History beckons on Sunday England and Spain When they meet in the final of UEFA Euro 2024. Following the women’s team’s historic win, this could be the first men’s European Championships for the Three Lions. or fourth to break the record la furia rosa, The team that has been the best performing team in the tournament so far. Although on paper England arguably have the most talent, it took until their victory over the Dutch in the semi-finals for those qualities to shine. Let’s take a look at what could be the decisive trends in the game and then what a win for either side could mean.
Why were the changes made to the starting XI?
How much did the impressive display of defensive tackles against France impress Luis de la Fuente in the biggest game of his managerial career? In retrospect, one would assume that the answer is absolutely no. Jesus Navas, 37, performed well despite the circumstances as he was booked early on when tasked with defending one of the most dangerous forwards in football, but his opposition’s reluctance to do anything helped. Ball to Kylian Mbappé on the left flank. Despite this, it is hard to see how the so reliable Dani Carvajal does not come into the biggest games.
Aymeric Laporte’s partner may be a little more up for a debate. Robin Le Normand looked strong without a standout performance, but a yellow card ruled him out of the semi-final, where Nacho took the field impressively. The former Real Madrid captain has seen it all when it comes to big finals – and has occasionally done so when called upon – and the experience of such a big game cannot be ignored.
On the other hand, England may drop at least 10 players Southgate has given him the responsibility of taking him to another final, There are question marks over the availability of Kieran Trippier, who was taken off at half-time as a precaution in the semi-final win over the Netherlands. If Luke Shaw takes the field, it would hardly be the end of the world for the Three Lions, who have spent so much of the tournament without a functioning left back.
Despite all the question marks over Southgate’s tactical acumen, it should be noted that even when deploying a frequently changing starting lineup – Declan Rice’s midfield partner is the only unstable position during this tournament – he has managed to give his England team a different look. Have been able to. The much-anticipated pivot to a 3-4-2-1 against Switzerland arrived, with Bukayo Saka operating as a true right-sided attacker in possession, while Trippier had a more hybrid role.
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However, England were even more aggressive in the first half against the Dutch. You could be forgiven for confusing the pass map above with something from a progressive, ball-dominant club side. It’s not a million miles away from the 2-3-5 possession that Arsenal and Manchester City have exploited, perhaps more than a 2-4-4, with Walker and Trippier increasing the width of the pitch with less inverting and more overlapping. trying. Run.
Will England feel they can get away with this kind of aggressive possession play from their full backs (especially hybrid wing backs) with Dani Olmo and Rodri waiting to bring in Nico Williams and Lamin Yamal at the back? Perhaps not entirely, although moving Trippier and Walker forward further up the pitch tested the Dutch ability to play through the press and would be similar to the Spanish backline, with Laporte likely to struggle on one side.
Starting Lineup:
Spain XI:
England XI:
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- date: Sunday, July 14 Time: 3 PM ET
- Place: Olympiastadion–Berlin
- TV: Fox | live stream: fubo (try free)
- odds: Spain +150; Draw +188; England +240
Will the timing of Southgate’s change be right?
If both of these sides’ form so far in the tournament continues then expect the proceedings to get off to a fast pace. Spain have taken 36 shots in the first half hour of their Euro 2024 matches so far, scoring four, and conceding three. England have three goals to their name in the same stage and have conceded two. He hit the person in front hard, but this caused fatigue in his legs. De la Fuente was almost lost in the quarterfinal win over Germany as he tried to maintain the fitness of both Williams and Yamal – more on that later – while Southgate’s chief lieutenant looked to be on his feet in the second half against the Dutch.
No surprise. As Rice found himself unable to reach the attacking Dutch midfielders to foul them, you could sense the great weight of all 4274 minutes of club football played before the Euros, where he had yet to concede a minute Is. It came as no surprise that Kane arrived late in the penalty area as he finished another grueling season with a back problem. Jude Bellingham’s fitness problems at the end of the season also do not appear to be abating.
England needed to change something and the credit for this goes to Southgate. Neither Ollie Watkins nor Cole Palmer were in any particular activity before the substitutes combined for the winner after less than 10 minutes of Kane and Phil Foden’s introduction. Loyalty to the manager, shouted the English nation. As if it was necessary. In answer to any questions about Southgate’s tactical nous, there have been plenty of examples where his use of a high-quality bench has put competition England’s way.
