Three years on from losing the Euro 2020 final on home soil to Italy, Southgate’s men have another opportunity to become European champions for the first time in Berlin.

England have struggled on their road to the final, needing a series of late goals, fightbacks and a penalty shoot-out against Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

Southgate said that did not mean they were destined to beat a Spanish side who have been a class apart in the competition so far.

However, it would a reward for England’s consistency in never failing to reach at least the quarter-finals in the four tournaments Southgate has taken charge of.

“I’m not a believer in fairy tales but I am a believer in dreams,” Southgate said at his pre-match press conference on July 13.

“We’ve had big dreams, we’ve felt the need and the importance of that but then you have to make those things happen.

“Fate, the run that we’ve had, the late goals, the penalties, that doesn’t equate to it being our moment, we have to make it happen tomorrow and perform at the level that we need to perform.

“Of course it would be a lovely story but it’s in our hands and our performance is the most important thing.”

–AFP

The Spaniards have emerged as a team that can quickly adapt their strategy to their opponents without giving up their direct attacking game in favour of a results-based performance.

They outsmarted France in the semi-finals despite falling a goal behind and it took them just five minutes to score twice to take the lead with their relentless pressing game and vertical passing that forced the French to resort to long balls.

With Rodri as their midfield dynamo, a strategist matching Germany’s Toni Kroos in impressive passing efficiency but with a more attack-minded approach, the battle in the centre of the pitch is expected to play a key role in the outcome.

England will have to wrestle possession from Spain, who also have the outstanding Fabian Ruiz in midfield, a player who for many is already the player of the tournament.

With lightning wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal, who turns 17 on Saturday and is the youngest scorer at a Euros or World Cup, ripping up defences and able to score and provide assists, England’s fullbacks will have their hands full.

Spain are the first team to win six games at a single Euros following their victory over France, up to that stage the team with the tournament’s best defence.

A second successive Euro final for England and coach Gareth Southgate is no mean feat even though they had to endure weeks of criticism, especially in the group phase, for lacklustre performances and with little punching power up front.

England’s defence, however, has remained solid and with the pace of John Stones and Kyle Walker, when they do get exposed, they have proved adept at scrambling recoveries.

SPANISH POSSESSION

Spain’s ball possession and movement will likely give England their biggest test so far and key to Southgate’s side being able to stay in shape is the incredible work of defensive midfield screen Declan Rice.

His anticipation of danger areas plus his movement, strength and determination have made him arguably England’s best player in Germany as he patrols in front of the back four, firefighting wherever the danger pops up.

The rest of England’s midfield also stepped up against the Netherlands in the semi-finals in terms of regaining possession, with Kobbie Mainoo, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden all showing an appetite to spoil and stifle.

After their largely misfiring group stage, with two goals in three matches, Southgate will have been reassured by what he saw against the Dutch when his big names stepped up and started creating sustained danger from out wide and through the middle.

He will encourage Jude Bellingham to run hard at the same defenders the midfielder bullied en route to becoming LaLiga player of the year, while reminding Harry Kane how much more effective he was in the semi when he did his work in and around the box rather than going deep as he often did previously.

One area of concern is England’s failure to be dangerous at set piece situations. Defensively they looked vulnerable in the air against a very big Netherlands team but that is unlikely to be so much of a factor versus Spain.

-Reuters

Most titles: Spain (3), Germany/West Germany (3)

If Spain win the title on Sunday they will be the only team to have won the title four times.

Most finals: Germany/West Germany (6), Spain (5, including Euro 2024)

Titles won by the Euro 2024 finalists

Spain: 1964, 2008, 2012

England: –

Biggest win in final: Spain beat Italy 4-0 in 2012.

Finals decided in extra-time: 1960, 1996, 2000, 2016

Finals decided by penalties: 1976, 2020

Final played twice: 1968. The final won by Italy was played twice after the first match against Yugoslavia ended 1-1 after extra-time. Penalties had not yet been introduced as deciders.

Defending champions winning the title: Spain 2012

Teams that won the title after reaching the final in the previous edition:

1980 West Germany (finalists in 1976)

1996 Germany

England reached the 2020 final which they lost to Italy and are in the final once more.

Teams that won the title without requiring penalty shootouts during the tournament since their introduction:

France (2000), Greece (2004)

If England win they will be the seventh team in the last nine Euros to have triumphed after winning a shootout at some point in the tournament.

Third-placed team in group stage to win the title: Portugal (2016)

Red cards in final: 1984 Yvon Le Roux (France)

The Netherlands too have only one cup triumph to their glory – the 1988 Euro triumph. Both cup-underachievers are now trying to get to the title match of Euro 2024.

For England, it is an attempt to reach their second straight Euros final while the Dutch will rely on their attacking style to win the semifinal and get to the final for the first time since 1988.

England reached the semi-finals, but have not been too impressive.

