Spain v England: Euro 2024 final – live
By Rob Smyth (now) and Will Unwin (earlier),
1 day ago
9.21pm BST
62 min A doff of the cap to Christian B, who sent this at half-time.
As a United supporter, I’m really afraid Luke Shaw will lose concentration for a second, and will let Lamina in for a goal (or big chance).
I’d like to see the goal again to see what Shaw could have done differently, but it’s certainly the first time Lamine Yamal got behind him.
9.20pm BST
61 min: England substitution: Ollie Watkins replaces Harry Kane
Kane didn’t look fit – tonight or throughout the tournament. You have to feel for him as he would have been desperate to make up for 2018 and 2021.
Updated at 9.20pm BST
9.19pm BST
60 min No team, men’s or women’s, has ever come from behind to win four knockout games at a major tournament. If you’re going to make history, you might as well do it in style.
9.18pm BST
59 min England have been battered since Rodri went off, so I’m confused.
9.17pm BST
58 min “Disappointed to see Rodri going off,” says Matt Dony. “Between him and Nico Williams, Spain at least sound a bit Welsh. And that’s good enough for me. Great to see Nico Williams living up to his namesake.”
9.17pm BST
57 min Ollie Watkins is about to come on. England look a beaten team right now, though we’ve said that before in this tournament.
9.16pm BST
55 min: Very good chance for Morata! Lamine Yamal slides a gorgeous pass down the inside-right channel. Morata gets behind Guehi, through on Pickford, but screws his shot off target. Stones clears it, just in case.
England can’t get out, and moments later Williams rifles just wide from the edge of the D. That was a thrilling effort.
9.14pm BST
54 min Morata has a shot from 20 yards blocked by Guehi. I think Williams was in a good position to his left.
England could be out of this in the next five minutes if they’re not careful.
Updated at 9.16pm BST
9.13pm BST
54 min “Just in case you haven’t said it in your write-up already,” says Nick Parish, “that really was Carlos Alberto repackaged for the 21st century.”
That’s a great spot, with Lamine Yamal’s assist almost a mirror image of Pele’s loving, tender pass.
9.12pm BST
53 min Stones is booked for a tactical foul on Zubimendi, who was leading a dangerous break. Spain have gone up a level since half-time.
9.11pm BST
52 min At 0-0 the obvious substitution was Watkins for Kane, but now England will have to consider a lock-picker, Palmer or maybe Alexander-Arnold, and perhaps Toney as well.
Updated at 9.12pm BST
9.09pm BST
50 min This is a test, boss.
9.08pm BST
49 min: Great chance for Olmo! England should be 2-0 down. Williams guided a short pass into Olmo, who took up an excellent position near the penalty spot. His first touch was marvellous, away from Rice, but then he dragged an impatient left-foot shot wide of the far post.
9.07pm BST
Lamine Yamal got behind Shaw for the first time and shuffled infield, hugging the ball on his left foot while he assessed the ever-changing picture. Eventually guided the ball across the area to the unmarked Williams, who calmly swept it past Pickford on the run. That’s a terrific finish. A word too for Dani Olmo, whose off-the-ball run distracted Walker and meant Williams had just enough space to score.
Updated at 9.10pm BST
9.05pm BST
GOAL! Spain 1-0 England (Williams 47)
The flying wingers combine to give Spain the lead!
Updated at 9.19pm BST
9.05pm BST
47 min “Hi Rob.” Hi David Johnston-Raw. “Greetings from Stockholm. Please let everyone know, it’s going to be OK. I’ve just taken off my unlucky England top that my daughter bought me for Euro 2000 (I think her mother helped). She’s now 25 and sitting beside me.”
9.04pm BST
46 min Peep peep! Spain begin the second half.
9.04pm BST
I think Rodri was injured when he blocked that Kane shot and slid into Aymeric Laporte. Anyway, these are the revised teams.
Spain (4-2-3-1) Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Morata.
England (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Shaw; Mainoo, Rice; Saka, Foden, Bellingham, Kane.
9.03pm BST
Half-time substitution
Spain are bringing on Martin Zubimendi for Rodri, who can only be injured. Crikey.
9.02pm BST
“The way England played the first half,” begins Krishnamoorthy V, “it looks like they are ready for a long night. Here in Southern Poland we have a nice crowd (more in red as you can see*) well fed and nursing their drinks waiting for the match to begin.”