These range from the obvious – from Ivan Toney’s assist for Kane to defeating Slovakia – to the more obscure. Did space open up for Saka to cut down his left foot and attack goal as the presence of Eberechi Eze and Luke Shaw gave England a genuine left flank for Switzerland to attack?
Look deeper into past knockout tours and there are several other changes Southgate has made right. Mason Mount almost turned the 2022 World Cup quarter-final towards England. Jack Grealish established himself as an elite closer at Euro 2020, assisting one and pre-assisting another against Germany and playing a hugely effective role against Denmark. Even in the final, in which Southgate allowed the forward, Saka spent a few moments as the first man to come off the bench. These may not be moves like Pep Guardiola, who immediately rips up the game plan to find something more effective, but that’s a high bar for any coach. There is nothing wrong with bringing players into the same system if their individual qualities are better suited to the game.
A curious, but much-commented upon aspect of Southgate’s substitutions is how late he left them in. Putting aside Trippier’s enforced change for Shaw on Wednesday, England have changed their XI only once before the hour mark of a knockout match under current management, in the 57th minute of their Euro 2020 quarter-final against Ukraine. In. Jordan Henderson replaced Declan Rice when England were 3–0 up. Perhaps Southgate considers it half time. It was the same score the following year when Saka and Foden were withdrawn in the 65th minute of the win over Senegal in the Round of 16.
Discount that Trippier’s issue in the semi-finals and Southgate’s first substitution in knockout matches comes in the 65th minute. In four out of 11 matches, he has done nothing until after the 78th minute. To many of his critics it may seem surprisingly late. Perhaps it speaks to a coach who has his eye on extra time and games lasting more than two hours. Of those 11 games, six went to the 120th minute and three to penalties. England has also won two of these.
If this final had been completed then you would have feared for England. Spain have 30 minutes less football at their feet and their journey to the quarters was so quiet that there is no sign of tired legs in De la Fuente’s team, who will have Carvajal and Le Normand back after nine days of rest. If those 58 years of suffering are to end, it would be best if Southgate heeded the words of King Charles III and won the game in 90 minutes.
Is this Rodri’s Ballon d’Or moment?
While it’s a pity that one of the biggest prizes in team sports has come to be viewed through the prism of individual honors, there comes a time and place where fanning the embers of the hype train is necessary. Maybe that doesn’t make Rio Ferdinand scream Ballon d’Or every moment he’s on the ball, but maybe that’s because Rodri has such a persuasive case for winning the award. Manchester United’s 74-match unbeaten streak may have ended, but one defeat in 80 matches doesn’t mean anything, does it?
The best player in the Premier League last season has also been the best in the European Championship, even if his midfield partner Fabian Ruiz is putting up a brilliant fight. On almost every measure in which a midfielder can influence a game, Rodri excels.
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He passes the ball frequently and accurately, getting the ball into the attacking third and placing it for Spain when necessary. He is a monster in duels if the ball gets loose, winning nearly 60 percent of 49 and converting more possession chances than anyone other than Fabian Ruiz. The clutch scoring qualities he developed at Manchester City were then on full display La Rosa Stumbled against Georgia. Rodri may need to apply any or all of these qualities at a certain time in the final. He has proven time and again that he understands the moment better than anyone else.
“I try to give the game pace, dynamism, rhythm,” he told The Guardian at the start of the tournament. “Connecting with the players in front of you as quickly as possible, helping the game mature, interpreting it, taking it to where you want it to be. That’s what most defines the pivot’s role: when to increase the pace, When to apply the brakes, when to apply more pressure, when to go deeper. These thoughts are always going on in your mind and we need to press pause, I will not speed up the game.”
For all the emerging talent of Kobi Manu and Rice’s off-ball excellence (often seen as he has tired in the knockout stages), England do not have a midfielder who can run the game like Rodri. He will undoubtedly have studied how Jorginho, Luka Modric and Frenkie de Jong have got the Three Lions on their passing carousel and sent them reeling into defeat in previous tournaments. Repeat that trick on Sunday and he may just have personal rewards that he’s not entirely interested in.
Prediction: Trailed once at the final hurdle against England, Spain 2, England 1
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