They will require transformation in their attack if they are to get to the Euro final match again.

None of their victories has been impressive. Rather they are mere escape from defeat and had to depend on lottery of penalty shootout to overcome Switzerland in the quarter-finals. The men of Gareth Southgate  will have to do more if they are to meet Spain in the final.  

As for Netherlands, they have been the comeback masters, scrambling from behind in three of their four scoring matches. Their three victories so far have come within regulation time unlike England who won just a match in regulation time.

Their duel tonight in Dortmund will decide who will meet Spain in the final.

The 23-year old is one of the Nigerian-born players abroad to be in the radar of the Nigerian football federation.

Zirkzee’s introduction as a substitute for Xavi Simons, just three minutes to end the regulation time, has ended the hope of the Super Eagles get the player who also played an additional six minutes in the extra time.

He was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch father and a Nigerian mother and would have thus been eligible for either of the two countries.

He became a youth international for the Dutch in 2016. On the Nigerian Democracy Day,  June 12 this year, he was added to the Netherlands’ squad for Euro 2024 and had his debut last Saturday to close a possible international career for Nigeria.

“To come back from something like that was really difficult. I used that to make me stronger. Today I took the chance and I’m happy,” said England’s man-of-the-match.

Only 19 during that infamous shootout loss to Italy at Wembley, Saka’s confidence could have been shattered by the invective he and other Black players received online.

But he recovered quickly – helped by coach Gareth Southgate’s support, a massive groundswell of public affection, and a backlash against the abusers – and continued to show fine form for Arsenal in the Premier League and for England.

Now Saka is a popular figure and, at age 22, almost a veteran of the national team, with 38 appearances and 12 goals.

Saturday’s game may have been the most special of them all.

Saka first hit a glorious curling equaliser when England were 1-0 down in their quarter-final against the Swiss and on their way out of the tournament. Then, when the game finished at 1-1 after extra time, he was one of England’s five successful penalty-takers in the 5-3 shootout victory.

‘PROUD OF MYSELF’

The total focus on his face as he stepped up for England’s third penalty gave way to a massive smile as the ball nestled into the corner.

“Last time we took a penalty shootout at the Euros, you all know what happened. I’m so proud of everyone how we got over the line,” he said. “I felt that we dominated the whole game, that the chance (for a goal) will come. And it did come and I was the one that took it, so I’m proud of myself for that.”

Coach Southgate, whose consolation of Saka at the last Euros was one of the abiding images of the tournament and remains a painful sight for England fans, said he could not be prouder of his young charge.

“He is so brave. He’s one of our best. So we were never in any question that he was going to take one (a penalty). But we all know what he went through. And to deliver as he did.”

England’s footballing history is littered with painful shootout failures, but Saka said he felt calm in the moment.

“You fail once but I’m the sort of guy who wants to put myself in the position again. I know there’s a lot of nervous people watching, like my family, but I kept my cool and scored my penalty,” he said.

-Reuters

According to UK publication, Mirror, Pickford’s water bottle provided all the answers as his Manuel Akanji prediction helped England beat Switzerland on penalties.

The Everton goalkeeper saved the only spot kick of the shootout as the Three Lions were faultless from 12 yards. Trent Alexander-Arnold ultimately scored the winner but Switzerland missed their first penalty as the Manchester City centre-half saw his effort saved.

Akanji’s penalty was by no means near the corner or struck with much venom, but Pickford went the right way as was his plan. The Englishman did his research and had instructions on every possible penalty taker and said to “dive left” when he faced Akanji – which was the right call.

A photo of his water bottle had instructions on what to do for every Swiss penalty taker, even providing small details such as whether the player would stutter during his run up. It is the second major tournament shootout that England have won thanks to Pickford’s heroics.

The other came back in 2018 as England beat Colombia in the last 16 en route to the last four of the World Cup. England now find themselves in another semi-final as they await the winner of the Netherlands clash with Turkey.

The Three Lions needed a Bukayo Saka strike to equalise after Breel Embolo had put the Swiss ahead with 15 minutes remaining. Extra-time remained goalless leaving penalties to decide the last eight clash in Dusseldorf. Alexander-Arnold scored the decisive fifth penalty after Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Saka and Ivan Toney had all scored emphatically, putting to bed any fears that existed following England’s penalty heartache in the past.

The Liverpool right-back said: “It is what we have practiced. When the gaffer said I was taking one, I enjoy it and I practice it – I knew I had to just execute it. All five penalties from us were great.”

The usually prolific Mbappe has not been at his best during the Euros, scoring once from the penalty spot against Poland but otherwise failing to convert chances and looking uncomfortable in a mask after breaking his nose in the first game.

Against Portugal in the quarter-final on Friday night, he spent time on the ground and briefly removed his mask after a hard hit from the ball on the side of his face, before later asking to be taken off and missing the shootout.

