Euro 2024 Final Preview: Football’s finally coming home?

After going 55 years without reaching a major final, England find themselves in Sunday’s decider just as they did at Euro 2020. This time, the Three Lions will take on arguably the best team at this year’s tournament in Spain, and Gareth Southgate will be hoping that his side can go one better second time around to break England’s 58-year drought for an international trophy.

Spain booked their place in the final with an impressive victory over France and have won their past three major tournament finals. Read on for my Euro 2024 final preview, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

And then there were two…

Berlin will oversee Sunday’s showpiece between England and Spain, with both nations vying for international glory.

For England fans, it’s been a strange tournament up until this point, full of criticism and challenges, yet they’re inches away from lifting their first international trophy since the famous 1966 World Cup triumph, hoping to go one better than Euro 2020.

The semi-final performance against the Netherlands, particularly in the first half, was a much-improved display with Kobbie Mainoo and Phil Foden in particular receiving the majority of the plaudits. It looked destined to be heading to extra time against the Oranje before Ollie Watkins’ late strike sent the nation into pandemonium.

The Three Lions will need to elevate their game further against Spain, who have reached the final without needing penalties – an unprecedented feat in the European Championships. La Roja were clinical against France, as the two goals they scored were their only two attempts on target.

Euro 2024 Odds

Team News

Spain will be handed a double defensive boost on Sunday, as Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand will both return from suspension, meaning that Nacho Fernandez and Jesus Navas could come out of the starting XI.

Alvaro Morata injured his knee in the post-match celebrations against France, although Luis de la Fuente has said he expects his captain to fit for Sunday.

As for England, Luke Shaw will be pushing for a start ahead of Kieran Trippier, after replacing the Newcastle full-back at half time against the Netherlands.

Ollie Watkins’ winning strike off the bench will also earn calls for him to start but Southgate may prefer keep the Aston Villa man as an impact substitute.

Spain vs England Odds

Spain are 6/4 to win in 90 minutes, giving them an implied probability of 40%, while England are 12/5 and the draw can be backed at 15/8.

La Roja are favourites to lift the trophy at 8/11, with England 11/10 to end their 58-year international trophy drought. It’s 9/1 for the Spanish to win in extra time, and 12/1 for England to do so, while it’s 8/1 for either side to prevail on penalties.

England to win in extra time @ 12/1

Is football finally coming home? Well, that’s the outcome I’m going for here as I’m picking the Three Lions to win in extra time.

Each of England’s knockout matches, apart from the semi-final against the Netherlands, has gone to extra time, and the clash against the Oranje was moments away from doing so, if not for Watkins’ winner.

Spain will be tough to break down, and England have shown that they’re more inclined to do things the hard way, which suggests to me that this match could potentially go the distance.

However, after the heartbreak of a penalty shootout loss against Italy at Euro 2020, I think England can emerge triumphant in 120 minutes.

Harry Kane to score anytime (in 90 minutes) @ 2/1

The England skipper has seen plenty of criticism come his way so far at Euro 2024, and there have even been calls for him to be dropped from the starting XI.

However, despite all the noise, the Bayern Munich striker has scored three goals, after his penalty against the Netherlands, which makes him the joint-top scorer for the tournament. If he scores again on Sunday, surely that’s another Golden Boot in the bag for the former Spurs marksman.

I agree with that Kane’s performances haven’t been what we’ve become accustomed to seeing over the years, but it’d be foolish not to play him on Sunday – and I fancy him to find the back of the net.

Correct Score – 1-1 Draw (in 90 minutes) @ 5/1

In terms of a score prediction, I’m going for a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes.

I also predicted a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands, which was moments away from landing, but I’ll happily be proven wrong once again on Sunday!

England are probably a better team than Spain when going player-for-player, but La Roja are a superior unit. England will need to be on their game to stop the likes of Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo, who were both excellent against France, but they certainly have the firepower to trouble De La Fuente’s backline.

I’m expecting a cagey encounter in 90 minutes, and England’s quality to bring football home in extra time.

Offers

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Betfred are running their famed Double Delight & Hat-trick Heaven Pre-Match offer on this match, meaning that if a player scores first and then nets again, you will be paid at double the odds. If he grabs a hat-trick, you will be paid at treble the odds!

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