*There was a picture attached but there’s no time to upload it.
8.55pm BST
I watched Hit Man last night. It’s a gem of a film, full of charm and fun. Near the end, one of the main characters tells his students to ‘Seize the identity you want for yourself’.
If England lose, their attacking players are going to really regret their inability to do so in the first half. Apart from one of two runs from Bellingham, they haven’t imposed themselves. It’s been another tough night for Harry Kane.
8.50pm BST
More half-time chit chat
“The last final I watched my heart was torn between Italy (native country) and England (adopted country) but, as a dual-national, ended up being happy and sad at the same time,” explains Giovanni Cafagna. “Very confusing moments, it took me a few single malts to make sense of it. Today, emotionally is far more simple, let’s hope is just joy. Plenty of single malts in the cabinet, just in case.”
“The lopsided nature of this game means the expressive hair of Nico Williams and Marc Cucurella is flowing into moves down the Spanish left with extra whip and bounce,” notes Jeremy Dresner. “But England on the left have Luke Shaw doing Luke Shaw things. Long may the lop-sides continue!”
8.49pm BST
Half-time reading
Related: Flying the flag: Spanish fans gather in Madrid to cheer on team
8.49pm BST
“I don’t know why everyone is so surprised at the way the game is going,” says Claire McConnell. “I’ve faithfully read almost all the articles by your esteemed colleagues and the consensus was that Spain would have the bulk of the possession and England would hold firm defensively and try and hit them on the counter.”
Although it was always likely Spain would dominate the ball, England don’t really have the pace to hit teams on the counter.
8.48pm BST
Half time: Spain 0-0 England
The Euro 2024 final will begin just after 9pm BST. Hopefully. The first half was a non-event. Spain were much better on the ball but didn’t really create anything, and Phil Foden’s snap-volley a moment ago was the only shot on target at either end.
Updated at 9.00pm BST
8.47pm BST
45+1 min Walker is fouled 35 yards from goal by Williams. Rice’s cross brushes a Spanish head at the far post and reaches Foden, who reacts smartly to crack a volley towards goal. The angle is really tight and Unai Simon saves comfortably.
Updated at 9.03pm BST
8.45pm BST
45 min Bellingham muscles the dithering Carvajal off the ball and crosses low towards Kane on the edge of the area. He takes a touch and thumps an early shot that is really well blocked by Rodri. He’s been absolutely brilliant.
Updated at 8.46pm BST
8.43pm BST
44 min Nothing comes from the corner.
8.43pm BST
43 min Morata makes a good run into the area on the left and touches the ball inside Guehi, who does really well to get between Morata and the ball. Stones comes across to concede a corner.
8.42pm BST
41 min Kane drops deep and wafts a good pass out to Saka. Walker makes a fine underlapping him but Saka doesn’t use him and the move peters out after a loose pass from Mainoo.
By his standards, Mainoo hasn’t had a great half.
8.40pm BST
40 min Stones strolls imperiously through midfield, gets to within 25 yards of goal and tries a through ball to Kane that is cut out. That was a lovely, Beckenbauerian run.
Updated at 8.47pm BST
8.39pm BST
38 min Bellingham nutmegs Rodri before Le Normand comes across to make a fine challenge. Bellingham is on his haunches and looks shattered.
8.38pm BST
37 min At times England look like they are waiting for the cattle prod of going behind. They had a decent five-minute spell but apart from that Spain have been dominant, albeit without creating any clear chances.
8.37pm BST
36 min If you’re into the whole data thing, the best players on the pitch so far have been Fabian Ruiz and Jude Bellingham.
8.35pm BST
35 min The corner hits the unsighted Guehi and goes behind for another. Laporte wants a penalty after being manhandled by Rice. Careful now. Had VAR got involved there, Rice could have few complaints.
8.34pm BST
34 min Lamine Yamal skips away from Shaw and into the area, but Shaw times his tackle perfectly to concede a corner. That was a brave tackle because, with apologies to Vanilla Ice, anything less than the best was a penalty.
8.33pm BST
34 min Rodri’s positioning has been terrific, and he’s already put out three or four fires in an around the Spain area.
8.32pm BST
33 min No shots on target yet and no big chances. Surely we won’t have to rewrite this.
Related: What are the most boring (and exciting) goalless draws at the Euros? | The Knowledge
8.31pm BST
32 min Pint of wine anyone?
