UEFA Euro 2024 Final Preview

UEFA Euro 2024 Final Preview

We started with 24 teams in Germany, and now we are down to two teams battling it out in the Euro 2024 Final. Spain and England will face off at the Olympiastadion in Berlin at 3 pm ET. Before hopping into what will be expected of both teams in the Euro 2024 Final, let’s look at the two semifinal matches.

The first semifinal saw France and Spain play a thriller. For the first time in the tournament, France scored from open play. This came just nine minutes in when Randal Kolo Muani headed home a cross from a maskless Kylian Mbappé . It looked like a completely different French team, but their joy did not last long. A mere 12 minutes later Spain drew level from the left foot of 16-year-old Lamine Yamal . The young star ripped a shot past the diving goalkeeper that no one in the world would have saved. Then four minutes later a bit of magic from Dani Olmo saw him flip the ball around a defender before getting a shot off that deflected off France’s Jules Koundé . The remainder of the first half saw numerous chances for each side, but neither could get it in. The second half was a different story as Spain passed the ball around not giving France any real chance at scoring and held on to the 2-1 win to advance to the Euro 2024 Final.

The second semifinal was between England and the Netherlands. Just as it happened in the first one the scoring started quickly. Xavi Simons picked the pocket of Declan Rice before heading upfield and ripping a rocket past the outstretched glove of Jordan Pickford just seven minutes in. England responded 11 minutes later from the penalty spot. Harry Kane was awarded a controversial penalty after his shot went flying over the bar but his foot was kicked by Denzel Dumfries . Nonetheless, Kane took the penalty and put it in the bottom left corner to draw level. From there it was a very nervy contest with both Dumfries and Phil Foden hitting the woodwork. Things changed when Foden and Kane came off for England being replaced by Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins in the 81st minute. A whole 10 minutes later Palmer found Watkins in the box, and the Aston Villa talisman turned a shot one across goal beating Bart Verbruggen to secure England’s place in the Euro 2024 Final with a 2-1 win.

Now time to take a look at Sunday’s first final.

Spain vs England – July 14

We’ll start with Spain. Despite going down to France in the semifinals, they continued to show why many consider them the best team at the Euros. With his goal, Yamal became the youngest player to ever score at the Euros. He also has a tournament-leading three assists. There was a worry about the absence of Pedri who is still out due to injury. However, Olmo has been a perfect replacement for Spain. The RB Leipzig midfielder kept his hot form going with his third goal of the tournament. The big news for Spain is that both Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand will be back in the lineup after serving their one-game suspensions. This is a massive boost for the Spanish defense that looked exposed at times against Mbappé and France.

For Spain to win the Euro 2024 Final, they need to keep doing what they have been. Control the tempo and with the players in midfield such as Rodri , Fabián Ruiz , and Nico Williams this is always doable. Williams has immense pace but will be up against Kyle Walker and Bukayo Saka who are just as quick. He will need to find a way past them to set up his teammates. On the other wing, look for Yamal to have a field day against Kieran Trippier , who has not had a great tournament defensively. My concern for Spain is rather minimal. The best player for England in the last two matches has been Saka and he will be facing Marc Cucurella . Cucurella has been very inconsistent and could be the Achilles heel of this Spanish defense.

While Spain has impressed all tournament, England has not. It has been late goal after late goal in the knockout stage including in the Semifinals. Everything for England revolves around Kane. He is the captain and leading goalscorer of the tournament with three goals. Behind him are Jude Bellingham , the hero of the Round of 16, and Foden, who looked more like his Manchester City self in the semifinals. They will both need to put in a great performance against an elite Spanish midfield. Since the change to a back three, England has looked much more fluid going forward with the use of two wingbacks in Saka on one side and Trippier and Luke Shaw splitting time on the other.

For England to win their first tournament since 1966 a lot will need to happen. It starts with the midfield. Spain has a youngster bossing it for them, and England has one of their own. Kobbie Mainoo has been a breath of fresh air for England. He has skill on the ball but will need to improve his distribution to break down the Spanish defense. Defensively England will have their work cut out for them. This means that for any chance in the Euro 2024 Final, Pickford will need to be on top form. Spain has scored the most goals of any nation at the Euros. A final thing they need to do to win is get off to a quick start. Sure England has come from behind in all three knockout matches so far, but Spain is a team that thrives off being ahead early and has a stout defense that does not allow much.

Prediction

This is the match we have all been waiting for. England seems like a team destined to win in the way Portugal was at Euro 2016. Spain has been superb in every aspect. While this could very well go to extra time, I think it will be decided in the 90 minutes. I think Spain will show some dominance early in the Euro 2024 Final and ultimately get a 3-1 win to lift their fourth European Championship trophy.

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