Our prediction for this Euro 2024 match:
Sparkles will be flying when Spain and England go head to head in the EURO 2024 final at Olympiastadion. La Furia Roja have been producing excellent displays at the showpiece tournament and they surely want to keep their 100% record intact. Wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are doing a great job in Luis de la Fuente’s team and the duo is likely to prove a handful for the opposition back-line. Both Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand return from suspension, meaning that Nacho and Jesus Navas should drop to the bench.
The Three Lions, on the other hand, survived Netherlands thanks to Ollie Watkins’ late goal. Gareth Southgate’s men are eyeing their first ever European Championship trophy, but given Spain splendid performances at the 2024 tournament, home win should be considered. Barring any fresh injury worries, Southgate is unlikely to make changes to the starting XI that faced the Oranje.
Highlighted Player (Harry Kane):
Widely regarded as one of England’s best strikers at the moment, Harry Kane enjoyed a meteoric rise at Tottenham Hotspur, scoring 21 Premier League goals during the 2014/2015 campaign to be voted PFA Young Player of the Year.
The highly rated striker went on to surpass that achievement the following season as he helped Tottenham Hotspur mount a serious title challenge for the first time in club’s recent history and he made seamless transition to international football. Kane scored four goals in his first ten appearances for England to prove he was here to stay and at the same time established himself as a first choice striker in Roy Hodgson’s squad ahead of the Euro 2016 finals.
Kane is a modern striker, who is extremely dangerous in the opposition box, but it was some outstanding goals from distance as well as link-up play with teammates that earned him an excellent reputation in world football. Kane is expected to lead both Tottenham and England in years to come, that is if he can resist the lure of top European clubs that continue to cast admiring glances his way.
Highlighted Team (Spain):
Historically, Spain have been regarded as one of top sides on international stage, but they often struggled to live up to the billing. After reaching the semi-finals at the 1950 World Cup, La Furia Roja won the European Championship trophy on home soil in 1964, but little did they know that it would remain their only trophy for another 44 years.
Following some disappointing showings, Spain finally returned to the biggest stage under Vicente Del Bosque, winning three straight trophies between 2008 and 2012, before crashing out in the group stage at the 2014 World Cup. La Furia Roja enjoyed plenty of success with their tiki-taka style of play, originally designed by Barcelona, with Vicente Del Bosque’s side packed with technically skilled players such as Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and David Silva.
Strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa also had a major role to play in those successes, but when it comes to their famous predecessors, the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Michel, Emilio Butrageno, Raul Gonzalez, Fernando Morientes and Fernando Hierro should not be forgotten.