Updated at 8.40pm BST
8.31pm BST
31 min Dani Olmo is booked for a high challenge on Rice, studs into the breadbasket. He was going for the ball and he almost got two of them.
Updated at 8.31pm BST
8.30pm BST
30 min Foden is getting swallowed up in that No10 position, with the masterful Rodri allowing him no space at all. I’d like to see Foden pull out to the right a bit more, as he did so effectively in the first half against the Netherlands.
8.29pm BST
29 min “Not sure that it’s just Lamine Yamal has been quiet,” says Richard Hirst. “Shaw has played him beautifully.”
8.28pm BST
28 min Fabian Ruiz’s shot from 20 yards has the sting taken out of it by Guehi, who has also started well, and bounces through to Pickford.
Fabian Ruiz and Rodri are dominating midfield.
8.27pm BST
27 min Possession percentage: Spain 70-30 England. Who did we think we were kidding.
Updated at 8.27pm BST
8.26pm BST
26 min “Hey Rob,” writes Niall Mullen, “what time does the match start?”
Not great for the neutral is it.
8.26pm BST
25 min Shaw, who has started really well, dinks the ball neatly over the sliding Carvajal on the edge of the area. Rodri comes across and the move peters out.
Kane is then booked for a lunge at Fabian Ruiz. He got the ball but then followed through into his boot.
Updated at 8.38pm BST
8.24pm BST
23 min Foden loses the ball in a dangerous area to Olmo, who plays in Lamine Yamal. He moves into the area and screws a shot from a tight angle that is deflected behind by Guehi. Good defening.
England break from the resulting corner and Carvajal is fortunate not to get booked for a cynical foul on Saka. Carvajal then makes a crying motion towards one of the England players, possibly Kane who was trying to get him booked.
8.20pm BST
20 min Lamine Yamal has been quiet until now, with more of Spain’s play going down the left through Nico Williams, Fabian Ruiz and Cucurella.
As I type, Cucurella is bundled over by Saka, which elicits the biggest cheer of the game.
Updated at 8.21pm BST
8.19pm BST
18 min Fabian Ruiz is taken up some dangerous positions in the inside-left channel, between Mainoo and Saka. England need to watch that.
8.17pm BST
17 min Shaw springs a great pass out to Saka on the right. He runs Cucurella, then cuts back inside and lays the ball off towards the onrushing Rice. His first-time shot from 22 yards is well blocked by Rodri.
England have woken up.
Updated at 8.22pm BST
8.15pm BST
16 min Foden’s corner is poor and doesn’t beat the first man.
“Spain’s probing passing,” begins Charles Antaki, “has the look of the white-coated medic palpating the patient to find exactly where it hurts.”
8.15pm BST
15 min England’s best attack to date. Saka plays in the overlapping Walker, who whacks a low cross that is blocked at the near post by Le Normand. Walker looked fine there.
8.15pm BST
15 min England are struggling here. They’re not being battered – Pickford hasn’t made a save – but they can’t keep the ball and it’ll be a long night if that’s the case.
8.13pm BST
14 min “This is a matchup between reason and unreason,” writes Kári Tulinius. “Spain are a side where everyone plays in their position, and has a settled, logical way of playing, that is also aesthetically pleasing and efficient. England are all vibes and whatever, last ditch everything and not a whit given to beauty or joy. By all rights Spain should win, but by all rights England should’ve gone out in the round of 16, and here they are.”
8.13pm BST
13 min The corner is lofted deep and headed back across goal towrds Le Normand. He hooks a volley over his shoulder and well wide.
8.12pm BST
12 min Fabian Ruiz plays a brilliant pass down the left to put Williams one v one with Stones. He vrooms into the area, does a few stepovers and is very well challenged by Stones. Another corner to Spain.
Walker hurt himself while trying to challenge Fabian Ruiz. He’s on his feet but he’s limping and Kieran Trippier is warming up.
Updated at 8.13pm BST
8.11pm BST
11 min Bellingham is caught late by Rodri, which gives England a free-kick on the left wing near the halfway line. Shaw curls it deep, Guehi is penalised for fouling Laporte.
It’s been a scruffy start from England, certainly when they have the ball.
Updated at 8.13pm BST
8.08pm BST
8 min Williams plays a neat one-two on the edge of the area and gets the wrong side of Walker, but Rice comes across to make a timely interception. Spain have started better; England aren’t haven’t enough of the ball.
