Who: Spain x England
What: Euro 2024 semi-finals
Where: BVB Stadium in Dortmund, Germany
When: Kick-off at 9pm (7pm GMT) on Saturday 14th July
How to follow: Al Jazeera will bring live text commentary of the game with preparation starting four hours before kick-off
When Spain face England in the Euro 2024 final, history will beckon either winner.
The Spanish will become the competition’s outright champions, overtaking Germany, if they lift the trophy for the fourth time, while the English will be crowned continental champions for the first time if they win.
Spain had a remarkable run to the final, having already made history with a 100% winning record in all six games, and are clear favorites in the lead-up to the game. England, on the other hand, stuttered, stuttered and dragged themselves from the brink of elimination to reach the final in the German capital, Berlin.
With victories in 1964, 2008 and 2012 already under their belt – along with a World Cup victory in 2010 – the Spaniards can go into the match without fear of failure, whilst boasting a free-floating form book. They came through the group without conceding a goal and rarely looked challenged in the knockout stages, despite facing hosts Germany and pre-tournament favorites France.
Only Georgia caused a slight upset for the Spanish fans when they had the audacity to take the lead in the round of 16 – Spain won 4-1 and it could have been double in the end.
Among those who shone against the Georgians was Lamine Yamal, today a name known throughout the world. The Barcelona winger could have scored three goals in that match, but he saved his first goal of the tournament to equalize the semi-final against the French, putting him in the history books as the youngest goalscorer at a European Championship. Saturday marked his 17th birthday.
Are England in good shape just in time for the clash with Spain?
After a poor showing of one win and two draws in their group, England were seconds away from a round of 16 exit against Slovenia before Jude Bellingham’s last-gasp header sent the tie into extra time. Harry Kane resolved the matter without the need for penalties.
Gareth Southgate’s side were pressured into penalty kicks by Switzerland as Bukayo Saka was among the heroes and banished the memories of his miss in the Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy.
This is the closest England have ever come to a European title, but they have had their moments, including at home in 1996 when they painfully lost the semi-final on penalties to Germany, having been the better team in open play.
En route to the semi-finals of that edition, they defeated Spain on penalties, after a goalless draw in the quarter-finals. The team also produced one of their most memorable displays since winning the 1966 World Cup – their only major international trophy – when they defeated the Netherlands 4-1 in the group stage.
It was against the Dutch, in the semi-finals, that they had the most exciting performance of this edition. The first-half display was comprehensive, while the Netherlands produced a more dogged response in the second half. It almost wore down Southgate’s side but, with extra-time approaching, Ollie Watkins came off the bench to score a deserved injury-time winner.
There is no doubt that England have the potential as a team to defeat Spain in the final, but that is based on the quality of individuals at Southgate’s disposal.
If the England manager can get a song out of his stars, football could well be “coming home” and 58 years of pain will come to an end with just a second international silver medal for the country that is considered the biggest domestic league in the world. world. .
Fun fact
Spain is the first team to win six consecutive European Football Championship games. Will it be a magnificent seven for the Spanish or will England blow up the Spanish pinata?
Spanish national team news:
Spain welcomes back Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, who were suspended. Both full-backs started the quarter-final victory against Germany, with the former sent off in extra time for a second cynical save that could be scored in the sixth minute of extra time. The former received a yellow card in the 29th minute, before being withdrawn at half-time. Otherwise, the Spaniards will have no new injury problems, so they are unlikely to make many more changes as they seek a seventh successive tournament win.
England team news:
England captain Harry Kane was substituted in the semi-final victory against the Netherlands due to fatigue, having also limped off in the quarter-final victory against Switzerland. A spill of water bottles in the technical area during the round of 16 encounter caused Kane’s calves to cramp, leading to his withdrawal. After winning the last four against the Dutch, the Bayern Munich striker declared that he would be fit and ready to reach the final.
Luke Shaw made his first two appearances of the tournament on the bench as he continued to recover from injury, but Southgate may be inclined to opt for the Manchester United defender’s experience from the start of the final.
Possible lineups:
Spain: Unai Simon: Dani Carvajal, Robin Le Normand, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Dani Olmo, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Álvaro Morata, Nico Williams
England: Jordan Pickford; Kyle Walker, John Stones, Marc Guehi; Bukayo Saka, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, Luke Shaw; Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden; Harry Kane
FIFA classification:
Spain (8), England (5)
Face to face registration:
27 games:
10 victories for Spain
13 for England
4 draws
Last five games:
Spain: WWWWW
England: WDDWW
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
