Spain enters the Euro 2024 final on Sunday as a slight favorite to win the title against England. They have been not only the most attractive team to watch in the tournament but have also won every match they played. Spain has shone as a team capable of quickly adapting its strategy to opponents without sacrificing its direct attacking style for a results-based performance. They outperformed France in the semi-finals despite trailing by a goal, scoring two goals in just five minutes by utilizing continuous pressing and vertical passing that forced the French to resort to long balls.
With Rodri controlling the midfield, a player whose impressive passing efficiency rivals that of German Toni Kroos but with a more attacking approach, the midfield battle is expected to play a crucial role in the outcome. England will have to wrestle the ball from Spain, who also features standout midfielder Fabian Ruiz, regarded by many as the best player in the tournament.
The excellence of wings Nico Williams and Ameen Jaafer, who will turn 17 on Saturday and is the youngest scorer in either the European or World Cup history, in overcoming opponent defenses and creating goal-scoring opportunities will make the task of England's full-backs very challenging. Spain has become the first team to win six matches in a single edition of the Euros after defeating France, and at this stage, they boast the best defense in the tournament.
Reaching the Euro final for England and manager Gareth Southgate for the second consecutive time has not been easy, especially after enduring weeks of criticism, particularly during the group stage, due to lackluster performances and weak attacking strength. However, England’s defense has remained strong. John Stones and Kyle Walker have proven their skill in ball recovery thanks to their speed when threatened.
Spain's possession of the ball and their movements are likely to form the toughest test for England so far. The key for Southgate’s team to maintain their fitness is the remarkable work done by Declan Rice, the defensive midfielder. Rice positions himself effectively to neutralize threats to England and, with his movements and strength, can arguably be considered the best English player in the tournament held in Germany as he provides defensive protection in front of the backline and battles wherever the danger appears.
The other midfielders have also shown their willingness to take responsibility in recovering the ball against the Netherlands in the semi-finals, as Kohbi Maino, Bukayo Saka, and Phil Foden demonstrated their eagerness to regain possession and pressure the opponent. After a largely poor performance in the group stage, which saw England score two goals in three matches, Southgate will feel reassured by what he saw against the Netherlands when the key players took responsibility and began to create consistent threats from both flanks and through the middle.
Southgate will encourage his player Jude Bellingham to attack the same defenders who were outplayed by the Real Madrid playmaker on his way to becoming last season's best player in La Liga, reminding Harry Kane of how effective he was in the semi-final when he worked within the penalty area and converted opportunities rather than getting stuck deep as he had done often before. One concern will be England's inability to pose a threat from set pieces, as they appeared weak defensively against the Dutch giants, but it is unlikely to have the same impact against Spain.