8.07pm BST
7 min “Earlier today I watched the last five minutes of the much underrated Mike Bassett: England Manager , released the same year Bukayo Saka was born,” says Gary Naylor. “I hope it doesn’t end like that tonight, but I also kinda hope it does.”
You’re allowed a spoiler, Gary, especially as most of us haven’t seen it for 20-odd years and the ending wasn’t quite as memorable as The Sopranos’.
8.06pm BST
6 min Spain are settling into their passing rhythm. Cucurella is still being booed for his unpunished handball against Germany nine days ago.
Updated at 8.08pm BST
8.05pm BST
5 min Nico Williams’ awkward cross is put behind for the first corner by John Stones. It’s headed away at the near post, I think by Bellingham.
8.04pm BST
4 min It looks like England have started in a 4-2-3-1 themselves, with Bellingham playing from the left and Foden behind Kane. Interesting, very interesting.
Updated at 8.05pm BST
8.03pm BST
3 min We put Spain’s shape as 4-2-3-1 but when they have the ball it’s closer to 4-1-4-1, with Fabian Ruiz playing further forward.
8.02pm BST
2 min Shaw wins his first little duel with Yamal, who controlled a crossfield pass sweetly but then ran into Shaw.
8.01pm BST
2 min “Morning Rob (it’s ten till noon in Los Angeles)!” writes Michael S Weller. “I’ll be cheering for Spain today, but I’ll keep the immortal Eduardo Galeano’s (translated) words in mind: “I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead, ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’ And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle, and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
“If England do win, I hope it’s Saka who scores the winner. Such an elegant player.”
And a sheer delightful human being.
8.00pm BST
1 min Kobbie Mainoo has the first kick of the Euro 2024 final. England are kicking from left to right as we watch.
Updated at 8.07pm BST
7.59pm BST
Whose destiny is it anyway? We’re about to find out. Whoever you support, whether you’re English, Spanish or Simon McMahon, good luck.
7.57pm BST
“The Euros is such a great tournament,” begins Justin Kavanagh, “in that it gives the plucky little footballing underdogs like Denmark, Greece, and England a shot at a prize to take home with them.”
7.56pm BST
“Due to medical reasons too boring to describe , I’ve been unable to watch TV for the last three months,” says Martin O’Donovan-Wright. “I’ve waited a lifetime of 55 years to watch England win a trophy, and that’s how I know they’re going to win tonight, because they’ll finally get over the line when I can’t watch. Every cloud has a silver lining!”
So you were the curse? And to think we all blamed ITV.
7.56pm BST
A final wouldn’t be a final without a Mac Millings XI . It’s with the utmost sadness that I can confirm he’s sent one in.
“Since this may be Gareth’s Southgate’s last time leading England, perhaps you will allow me to present my all-time Goodbye Gareth XI,” says Mac. “All players appeared for the national team under Southgate except one. Can you spot the odd man out?
It’s Joe Hart to say goodbye
Ben Farewell
UnPhil we meet again Jones
Aaron Cressmell you later
‘Arry-vederci Maguire
Cheerio Ferdinand
Adieu-le Alli
Jadon Sancho revoir
Bye-bye-o Saka
Tara-heem Sterling
À bientôt-ny Gordon
7.54pm BST
A reminder of the teams
Spain (4-2-3-1) Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Morata.
Substitutes: Raya, Nacho, Vivian, Merino, Joselu, Torres, Grimaldo, Remiro, Baena, Zubimendi, Oyarzabal, Jesus Navas, Lopez.
England (3-4-2-1) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Foden, Bellingham, Kane.
Substitutes: Alexander-Arnold, Trippier, Ramsdale, Konsa, Dunk, Gallagher, Toney, Gordon, Watkins, Bowen, Eze, Gomez, Henderson, Palmer, Wharton.
Referee Francois Letexier (France)
7.54pm BST
The players are about to emerge from the tunnel. Both teams look pretty relaxed, surprisingly so. This is not just another game.
Giorgio Chiellini, winner with Italy in 2021, brings the trophy onto the field, then the players make their way onto the pitch.
7.52pm BST
“I’m writing now because I won’t be following your MBM,” cheers Jeremy Boyce. “ I live in France where they ARE actually showing the match. Apparently English smugness is a thing, I was smug the other evening predicting to my local barman then watching the outcome of the France semi-final. Smugger still next evening obviously. It’s been hard living as an ex-pat with all their nonchalant successes.
