Julius Okorie
It will be Spain’s La Roja against Three Lions of England in the Finals of the 2024 Euro Championship on Sunday in Berlin.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelEngland who were finalists at the 2020 edition where they lost to Italy at Wembley, will be hoping to be lucky clinch the title this time.
The Southgate tutored side defeated Netherlands 2-1 in the semifinal decided Wednesday night
This will be England’s third match against Spain at a European Championship and the Three Lions triumphed in the previous two.
In the 1980 group stages, England beat Spain 2-1 in Naples although both sides went out.
And in 1996 the sides met in the last 16 at Wembley, with England winning on penalties after a goalless draw.
Their only other meeting at a major tournament was the 1950 World Cup, with Spain winning 1-0 in a group game in Rio de Janeiro.
England did win the most recent tie, a 3-2 victory in Seville in the 2018 Nations League, but only won two of their 10 meetings before that (excluding penalties)
While England were perceived to be in the ‘easy half’ of the Euro 2024 draw, Spain’s route to the final could not have been more difficult.
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In the group stage, they beat 2018 World Cup semi-finalists Croatia and defending European champions Italy.
Then in the quarter-finals they beat hosts Germany who were arguably the second-best team in the Euros and in the semi-finals eliminated 2018 world champions France.
Not only that but they have won all six games without the need for penalties. No team has managed that in one European Championship before. They are also the top scorers in the tournament with 13 goals.
Spain also have history in the Euros, winning it in 1964, 2008 and 2012. They are bidding to become the first nation to win it four times.
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Spain boast of a ‘teenage Super Star’ Lamine Yamal who like Pele took the 1958 World Cup by Storm, announced himself in this edition of the Euro championship at 16, becoming the youngest European Championship player ever in the tournament as well as the youngest goal scorer at the Euros and World Cup breaking Pele’s record. He also broke Pele’s record of the youngest player in a semi-final in either tournament.
In playing their into the final Wednesday night, Harry Kane leveled up for the Three Lions via penalty after Simons had shot Netherlands ahead.
The icing on the cake for England came in the dot of 90 minutes when Watkins fired in the winner.
The clash on Sunday no doubt promises to be a must watch, while Spain seek to claim title for the fourth time, England will be hoping to win in back to back finals.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
