By Femi Atolagbe

|

England will on Sunday square up against Spain in the final match of the 2024 EURO in Berlin after remaining 22 teams had been knocked out.

England played against Italy in the final of the 2020 edition of the competition, while Spain walked their way back to football’s peak by setting up Berlin EURO final against Three Lions on Sunday after more than 10 years of disappointment.

Spain won two European Championships in 2008 and 2012.

While England have not lifted the EURO Cup but played in two consecutive finals.

England were not at their free-flowing best in Group C but still topped their section and remain unbeaten. Glimpses of the genius that can be produced by forwards such as Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Phil Foden were clear in all three games.

Bellingham’s overhead kick forced extra time in the round of 16 win against Slovakia before Kane headed the winner, while they also came from behind against Switzerland thanks to Bukayo Saka’s equaliser before triumphing on penalties, converting all five spot kicks. In the semifinals, Ollie Watkins’ last-gasp strike completed England’s comeback win against Netherlands, taking the Three Lions into their second consecutive EURO final.

A magical, mercurial talent, Yamal is huge fun whether you support La Roja or not. Usually deployed as an inverted winger, the left-footed teenager has smashed the records for both youngest EURO finals player and youngest goalscorer aged, respectively, 16 years 338 days on Matchday 1 and then 16 years 362 days in the semifinal. He has now played over 60 times for club and country, and naturally home-town team Barcelona rate him as a massive prospect. Pedri lit up EURO 2020; Yamal has been one of the wunderkinder in the competition.

Spain are the only national team to have won three continental and world titles in a row: EURO 2008, the 2010 World Cup and EURO 2012.

All eyes are on the Sunday’s final encounter between England and Spain in Berlin.