Euro 2024 final: Will Lamine Yamal and Spain spoil Gareth Southgate's moment for England?
Spain faces England in Berlin on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET in the UEFA Euro Cup finals in a legacy-defining clash for both countries.
Spain faces England in Berlin on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET in the UEFA Euro Cup finals in a legacy-defining clash for both countries.
A victory for Spain would make La Furia Roja the most successful nation in the competition’s history, as it aims to surpass Germany with a record four European titles. The Spanish are the only team to have won every game in the tournament thus far, playing convincing and entertaining soccer that has seen teenager Lamine Yamal burst onto the international scene.
England’s journey to the final stands in stark contrast. The Three Lions drew two of their three group-stage matches. They squeaked by the Slovakians and the Swiss thanks to a last-minute bicycle kick from star player Jude Bellingham and penalty shootout heroics, and only seemed to find their mojo in the semifinals against the Dutch. A triumphant final would bring England its first major honor for the men's team since taking home the World Cup in 1966.
For Spain, Yamal has been the standout story of the tournament. The youngster, who turned 17 years old Saturday, became the youngest player ever to score at a Euros with his screamer against the French in the semifinals. The Barcelona academy product also notched three assists during the tournament, a tantalizing tally for a teenager still too young to legally drive a car in Spain.
In a press conference after scoring against France in the semifinals, Yamal was asked how he manages the pressure of being the tournament’s protagonist and Spain’s icon at such a young age.
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