“Yes, he’s always very honest with me and the team, when he feels he doesn’t have the capacity to accelerate… He’s not at his top form … he felt very tired indeed,” Deschamps said, referring to muscle fatigue and the nose issue.

“I saw him struggling during the first period of extra time. It was pointless (to leave him on). Kylian has always been honest with me and the group, so it was only natural to bring in some new blood.”

In his absence, Mbappe’s teammates did him proud, scoring a perfect five penalties to beat Portugal 5-3.

-Reuters

“Time beat him. Time takes everybody out. It’s undefeated,” said Rocky Balboa in the film “Creed” and those words could easily be applied to Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo who struggled to impose himself on their Euro 2024 last-16 game with Slovenia on Monday.

A tearful Ronaldo being embraced and comforted by team mates after missing a penalty in extra time that could have helped Portugal secure a spot in the quarter-finals before a shootout win is a cathartic image that stunned fans around the world.

Portugal won 3-0 on penalties minutes later, with Ronaldo converting the first spot kick and apologising to fans in the stands immediately after scoring before breaking down in tears following the game and being unable to finish an interview.

His tears showed more than just the sorrow or guilt of a player feeling the weight of responsibility from almost letting his country down. They were the tears of a frustrated player who expects greatness but was not the difference maker he once was.

During the 2022 World Cup Ronaldo said: “The best timing is my timing” as he arrived in Qatar with his career in turmoil, about to leave Manchester United to play in Saudi Arabia.

Ronaldo, a five-times Ballon D’Or winner, had arrived with a mission to prove he could still make a difference on the world stage. But he ended the tournament on the bench and had no impact as a substitute in the 1-0 quarter-final loss to Morocco.

After that defeat, the shocking image of Ronaldo running to the tunnel in tears as desolate as the football world had ever seen him was something Portugal fans were not used to.

But with long-time Portugal manager Fernando Santos gone and newcomer Roberto Martinez trusting him with the captaincy and a leadership role in a young and talented squad, Ronaldo was given another shot at glory in Euro 2024.

Despite being a model of longevity for more than two decades in an outstanding career, breaking numerous records and playing for some of the biggest clubs in the world, Ronaldo has been a shadow of his old self over the last two weeks in Germany.

Lacking the speed, explosion and agility that were his trademarks while pouncing on balls like a tiger to plunder goals in various ways that only he was able to, the 2024 version of Ronaldo has yet to score at this Euros after four games.

Against Slovenia, just as in the previous three games, his shooting was off kilter and his headers failed to trouble keeper Jan Oblak while his team mates seemed to be forcing the ball to him, disrupting Portugal’s tempo and slowing them down.

At 39, Ronaldo would have become the oldest player to score in a European Championship if he had netted his extra-time penalty but he failed to beat the excellent Oblak and instead of relief came desperation.

Martinez still trusted him to take the first penalty in the shootout and Ronaldo duly delivered to help Portugal stay alive at the Euros, with several records that he is still seeking.

They will face France in the quarter-finals with the world questioning whether Ronaldo’s brilliant international career is nearing an end. There could still be a happy ending for one of the world’s greatest ever players – only time will tell.

-Reuters

Goals from midfielders Rodri and Fabián Ruiz brought Spain back into the game after Robin Le Normand’s own-goal in the 18th minute had given Georgia a shock lead. Nico Williams and Dani OImo took the game out of Georgia’s reach with two more goals late in the game as heavy rain fell.

Spain will play host nation Germany in the quarterfinals on Friday in Stuttgart.

The loss ends Georgia’s first ever major tournament campaign, which included a 2-0 upset win over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

Despite the lopsided score, Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili had another standout game with nine saves to prevent a rout.

Spain had beaten Georgia 7-1 in qualifying last year, but this game was a close contest until the last 20 minutes and testament to Georgia’s rapid improvement under coach Willy Sagnol.

Playing its fourth game of Euro 2024, Spain had yet to concede a goal all tournament.

That soon changed when Otar Kakabadze surged down the right flank for Georgia and crossed low. Le Normand chested the ball past his own goalkeeper, with the defender apparently distracted by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia arriving behind him to meet the cross.

Spain took its time to get back into the game, but Rodri — back from a one-game suspension — leveled the score in the 39th with a low shot from just outside the box.

Georgia remained a threat on the counter, including with an audacious shot from the halfway line by Kvaratskhelia, but Spain midfielder Ruiz made it 2-1 in the 51st when he rose unmarked to meet a cross from the 16-year-old Lamine Yamal.

Needing a goal, Georgia had to open up its compact defensive formation and conceded twice more as Williams scored in the 75th and substitute Olmo eight minutes later.

After the final whistle, Georgia’s players gathered in front of their fans for a slow-clap chant reminiscent of another European Championship underdog — Iceland — when it beat England in 2016.

-AP