The other is a survivor, limping to the end with big moments, resilience and an oft-criticized coach, who has another chance to end his country’s long wait for a major men’s title.
european championship There are plenty of storylines heading into Sunday’s final between Spain and England – one of which certainly stands above the rest.
Inside the Olympiastadion, a Berlin landmark built by the Nazis for the 1936 Olympic Games Lamin Yamal – a day after his 17th birthday – will look to crown his success as football’s newest superstar by leading Spain to its first major men’s trophy since the 2008-12 era, when it won back-to-back Euros either side of the World Cup . 2010.
Yamal has been a shining light in a tournament where several high-profile personalities – Cristiano Ronaldo, klian mbappeEven England’s Harry Kane is disappointed. If his three assists before the semi-finals are any indication of his undoubted promise, Yamal’s great curling shot who inspired spain 2-1 win over France The final four indicated that a new star had arrived.
“He is a generational talent,” England striker Ollie Watkins said of Yamal on Friday. “He’s got the world at his feet.”
While Yamal and fellow winger Nico Williams now offer their national team There was still a lack of transparency on a large scaleIt is this central midfield that has given Spain the edge over all of its rivals.
Rodri is perhaps the most dominant player in the world, pound-for-pound, and Fabian Ruiz is the fulcrum from which Spain thrive. Dani Olmo joins him as the most attacking player in a central-midfield three that England will struggle to contain.
Spain topped a group featuring defending champions Italy and 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Croatia, who were many pre-tournament favourites, before host nation Germany and Mbappe’s France were eliminated.
This is La Roja’s sixth consecutive win. It is no wonder that he is getting such huge support before the final.
“They are the best team,” England coach Gareth Southgate said of Spain. “…But we’re there and based on what we’ve shown so far, we have as good a chance as they have.”
Indeed, Spain should not underestimate England, whose tenacity and character far outweigh the quality of play at Euro 2024. The country’s most talented team for 20 years has performed poorly, looking unbalanced, lacking ideas and in some cases tired, but somehow reached a second consecutive European Championship final.
Three years earlier, England had lost to Italy in a penalty shootout on home soil at Wembley Stadium, extending the birthplace of football’s painful wait for a major men’s title since the 1966 World Cup.
Southgate’s side are back in title contention – their first time outside England – and are brimming with confidence with potential match-winners throughout the squad in Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Kane. Someone always comes forward with an important goal – Bellingham with stoppage-time equalizer Against Slovakia in the last 16, Saka equalized in the 80th minute Also against Switzerland in the quarter finals backup striker watkins Exactly 90 minutes into the semi-final against the Netherlands.
Who will come to Southgate’s rescue on Sunday – if indeed anyone does?
“They are capable of causing a lot of damage even without playing in a very fluid way,” Spain defender Dani Vivian said. “But they have that quality that enables them to create such a spark.”
However, the smart money is on Spain winning their seventh consecutive game to clinch a record fourth European Championship title.
It would be a fitting end to a tournament where few teams were really successful apart from the Spanish, who have developed a more ruthless attacking edge with their long-running possession game, perhaps peaking in the Euro 2012 final When a team of midfielders – notably Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso and David Silva – defeated Italy in Spain’s 4–0 victory.
They may not be named in the Class of 2024, but they will be worthy successors.
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AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
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