Key events
Bernard will be watching the final from Derry – if the internet is working! He says: “Planning on watching in peace and without interruptions at my daughter’s house in Derry and… just found out that engineers are working on internet supply in the area!
”Too late to catch a plane back to London. Plan B is to watch in a pub. I’m sure they’ll show it, but the atmosphere will be somewhat unsympathetic to England!”
Not many people were aware of Spain manager Luis de la Fuente before the tournament, but they certainly are now. Under his guidance, La Roja have played some of the best football at Euro 2024. You can read a bit more about the 63-year-old and his backstory here:
The stage is set. The Olympiastadion in Berlin will play host to the biggest match of the year in just over eight hours.
Hugh Jackman aka Wolverine aka the Greatest Showman has spoken – England will win 3-1 tonight. What do you think?
Alex Rawley will be watching all the way from Australia – at 5am! That’s dedication! He says: “Watching under bed covers at 5am here in Sydney so don’t wake wife.”
Fans are beginning to gather in Berlin ahead of tonight’s huge match. Some have travelled by plane, others have completed the long drive over from England. You can read Paul MacInnes’ account here:
Mike Collins has a great day planned in the US, starting with a round of golf before the big match. He says: “Playing golf this morning at the Green Mountain International in Killington Vermont. The round will finish at about 1pm eastern game starts at 3pm our time. Then driving back to Salem CT with my fellow England supporter Ian Lakeman listening to the first half on the radio. Mike.”
Talking about a countdown to kick-off, approximately eight hours and 50 minutes to go! If you were not already keeping track….
Thanks Xaymaca! Good morning, football fans! Today is the day, sun is shining (at least here in London) and we are just hours away from watching England walk out onto the Olympiastadion pitch in Berlin for the Euro 2024 final.
I’ll be with you for the next few hours and I want to hear all about your plans for the day. Going to the pub? Going to a screening? Hosting a party? Be sure to email me throughout the day as we count down to kick-off.
That’s all from me for now. I’m handing over to Emillia Hawkins who will provide you with updates for the next couple of hours.
Much has been made of Gareth Southgate and his tactical displays so far this tournament. Whether you think he’s been incredibly lucky or he’s a creative genius, you can’t deny he’s transformed the national setup from one dominated by club rivalries to a galvanised unit.
But what about Luis de la Fuente? Read more about his journey here:
So, Spain v England is essentially Spain v Spain. Football really will be the winner tonight. According to Barney Ronay: “It is basically coming home whatever happens on Sunday night. Because the home of elite football, right now, is Spain.”
Barney Ronay
What we have here are two teams hugely influenced by the success of the Spain-Barcelona-Dutch dynamic over the last quarter-century. How Spanish is this final? Twenty-three players across the two squads have a Spanish club coach, or 27 if we allow Xavi to remain in the count.
True, England will need more than a Jonathan Wilson article article to beat Spain. That’s why we have a whole host of articles from our writers. How about this one from Barney Ronay?
Message from Krishna:
“Good morning Xaymaca,
Planning to beat Spain by reading Jonathan Wilson (the brain in the jar) is akin to me hoping to top my mechanical metallurgy just paper by studying George Dieter
Spoiler Alert : I did not.”
What have you thought of the tournament so far? Have your say here:
Jonathan Wilson
The danger posed by Lamine Yamal means there is a good argument for retaining Kieran Trippier even if Luke Shaw is fully fit if only because when the winger cuts infield it will be against the defender’s stronger foot – an advantage of a wing-back playing inverted.
But, if like me, you want to know how England can beat Luis de la Fuente’s Spain team, read Jonathan Wilson’s tactical breakdown here:
Let’s be honest, Spain have played the best football at this year’s tournament but England have produced the biggest moments when it mattered most. To quote Jimmy Bullard, whatever happens tonight, “football is always the winner.”
Are you feeling it yet? Let’s push things forward.
Preamble
Today is the day when football (hopefully) comes home. I’m savouring every moment of build up to the game because I don’t know what I’ll do IF England win.
How do you plan to celebrate if England (or Spain) win today? Will you cry? Will you take the day off of work? Let me know by sending an email.
Meanwhile, I’ll provide you with updates from the England and Spain camps over the next couple of hours.
