Euro-2024: Spain-England, fireworks in the final of a very contrasting competition for the two teams

Jude Bellingham and the English will want to create a surprise against Dani Olmo's Spain. firo Sportphoto – Ralf Ibing

Jude Bellingham et les Anglais voudront créer la surprise contre l’Espagne de Dani Olmo. firo Sportphoto – Jürgen Fromme

La séduisante sélection espagnole incarnée par Lamine Yamal affronte une équipe anglaise qui s’est distinguée par son réalisme à l’image de Jude Bellingham, dimanche à 21 h, au stade Olympique de Berlin.

The Euro-2024 bows out with a finale in the form of fireworks, Sunday (9 p.m.) in Berlin, to dedicate the rebirth of Spain to the Lamine Yamal or the resilience of England, Gareth Southgate version.
Supporters of “Roja” and those of the “Three Lions” will animate the Olympiastadion with their cries, their tears and their bursts of joy at the end of a championship mixed with contrary feelings.

Spain went through the tournament like a cannonball, piercing their opponents in turn, whether Croatia, Italy, Germany and France, latest victim.

A victory in the first 90 minutes

The team led by Luis de la Fuente, known as « Luis the quiet, arrives in the German capital with the momentum of the powerful. "We are 90 minutes from glory", said playmaker Dani Olmo. 

Opposite, the England team presents itself as survivors of a journey where it has often stumbled, but has always gotten back up, like a tightrope walker clinging to the thread of her destiny, which she hopes will be magical.

The European vice-champions won only one of their six matches in the first 90 minutes, the first against Serbia, before two draws (Denmark and Slovenia), an extra time ( Slovakia), penalties (Switzerland) and a victory gained in added time against the Netherlands.

« A huge task »

At the start, "we didn’play our best football, it doesn’not take a genius to realize that&quot ;, recognized Ollie Watkins, substitute striker who became a saving scorer in the semi-final.

The English have been led in each of their knockout matches, certainly, but « we showed our solidarity, the fact that everyone is there as a team to work hard and stick together,” noted the Aston Villa player.

L’Spain has « been the best team in the tournament and we have one less day to prepare, so it's a huge task, but we're still here and fighting », a completed Gareth Southgate. The coach can follow on Sunday in the footsteps of Sir Alf Ramsey, the only one to have offered a title to the country of origin of football, in 1966 following a World Cup organized at home .

England is preparing to play the first final in its history outside its island, three years after failing very close to the goal, at Wembley, where a penalty shootout missed saw Italy triumph.

Wings of Happiness

The Spanish, for their part, are seeking to pick up the thread of their rich European history, made brilliant by their three stars won in 1964, 2008 and 2012. La “Roja” has regained all its brilliance with Luis de la Fuente, the architect of the revival of Spanish football, which he recovered from its lowest point after the failure in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup. < /p>

The current team does not deny the DNA of possession which irrigated the success of its elders, but it has added percussion, speed and verticality in s& ;rsquo;leaning on his explosive wingers Lamine Yamal, 17 years old this Saturday, and Nico Williams, 22 years old since Friday.

The English also have their nuggets, from Kobbie Mainoo to Jude Bellingham, via Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden, a multi-carat armada grouped behind captain Harry Kane. The star scorer of the Bayern Munich has a golden opportunity to win a first title and finally, at almost 31 years old, move on from « Prince Harry » to « Kane the King ».