at the historic Wembley.
The defeat haunted the nation and upset the national psyche as ‘Coming Home’ chants were limited to Brit pubs and corners this time around.
However, the 53-year-old seems to have redeemed himself in the eyes of the fans with a horde of the English faithful singing ‘Southgate you’re the one’ in high spirits aimed at a German cop, who had an uncanny resemblance to the manager himself.
Southgate’s England overturned a goal deficit in the semifinal against the Netherlands as strikes from Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins secured England their first final appearance on away soil. The only previous times the Three Lions had reached the summit clash of major events was the 1966 World Cup at home, which they managed to win and the 2020 Euro final at Wembley.
Southgate swapped skipper Kane in favour of Watkins for the final knocking of the game against the Dutch and the Aston Villa star repaid his manager’s faith in him with a winner to send England to the final, making Southgate the only man in English history to reach multiple major finals.
Youth Clasicos
The storyline in football runs much deeper than what meets the eye and the summit clash in Berlin will be no different as the poster boys of the up-and-coming generation of footballers will battle it out for the continent’s top national honour on finals day.
The summit clash pits child prodigy Yamal, 16 years of age, who has set the tournament alight with his unbridled talents, often running past defenders at will and using star names much like he would use cones during training sessions, against England’s Jude Bellingham
While a picture of Yamal being ‘baptized’ (not literally) by the Argentine World Cup winner and Barcelona legend Lionel Messi broke the internet during the tournament, the youngster is touted to take up the mantle in Catalunya left vacant since the departure of the genius from Rosario.
His strike to inspire a Spanish turnaround against France in the semis as he nullified Randal Kolo Muani’s opener with a sublime curler from outside the box is a snapshot into the talents of the promising youngster, who seems destined to be a world-beater. Yamal weaved his magic to outwit Adrian Rabiot, one day after the Frenchman had choice words for the budding star during the pre-game presser, before sending a bulge into the net off Mike Maignan’s far post is sure to be replayed time and again in the tournament’s highlight reels across the planet.
And in the white corner, there stands Bellingham, the boy who had his jersey at his boyhood club Birmingham retired at such a young age and even before he had proved his value to the global audience.
He has demonstrated his knack for popping up with crucial strikes at important moments for England, like his late leveller against Slovakia with an acrobatic effort, to force extra time and eventually reach the final or his brace for Real Madrid in his first-ever El Clasico against Barcelona that clinched the domestic title for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
Spanish Armada:
Spain were branded as favourites a couple of games into the tournament as they breezed past quality opposition during early doors and continued their form in the knockouts with statement performances that delighted the fans draped in red.
Mikel Oyarzabal opined that nobody had them down as favourites before the tournament began in a tongue-in-cheek manner after they topped the group phase, but Spain have justified the billing each time they have walked out to the field in Germany.
The Spanish midfield of Fabian Ruiz, Rodri and Pedri deserves as much applause for their team’s deep run as they have dictated play from the middle of the park, which bodes crucial for the Spanish style of play.
Their defence has been solid to say the least with Unai Simon coming up with strong performances to justify his place in between the posts for the two-time Euro winners, targeting a third.
The 4-3-3 has served the Spanish Armada well and de la Fuente won’t have a lot to adjust before the summit clash as his faith in the famous Spanish technical system has paid dividends yet again.
England on paper:
England have one of the best squads on paper boasting the likes of Premier League payer of the year Phil Foden, Bundesliga top scorer Harry Kane and Arsenal star boy Bukayo Saka up front, supported by Bellingham, Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo.
Southgate has had to tinker with the formation a bit with the English manager having received good returns on his switch to the three-at-the-back formation with inverted full-backs in the form of Saka and Kieran Trippier pushing up. The safe bet is on the manager setting up in the same manner for the final against Spain.
Road to Final:
Spain:
De la Fuente’s Spain have played some exhilarating football on German soil as they topped Group B ahead of holders Italy, Dark Horses Croatia and Albania.
They brushed aside Georgia in their Round of 16 fixture before ousting hosts Germany in the quarterfinals. They became the first team into the final of the tournament with their 2-1 rally-from-behind win over France in the semis.
Group B:
- Spain vs Croatia: Spain Won 3-0
- Spain vs Italy: Spain Won 1-0
- Spain vs Albania: Spain Won 1-0
Ro16:
Spain vs Georgia: Spain Won 4-1
Quarterfinal:
Spain vs Germany: Spain Won 2-1
Semifinal:
Spain vs France: Spain Won 2-1
England:
The Three Lions have had a rather underwhelming showing in Germany despite topping Group B ahead of Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia.
Southgate’s men edged out Slovakia in their Round of 16 encounter before picking up a win over the Swiss in the quarterfinals on penalties to reach the semis. They booked a berth in the final with a 2-1 win over the Dutchmen in dramatic fashion thanks to a 90th-minute strike from substitute Ollie Watkins.
Group B:
- England vs Serbia: England Won 1-0
- England vs Denmark: 1-1 Draw
- England vs Slovenia: 0-0 Draw
Ro16:
England vs Slovakia: England Won 2-1 AET
Quarterfinal:
England vs Switzerland: England Won 5-3 on Penalties (1-1 AET)
Semifinal:
England vs The Netherlands: England Won 2-1
Stay updated with the latest from Euro 2024. Explore Euro 2024 Match Today. Check Updated list of Highest Goal-Scorer in Euro 2024. CheckEuro 2024 Points Table and Euro 2024 Match Results and Euro 2024 Match Schedule .
Comments
0 comment