“Is it our turn? Will any of the commentators fall for the oldest trick in the book, criticising the Spanish for not singing the national anthem with GUSTO!? There are no words to the Spanish national music. Fittingly so, their footie is often beyond description. Thankfully I’m self-employed so I can phone myself for tomorrow’s sickie. My main bet is, they’re all knackered and fancy a couple of weeks off, all done and dusted in 90 mins, one way or t’other...”
7.49pm BST
“Here we are,” sighs Guy Hornsby. “This is hard to believe, that we’re back in a final again so soon. It’s a testament to this team and this manager and their ability to find a way to get through games when it feels like we have a mountain to climb. I hope Gareth Southgate gets the credit he deserves. Because for all the vitriol, no one else has done what he has, or likely will again in such a short period. My head says a Spain win, with all the talent they have, but we’ll love proving everyone wrong. So we can absolutely do it. And that’s why we watch this crazy game, eh?”
7.48pm BST
The song that’s sweeping the nation
7.48pm BST
“ Friday 14 June seems like an awfully long time ago,” writes Simon McMahon. “Good luck Scotland England.”
7.45pm BST
Updated at 7.45pm BST
7.43pm BST
At every major tournament the media talks about the uniquely stressful experience of watching England, as if supporters of all the other countries have a cigar and a resting heart rate. But there has been a unique, bizarrely recurring theme to England’s departures from major tournaments have often been carbon copies in the last 30-odd years.
Score early, usually in the first five minutes
Beat our chests for the next 10 minutes
Slowly retreat.
Concede an equaliser
Concede another or lose on penalties
It happened in 1992, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2016, 2018 and 2021. They also lost leads against Argentina in 1998 and Portugal and Romania (the latter effectively a knockout game) in 2000.
This year, England have put their fans through a whole new wringer. They’ve come from behind to win all three knockout games, the first time that has happened in the European Championship. In fact I could only find two examples in men’s or women’s football of teams doing the same at a major tournament.
Appropriately enough for such acts of cockroachery, both begin with C: Croatia at the 2018 World Cup, when England were their third and final victims, and China at the AFC Women’s Asia Cup in 2022.
While I’m not suggesting England should throw one in straight from kick off, comebacks and late winners have a happy habit of perpetuating themselves. But this is a step up in class for England. Spain have been the stars of the tournament, a joyous team whose style has more in common the Ramba-Zamba Fußball of 1972 than the tiki-taka of the early 2010s.
If both teams play to their tournament level, Spain will win. Finals don’t really work like that though eh.
7.41pm BST
“I asked ChatGPT to tell me what would happen as a haiku,” writes Edan Tal, “and it said:
Kane’s dodgy penalty,
Wembley roars, Spain’s dream fades fast—
England lifts the prize.
“AI knows best.”
It’ll kill us all you know.
7.40pm BST
The Prince of Wales and the prime minster are among those who will be at tonight’s game. Here’s what they had to say.
Related: Starmer says England have ‘made country proud’ as fans arrive in Berlin for Euros final
7.40pm BST
This will come as a shock to some , but journalists are human beings too.
7.40pm BST
“Drinking?” thunders Joe Pearson. “Of course I am, and I live in Indiana, and it’s just past 2 PM. We just had a rollicking thunderstorm roll through, so I hope that’s an omen of a great rough and tumble football match. Oh, and tell me you think beets are disgusting. Will left before I could cajole him about that.”
7.39pm BST
Were it not for the astonishing Lamine Yamal , the greatest 16-year-old we’ve ever seen, there might be more fuss about Kobbie Mainoo’s eerie maturity. At the age of 19 years 86 days, he becomes the youngest England player to appear in a major final.
Here’s Jonathan Liew on what makes Mainoo so good .
And this, written by Tim de Lisle a year ago, wins the award for prescience .
7.37pm BST
“Ugh, it is now 2.30am and I am wilting in China,” mails Alexandra Fullerton. “Here with a mixed table of English and Chinese fans supporting England and Spain. Excellent. Thanks as always for the MBM. As a Costa Rican I will be supporting England for the first time ever!”
7.37pm BST
One really intriguing battle tonight is between the Real Madrid pair of Dani Carvajal and Jude Bellingham. Bellingham has been slightly wired throughout the tournament, and Carvajal has never been a poster boy for the Corinthian spirit.
