At first glance it seems to be the final between the team that has played the best up to this point (Spain) and the most criticized (England). With that view, perhaps simplistic, there would be no doubt about the winner. But guess what: this is football. And no one can guarantee anything.
However, Spain has all the merits to demand that chance continue to wink at it this Sunday in Berlin. Her game mixes efficiency and beauty. We can even say that she falls in love. Quite the opposite generates England, which at times exasperates with so much wasted individual quality and its indefinite style. But it is known: the finals can turn everything around. And there is hierarchy on both sides.
The team’s reasons Luis de la Fuente They are exultant: they won the six games they played and the names of their victims rank their passage to the final: Croatia (3-0), Italy (1-0), Albania (1-0), Georgia (4-1), Germany (2-1). It started in the Olympic stadium in Berlin and will try to close a virtuous circle right there. Can it? Will he be up to the task in the most important match?
Beauty is in the hands of the left hand of Lamine Yamal (who will turn 17 on the same day of the final), on the right of Nico Williamsof the talent of Dani Olmo and of that double imperial pivot that they form Rodri y Fabian Ruiz. Efficiency is marked in the results, but one more is missing.
Good old Yamal with his orthodontics and his childish smile is already more than an outstanding subtitle. He started out as the youngest player to play in a Euro Cup, then he added that he was the youngest to score a goal (great goal, against France) and on Sunday he will become the youngest to play in a final of this competition. Will he also be the earliest champion?
Spain wants its fourth Euro Cup, after those won in 1964, 2008 and 2012. If it achieves it, it will surpass Germany and become the most successful.
There the contrasts begin, or continue, because England has never won a European Championship. In reality, he did not win anything apart from the 1966 World Cup. It will be his third major final and his first outside his country. This opportunity tastes like revenge, because in the last edition (2021) they lost the decisive match with Italy. At Wembley, to increase the disappointment. On penalties (3-2, after tying 1-1 in regulation time), in addition: they failed Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho y Bukayo Saka, the only one still on the squad. There is always a possibility of revenge floating around in football.
His path to Berlin also marks a counterpoint. Serbia (1-0), Denmark (1-1), Slovenia (0-0), Slovakia (2-1), Switzerland (1-1 and 5-3 on penalties), Netherlands (2-1). Much less demanding and showy.
Anguish and criticism accompanied the team Gareth Southgate. In the round of 16, against Slovakia, Jude Bellingham He put out the fire with an unforgettable overhead kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time and Harry Kane He sealed the victory as soon as extra time started. In the quarterfinals, the one who put on the mantle of knight of anguish savior was Saka, who equalized in the 80th minute. Later, in the penalties there were no errors.
The semifinal against the orange team had an unexpected hero: Ollie Watkins, having a great season at Aston Villa, but a substitute in his national team. He entered at 80 minutes and ten minutes later he crossed a triumphant right hand, from his solitude in the rival area. Will he be the starter now?
Spain has been setting historical records: until now, no one had won six games out of six in a European Championship. If he wins the final without going to penalties he will equal a World record, the one held by Brazil in 2002, of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho y Rivaldowho chained seven consecutive wins.
England looks at all this data with a mixture of envy, respect and, perhaps, fear. It has nothing similar to contrast, beyond its proper names. British fans hope that Berlin will finally explode Phil Foden, elected the best player of the last Premier League. And many also ask their gods for Kane to win a title once and for all and break his unusual undefeated record.
For statistics lovers, it can be added that Spain was never able to beat England in a European Championship: they lost in 1980 and tied (and then lost on penalties) in 1996.
This last memory still causes hives among Spaniards. That time they met at Wembley in the quarterfinals and after 0-0 the locals won 4-2 on penalties. They failed Fernando Hierro y Michael Nadal. The visitors continue to complain about the French refereeing Marc Batta for an alleged criminal against José Luis Caminero.
In the English defense, Gareth Southgate, current coach of his national team, played as central defender, who missed the decisive penalty in the semifinal against Germany. Something that the fans also continue to remind him of, because that Euro was frustrating for both of them and it was left in the hands of the Germans.
With all this in their backpacks, Spain and England will play a great final. Only one will lift the cup and for different reasons it will be historic. If the Eurocup wears red it will be for the fourth time; If instead it looks white, it will be the first. In any case, it promises to be unmissable.