England vs Spain Preview: Who Has the Edge in the Euro 2024 Final?
England and Spain have had two extremely different tournaments. Spain have looked like the best team in the field, with convincing wins over serious competition like France, Germany, Italy, Croatia, and even an upstart Georgia team. Every team in knockout tournaments has their moments of luck, and Spain has only needed one thus far: Marc Cucurella not being called for a handball in extra time in the quarter final against Germany.
As for England, they started the tournament atrociously. In the group stage and round of 16, they looked as bad as they had ever looked under Gareth Southgate. But they have improved in successive rounds. After sneaking by Slovakia in the round of 16 after a miracle Jude Bellingham bicycle kick, England beat a strong Switzerland team on penalties in a game in which they had to come back. After going down a goal early against the Netherlands, England fought their way back and thoroughly outplayed the Dutch, winning on a last-gasp goal from Ollie Watkins. As they have played better opponents, England have found a greater sense of identity and are bringing out the best in each other. They will need their best effort yet to defeat Spain.
So, how do these two teams match up? Spain is a side of technically gifted players. It’s just the way the game has been taught in Spain since Johann Cruyff managed Barcelona. Possession and technique are more important than physicality. Expect Spain to have a lot of the ball, even against an England team that does a good job of keeping it. For what seems like the first time in their history, Spain has two aggressive, inverted wingers in Nico Williams and now 17-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal. Happy birthday, Lamine! However, England is well equipped to deal with them. While he has struggled in possession, Kyle Walker is an excellent defensive fullback on England’s right. As for the man who will face Yamal, Luke Shaw is often very good in 1v1 matchups. It is just a question of whether or not Southgate will play him, or keep going with Kieran Trippier. I have said all tournament long that Shaw makes the left side of England’s formation vastly better than Trippier.
This is another game crying out for Marcus Rashford for England. With Spain likely keeping a lot of the ball, England will want to play on the counterattack. Even without Rashford, they are still equipped to do it. While fans have complained about Harry Kane dropping too deep, England will likely need him to in order to link together counter attacks. I think this game will suit Jude Bellingham well. England's counterattacks will give him the opportunity to do what he does best: make late runs into the box to get on the end of crosses.
Finals are cagy and nervous. They often go to extra time or penalties as a result. I don’t think this final will be any different. I think England will score first, and Spain will spend the rest of the game trying to break them down, eventually finding an equalizer. I don’t think a winner will be determined in extra time, and the game will go to penalty kicks. At that point, both teams have good penalty-takers, but England’s have proven to be exceptional. I predict that England somehow wins Euro 2024 1-1, 5-3 on penalty kicks. It’s coming home.
