Chelsea star Cole Palmer broke two England records in last night’s Euros final defeat to Spain.
Palmer was a second-half substitute and scored the equaliser in the 2-1 defeat in Berlin on Sunday.
He needed only 142 seconds to score England’s goal, which according to OptaJoe is the fastest ever goal by an English substitute.
At the same time, he became the youngest substitute to score for England in a final.
Spain’s winnner came on 86 minutes through Mikel Oyarzabal.
Former Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has branded Declan Rice as “useless” after England’s defeat in the Euros final.
The Arsenal midfielder struggled to make an impact in the 2-1 defeat to Spain.
Van der Vaart told NOS afterwards: “100m for Declan Rice… what does he do?
“He comes to collect a ball only to pass it back to John Stones. He is useless.
“If you are truly worth 100m, then you should be able to play a ball forward.”
Sunday was Rice’s 58th appearance for England
Three Lions of England captain, Harry Kane has shared the Euro 2024 Golden Boot award with five other players after registering three goals to their names.
The other five players are Spain’s Dani Olmo, Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze, the Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo, Slovakia’s Ivan Schranz and Germany’s Jamal Musiala.
After netting three goals prior to the final neither Kane nor Olmo scored in the Euro 2024 final, which Spain won 2-1.
Although, previous Euros have seen assists used as a tie-break, which would have given Leipzig midfielder Olmo the award on his own, but Uefa announced this year’s would just be decided on goals.
Spain won the tournament after defeating England 2-1 in Berlin on Sunday night.
Spain emerged as the champions of Euro 2024 after defeating England 2-1 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Sunday night.
The first half ended goalless, but Nico Williams opened the scoring in the second half for Spain. Yamal provided a precise pass inside the box, allowing Williams to finish expertly and put Spain ahead.
England responded in the 73rd minute when substitute Cole Palmer latched onto a through pass from Jude Bellingham and slotted the ball past Unai Simon for the equalizer.
As the match seemed destined for extra time, Mikel Oyarzabal scored with less than five minutes remaining. Cucurella delivered the perfect pass, and Oyarzabal beat Pickford for the second time in the half.
Spain’s performance throughout the tournament was impressive, including a 2-1 victory over France in the semi-finals, where Lamine Yamal became the youngest scorer in Euros history. England, despite a tough journey, managed to defeat the Netherlands 2-1 in an inspired performance.
Spain won all seven of their matches in regulation time and became the only team to score in every game of Euro 2024.
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has named winger Bukayo Saka as England’s ‘player of the tournament’ at Euro 2024.
Shearer praised Saka’s exceptional performance, saying, “Saka has been fantastic, and Kobbie Mainoo as well. Everything about him, he has that aura, nothing seems to faze him.
“I have to say, though, Bukayo Saka is my player of the tournament. He’s had a wonderful tournament, he’s a breath of fresh air and everyone loves him. Let’s hope he has another magical moment on Sunday.”
England will trade tackle with the La Roja of Spain on Sunday in the final of the ongoing Euro 2024 hosted by Germany.
Portugal’s captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, has been included in Marca’s worst XI of Euro 2024. The 39-year-old striker did not score any goals during the tournament, and Portugal was eliminated early.
Ronaldo was the only Portuguese player to make Marca’s worst XI. Other notable inclusions are Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko and Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai.
The full worst XI lineup consists of: Livakovic (Croatia), Di Lorenzo (Italy), Mancini (Italy), Christensen (Denmark), Zinchenko (Ukraine), McGinn (Scotland), Milinkovic-Savic (Serbia), Szoboszlai (Hungary), Vlahovic (Serbia), Lukaku (Belgium), and Ronaldo (Portugal).
Spain and England will play in the final on Sunday in Munich, Germany.
England will have the luxury of two key players Harry Kane and Kieran Trippier who were initially doubtful for the final clash with Spain.
Both players were part of the team’s final training session on Saturday, in what is a double fitness boost for Gareth Southgate.
