Euro Final Preview

              History has a sting. It has stung the Lions for years. Now the Lions of England search to be Kings of European Football in the ninety minutes of football they will play. It has glorified the Spaniards for years, as they won the last European trophy. Spain is led by their wonder kid, Lamine Yamal who has put amazing performance repeatedly. England has seen miracle after miracle in these Euros. The paths here are completely different yet nobody would be surprised to see those two meet in the final coming into the tournament, but it is shocking the way we got here.

              The path to Berlin:

              Spain has had two games where they beat a team by more than one goal. Spain has far and beyond been the best team in the tournament as they have dominated opponents off and on the ball. Nobody has more goals and assists then midfielder Dani Olmo who has been exceptional in every single game. Lamine Yamal who turns seventeen today, leveled the semi-final at one with an outrageous goal. Spain have won in ways that look quite good on the eyes, as the way they work through midfields and defenses is quite exciting. They have gotten here by making the field short and small and through that they suffocate teams in terms of space. Spain have trailed for just forty minutes in this tournament as pressure is something they have not faced. They will face it on Sunday.

              England. How this team found its way in the final is nothing short of a miracle. England looked poor in the group stage. What mattered though is in the media and on the field this team stayed together unlike England teams of past. Through their resilience. To say this team has been fun to watch would be a lie. They have looked beatable and in many instances inferior to their opponent in each game. In the first game of the knockout stage England trailed Slovakia with about ninety seconds to go and Jude Bellingham saved them with an incredible bicycle kick. Harry Kane then won the game in the opening minutes of extra time. In the quarterfinals against Switzerland, England’s Bukayo Saka who missed a penalty in the Euro Final in 2021, scored the equalizer in the eightieth minute and was one of the five England penalty takers who did not miss in the shootout. Against the Netherlands with less than a minute to go until what would be a truly short additional time, the late subs Gareth Southgate made, combined for a beautiful winner. Cole Palmer assisted Ollie Watkins to win the game, and nobody looked happier than the man who Watkins subbed on for, Harry Kane.

              Tale of the Tape:

              We touched earlier on how Spain tries to close space and suffocate your offense. The problem with Spain is that they foul a lot. They can be undisciplined at the back in times of distress which is why patience will be everything for England. It is easy to get frustrated against this Spain team as it happened to both Germany and France early in the matches. The problem with those teams was the finishing, chances were there but the finishing touch was not. The battle in the midfield is how this game will be won.

              The way Spain must win is by owning possession. The less possession they have against the England side, the more threatening they will be. England has not had too many shots on goal throughout this tournament, but when they need to score, they get goals. It is sensational how in each of the knockout games, they won it on late goals. This team has found success in patience and balancing when to take the pressure in games and when to dish it out. Spain must be threatening from the jump, because if they play the patience game with England, the more the pressure will be on them as the game gets later.

              B’s Prediction: I am predicting a game that sees Spain go up early in the second half, but England equalizes late. I think the score will be two goals aside and go to penalties. England have the more recent experience in a shootout where they went five for five, as Spain have been knocked out of the last three major tournaments on penalties. England win on Pens.