Only one match is missing from the epilogue of Euro 2024, the most important one. The Olympiastadion in Berlin this evening (at 9pm) will be the arena for Spain-England , a new and uncertain challenge due to the absolute value of the teams on the pitch: on both fronts a mix of young talents (when not very young, see Lamine Yamal , 17 years old just today) and seasoned veterans.
Will the maturity of Rodri and Morata or the green talent of Yamal and 22-year-old Nico Williams have a greater impact on the performance of the Red Furies? And will the Three Lions national team have to rely once again on the goals of 30-year-old Harry Kane or will they be able to leverage 21-year-old Jude Bellingham to finally lift the trophy that Italy slipped under their noses three years ago at Wembley?
And the English coach, Gareth Southgate, is focusing precisely on the desire for redemption : «We have a fabulous opportunity to achieve the objective we set from the moment we left Qatar (the World Cup, ed.) a little earlier than we would have wanted,” he explains. Harry Kane echoes him: «Many of us after that final at Wembley lost to Italy were obviously heartbroken by the result. It's been a long journey back to where we are now."
The Spain coach, Luis De La Fuente, instead tries to take some pressure off his players : «We are in an exceptional moment for a final. I will tell the players that they play with concentration, that they have fun because they have worked a lot and that they collect the work they have done. They deserve it. Finals are meant to be played."
Certainly the 75,000 fans present (Prince William and King Philip are expected) and the tens of millions who will watch the match on TV expect a pyrotechnic finale.
The bookmakers are unanimous in giving Spain the favourites, seeking their fourth continental title after those of 1964, 2008 and 2012 .
(Unioneonline)