7.33pm BST
Spain could make history tonight. They’ve won the European Championship three times, a record they share with Germany. Win tonight and they’ll be all alone. And Luis de la Fuente will join Jose Villalonga (1964), Luis Aragones (2008) and Vicente del Bosque (2012) in the pantheon.
Related: How low-profile bull-fight fan Luis de la Fuente won over sceptical Spain
7.31pm BST
“Sitting in Dublin airport flying to Milan with 31 Italian students,” laments Steven Wicks. “Not only am I missing the game , but being constantly reminded about our defeat three years ago. Just terrified to switch my phone back on when we land.”
7.29pm BST
“Two hours to go before the whistle blows and fickle fate unfurls,” writes Andy Gordon. “During the match, as the tension ratchets inevitably upwards on the screen, at what point is it acceptable to start using the Ivan Toney ‘no-look’ method, using just the commentary or MBM posts?”
I wondered why there was a row of seats behind the sofa.
7.18pm BST
“So go on, what’s your prediction?” says Max Williams. “I think (hope) we might get an early goal and then get the crucial second this time. Just feels like Spain might have peaked and England are getting better each match. Then again, ‘the opposition have played brilliantly’ isn’t the soundest logic but logic hasn’t troubled England this tournament.”
If I had to bet the farm it’d be on Spain, but I wouldn’t be particularly surprised by any outcome from 3-0 to 0-3.
7.18pm BST
Thanks Will, hello again. Have you been drinking? Ach what the hell, work will take care of itself tomorrow.
7.17pm BST
The big news is that Rob Smyth is back and fully primed for what is to come.
Enjoy!
7.15pm BST
England head out for the warm up, soundtracked by Robbie Williams’ ‘Angels’. Emotional.
7.14pm BST
Manager is not an A-list tactical genius, but he can adjust to circumstances – and that could prove crucial in the final. Barney Ronay on the England manager.
Related: Gareth Southgate’s only crime lies in giving England fans what they want
7.08pm BST
I have just been handed a goat’s cheese and beetroot salad. This is proper football scran!
7.08pm BST
Welcome to the party, Luke.
7.05pm BST
Gareth Southgate : “We realise this is a wonderful opportunity to make history, it is a privilege to being this position, we need to make it count.
“He’s [Shaw] been on the road to getting back and we think he is ready to start and gives us that balance on that side.
“We have to keep the ball well, we have goal threats, moving the ball quickly through their press is the key to the game.
“We have shown a huge amount of resilience and we have found ways to win. Any team that scores late goals is a good sign and it’s helped create belief.
“We are here to give them [the fans] the night of their lives. We know what it means to everyone.”
Updated at 7.34pm BST
7.01pm BST
Sid Lowe talks to Aymeric Laporte, one of the quiet pillars of Spain’s success.
Related: Spain’s Aymeric Laporte: ‘England are so good individually but we’ve seen less of that at the Euros’
7.00pm BST
ITV News’ Daniel Hewitt speaks for many.
6.58pm BST
Luke Shaw is brought in for his first start since February for club or country. All he has to do now is keep Lamine Yamal quiet. Good luck, Luke.
6.54pm BST
Starting lineups
Spain (4-2-3-1): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Ruiz, Rodri; Lamine, Olmo, Williams; Morata
Subs: Raya, Remiro, Vivian, Navas, Nacho, Grimaldo, Merino, Baena, Zubimendi, Oyarzabal, Torres, Joselu, Lopez, Perez
England (3-4-2-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Rice, Mainoo, Shaw; Bellingham, Foden; Kane
Subs: Ramsdale, Henderson, Dunk, Konsa, Gomez, Gallagher, Alexander-Arnold, Wharton, Bowen, Eze, Palmer, Gordon, Toney, Watkins
Updated at 7.21pm BST
6.51pm BST
Jordan Henderson has rented a van to take him to Berlin in a van. He could have been in the squad if he’d made different decisions.
6.43pm BST
I’ve really enjoyed our writers’ diaries from Germany. This week the man revealing all is Nick Ames.
Related: Euro 2024 diary: the Hardest Geezer and Kevin Grosskreutz’s schnitzel bar
6.40pm BST
Starmer: “It’s been an amazing 10 days, our Labour government has hit the ground running. We had to work for our electoral victory, it is the same for the England manager. I just hope they get the win tonight.
“We are all really proud of the team, the whole country is behind them. I think there is such optimism, I have just come from London, it is breathing optimism.