It would be recalled that both players were taken off during the 2-1 semi-final victory over the Netherlands on Wednesday due to injuries.
Trippier was struggling with a groin problem, while Kane took a blow to his right foot.
However, all 26 players were present during the Three Lions’ last session before travelling to Berlin later in the day.
Southgate will likely have his entire squad available for the match, as they seek to win their first major men’s silverware in 58 years.
The England boss is however giving serious consideration to replacing Trippier with Luke Shaw, his only natural left-footed full-back in the squad, at left wing-back.
England striker Ollie Watkins has heaped praise on Spain winger Lamine Yamal, calling him an “unbelievable talent.” Watkins made these comments ahead of England’s Euro 2024 final clash with Spain on Sunday.
Yamal, who turns 17 on July 13, has been one of the breakout stars of Euro 2024. The Barcelona player became the youngest scorer in the tournament’s history during Spain’s 2-1 semi-final win over France.
Speaking about Yamal, Watkins, who currently plays for Aston Villa, said (as per Reshad Rahman):
“He’s an unbelievable talent; everyone has seen what he can do. A generational talent. It’s not often you are scoring against France in the semi-final of the Euros when you are 16. He’s got the world at his feet. He’s miles ahead of me when I was 16 or 17.”
There has been anticipation in the air as the La Roja of Spain and the Three Lions of England gear up for the Euro 2024 final on Sunday in Munich, thus showcasing their exceptional skills and determination throughout the tournament.
La Roja’s strengths and strategy
Spain has distinguished itself with a possession-oriented style marked by precise passing and strategic movement. Led by seasoned midfielders, Spain controls the game’s pace with key players like Pedri and Rodri orchestrating play. Alvaro Morata adds finishing prowess, while Aymeric Laporte anchors a solid defense, conceding few goals.
England’s formidable starting 11 and Bench
England boasts a well-rounded squad blending youth with experience. Harry Kane’s scoring ability, complemented by the creativity of Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka, makes England a potent attacking force. The midfield duo of Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham provides stability and forward thrust, supported by a resilient defense led by John Stones and Jordan Pickford.
Tactics from both sides
The final hinges on pivotal tactical matchups. Spain’s midfield dominance will clash with England’s dynamic, physical approach. England’s defense must thwart Spain’s intricate passing, while Spain counters England’s speed and directness.
Both teams vie for significant milestones: Spain seeks to reclaim the European title after a decade, while England aims for its first major international trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
The Spain vs. England Euro 2024 final promises a thrilling clash of styles and talents. With both sides in peak form, fans anticipate a match filled with drama, skill, and unforgettable moments. Whether Spain’s finesse or England’s vigor prevails, the final is poised to be a memorable culmination to a spectacular tournament.
Key Players to Watch out for on both sides
The players mentioned below have been strategic so far at the tournament, they can turn the game around on Sunday.
Spain
Pedri Essential for Spain’s control and vision in midfield.
Aymeric Laporte Crucial in Spain’s defensive solidity.
Yamal Lemine 16 year-old but very strong and reliable
England
Harry Kane (England) Captain and key scorer for England’s aspirations.
Jude Bellingham (England): Brings energy and creativity to England’s midfield.
Bukayo Saka Great left footer with and clinical goal scorer.
In the case where no single player stands out, UEFA have confirmed they will split the Euro 2024 Golden Boot between six players, after Sunday’s final between England and Spain.
It would be recalled that Cristiano Ronaldo won the prize at Euro 2020, despite being level on five goals with Czech Republic’s Patrik Schick.
England captain Harry Kane and Spain midfielder, Dani Olmo, are two of six players tied on three goals so far.
The others are Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), Georges Mikautadze (Georgia), Jamal Musiala (Germany) and Ivan Schranz (Slovakia).
Jude Bellingham and Fabián Ruiz, who will both play in the final, also have two goals apiece.
With nothing separating the six players on three goals, UEFA have now stated that the top scorer prize will be shared unless a player can hit the four-goal mark.