“I don’t know about that [having a bank holiday], let’s get through the next few hours and get out hands on the trophy but we would mark it in an appropriate way.”
6.35pm BST
Sir Keir Starmer has been for a pitchside chat with his best mate Gary Neville.
6.30pm BST
“From three championship points to losing the next 5 points and let the match slip (thankfully, only temporarily) reminded me that these are humans after all,” emails Krishna . “I instinctively recalled Baggio , Zico, GYAN, Socrates , Kane , Saka.....
“We sit in our comfort zones and pass a lot of criticism and comment forgetting elite sport is altogether at another level
“Will Spain win both that was on offer today?”
Updated at 6.35pm BST
6.27pm BST
A lot of England fans have made their way to Berlin.
Related: ‘I think we can do it’: expectant England fans descend on Berlin for Euros final
Updated at 7.12pm BST
6.27pm BST
“I’ve overdosed already and we’re still a long way from kickoff,” s ays Charles Antaki . “Wing backs, midfield control, weakness down the left-hand side, national pride at stake… It’s all too much. Right now I think I’d happily settle for a straightforward 90 minutes between the Fox and Duck and El Bar de Juan-Miguel - no great worries about inverted wingbacks, tactics or indeed national destiny. Give them the ball and let the best drinking-hole representatives win.”
6.24pm BST
Should be a decent on BBC.
6.24pm BST
I’ve just had a quick scan of my Instagram stories, because I am cool and down with the kids. The general image I am seeing is of very busy pubs. I’m quite happy to be in the quiet but that’s just me.
6.19pm BST
Guardian’s brilliant Karen Carney on the equally brilliant Lamine Yamal.
Related: Like Lamine Yamal, I mixed school with football’s glare – and it is no bad thing | Karen Carney
6.19pm BST
“Hi guys and greetings from Vietnam,” writes Phil Keegan. “I remember watching that Spain 82 game on TV. I would have been 22, I guess. It wasn’t just my namesake Kevin who missed a sitter (and it was an absolute sitter) but the other sub, Trevor Brooking, also missed one when through on goal and only the keeper to beat. To be fair, I also remember a Spanish player, a full-back I think, also missing with only the goalie to beat. For the life of me I cannot believe my brain chooses to remember such utterly worthless information.”
6.18pm BST
ITV News is very keen to be at a Manchester fanzone. It looks, to say the least, lively.
6.15pm BST
“I’m watching with friends in Kutaisi and have communicated my passion for the dynamic passion of Georgian football and watched the video of Dinamo Tbilisi beating my beloved Liverpool 3-1,” mails Mikey Georgeson. “If Trent Alexander-Arnold comes on I will want us to bring football home, otherwise happy to enjoy the beautiful Georgian world I’m currently a temporary son of.”
6.15pm BST
Mary Nightingale has signed off at ITV News for the evening from outside the stadium in Berlin. We must be close to the punditry beginning in earnest.
6.12pm BST
The eternal question: BBC or ITV?
Related: Lineker and Shearer v Keane and Wright: does BBC or ITV have the stronger Euro 2024 final lineup?
Updated at 7.19pm BST
6.11pm BST
England are not known for their counter-attacking nowadays but it did once work against Spain …
Related: England and Spain have reversed roles since the ransacking of Seville
6.08pm BST
I’m going to hand over to Will Unwin for the next hour or so, otherwise I’ll have hyperfocussed myself out of contention by kick-off. The team news should be confirmed at around 6.45pm BST; Luke Shaw for Kieran Trippier is reportedly the only England change.
6.05pm BST
In their last two wins over Spain , in 2011 and 2018, England had less than 30 per cent possession. It’ll be a surprise if that’s the case tonight, whatever the result.
Related: England and Spain have reversed roles since the ransacking of Seville
6.04pm BST
“In an effort to calm my nerves I was thinking about England v Spain in 1982,” says Martin Widdicks. “It really is the forgotten England elimination story. We’re all too well aware of Bonetti in ‘70, Maradona in ‘86, Pearce in ‘90 etc but know next to nothing about the ‘82 Spain game. I shall happily watch some scratchy highlights shortly but anyone else have more insight about that game?”
It was before my time but I know the basic story – England’s two best players, Kevin Keegan and Trevor Brooking, had been out through injury all tournament and were only fit enough for the bench. I think they came on after about an hour, and poor Keegan – playing his only World Cup game – missed a terrific headed chance to get the first of the two goals they needed.
6.00pm BST
On 23 May 2001 , Oliver Kahn saved a penalty from Valencia defender Mauricio Pellegrino to make Bayern Munich champions of Europe. Since then, Spanish men’s teams – club and country – have won all 26 finals against foreign opposition. I haven’t heard such an eye-widening stat since I realised Alec Stewart (born 8 April 1963) finished his Test career with 8463 runs.
Related: De la Fuente plays down Spain’s status as favourites against England in final
5.56pm BST
“I’ll be watching from sunny Bolnuevo where I live on the Murcia coast in the local bar (I don’t actually live in the local bar),” writes Pat Manning. “Hopefully I won’t be listening to a cacophony of car horns and fireworks at the end of the game. All the best.”
Some places will be livelier than others.
Related: ‘I’ve never seen owt like it’: England fans in Benidorm in high spirits before Euro final
5.49pm BST
‘There’s only one way to beat them/get overloads in midfield’
Related: Tactical breakdown: where the Euro 2024 final will be won and lost
5.45pm BST
“Hi Rob,” writes Niall Mullen. “I wonder if you could help publicise my startup, Pyrotechnic Suppository Solutions. I thought it was a sure thing but sales have been really poor for some reason.”
Hahaha. I wonder what AFG is up to today. I know lightning doesn’t strike twice, but a lit flare might.
Related: What a week for England, when arse-flare guy looks like our brightest spark | Marina Hyde
5.33pm BST
It’s three years and three days since England lost to the European Championship final to Italy, and all concerned are determined not to make the mistakes: no performative flares up the hole for purposes, no sitting on a lead, no 120th-minute substitutions.
It was fascinating to re-read Scott Murray’s majestic MBM of that game and be reminded of all the mood swings.
18 min: Italy are slowly gaining a foothold in the game. A few passes, a bit of probing down both flanks. Nothing too much for England to worry about yet, but there are signs that their opponents are stirring after their nightmare start.
Related: Euro 2020 final: Italy lift trophy after beating England on penalties – as it happened
5.29pm BST
Right, lots of preview pieces to get through. Let’s start with David Goldblatt’s piece on Gareth Southgate.
In the fact-free world of our public conversations, his coaching credentials have been dismissed, his huge success discounted. His loyalty, stability and caution – despite everything we have experienced in an era of political backstabbing, chaos and recklessness – have been derided. But perhaps we are at a turning point. England are in the final. Southgate’s detractors have been muted, and his defenders have become more vocal, yet it still feels a little like Labour’s “loveless landslide”.
5.22pm BST
Spain v England: a short history
Tonight is their fifth meeting at a major tournament – two in the World Cup, three in the Euros – although we should really count the Euro 68 quarter-final as well. (In those days it was technically a four-team tournament so the quarters were part of qualification.)
Louise Tayloir has been looking at the two previous meetings in the European Championship proper.
Related: From drinks with Thatcher to Pearce’s redemption: England v Spain at Euros
5.11pm BST
Shaw expected to start
The word on the street is that Luke Shaw will replace Kieran Trippier at left wing-back. That’ll be the only change from Wednesday’s semi-final win over the Netherlands.
Spain have Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand available again after suspension; they are likely to replace Jesus Navas and Nacho.
Spain (4-2-3-1) Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Morata.
England (3-4-2-1) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Foden, Bellingham, Kane.
The teams should be confirmed after 75 minutes before kick-off.
5.00pm BST
Preamble
You’d better believe it Brenda. For the fourth year in a row, England are in the final of a major football tournament and a nation is high on life, football and the harmonies of Neil Diamond .
The prodigal sport could finally return home tonight. After 58 years of hurt, and 28 years of talking about years of hurt, England’s players* have the chance to become immortal. There’s just one problem: Spain are really good.
It’s the irresistible force versus the indestructible object. From 1950 to 2023, England came from behind to win a knockout game just three times: West Germany 1966, Cameroon 1990 and Denmark 2021. They’ve doubled that in the past fortnight. If they win tonight, that will be their legacy.
Kick off 8pm.
* Unless otherwise stated, any reference to England in this blog refers solely to the men’s team, the country or Bethany. The first person to ignore this and engage in toxic liberalism will be tracked down and forced to watch England 0-0 Slovenia on a loop for the rest of their natural-born days.
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