Euro 2024 final: Preview, schedule, and how to watch Spain v England action live
Football
From 24 teams, just two remain in the hunt for the most prestigious trophy in European international football.
Spain and England will lock horns on Sunday (14 July) in the final of the men's 2024 European Championships, with the former aiming to win their fourth Euros title, while the latter looks to engrave their name on the trophy for the very first time.
Gareth Southgate’s England were in this exact position three years ago but were beaten narrowly on penalties by Italy.
Ahead of the showpiece conclusion of this year’s Euro 2024 tournament, we’re looking at their head-to-head records, roads to the final, and the key players to watch. Read on for the full details.
Spain vs England: Head-to-head record
Sunday will mark the first meeting between these two national teams since 2018, and the 27th time they have gone head-to-head since 1929.
Given recent history, you could be forgiven for thinking it is Spain who holds the upper hand in terms of games won, but it is actually the Three Lions who have registered the most victories of those 27 clashes, with 14.
Spain, the winner of the first recorded meeting between the two, has been on the right side of the result 10 times, with three draws contested.
Since the turn of the millennium, the Spaniards have boasted a better record than their English counterparts, winning five of nine meetings. There was, however, a period in which the English dominated, winning seven encounters back-to-back between 1960 and 1980, defeated by Spain for the first time in 20 years in 1981.
But Southgate’s side will no doubt be enthused by the fact that in four attempts, their Spanish opponents have never beaten them in the European Championships. Their 1996 effort ended 0-0, but the English were victorious on penalties.
Spain v England: H2H record ahead of the Euro 2024 final
- Spain wins: 10
- England wins: 14
- Draws: 3
Spain v England, UEFA Nations League in 2018.
Euro 2024: Spain’s road to the final
Spain have arguably been the most entertaining team in the competition, by far. From their possession-based approach to fluid attack in the opposition half, Luis de la Fuente has coached a side many will feel are worthy of being crowned champions.
Their campaign began with a 3-0 thumping over Croatia, which set the precedent going forward. But for all of their possession, the Spaniards followed their curtain-raiser with narrow 1-0 victories over Italy and then Albania. Three wins from three saw them top their group, landing on what was arguably the more difficult side of the bracket.
After seeing off Georgia in the Round of 16, winning 4-1, games against Germany and France stood between them and a place in the final. After Florian Wirtz cancelled out Dani Olmo’s opener in the quarter-final against the hosts, Mikel Merino came off the bench to score a dramatic winner moments before the end of extra-time. That 2-1 quarter-final victory was the only game so far in which Spain has needed more than the regulation 90 minutes. It was followed by the semi win over the French, thanks to first-half goals from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal and Olmo, scoring within minutes of each other to come from behind following Kolo Muani’s ninth-minute opener.
Next up: England – a team they have never beaten in four previous attempts at the Euros.
Dani Olmo's scores the winner v France in the semi-final at Euro 2024.
Euro 2024: England's road to the final
England’s route to the final has been less than straightforward. A 1-0 win over Serbia, 1-1 draw with Denmark and 0-0 draw with Slovenia being enough to top the table is fairly indicative of how the action unfolded in Group C.
But for the drama they lacked in the groups, the English team have more than made up for it in the knockout rounds of the competition. First up was a Round of 16 clash with Slovakia, where Ivan Schranz gave the underdogs the lead in the first half, leaving England facing feat. Coming into the encounter as favourites to progress, Southgate’s side was on the brink of a humiliating exit but for late, late heroics from Jude Bellingham, who pulled off an overhead kick for the equalising goal seconds from time. Harry Kane sealed the deal in extra time, sending his side through as 2-1 winners.
Switzerland would await them in the quarter-finals, and once again they were up against it when Breel Embolo scored the opening goal 15 minutes from time, putting the Swiss on the brink of the final four. Five minutes later, however, Bukayo Saka stepped up to curl a fine finish into the bottom corner and send this game to extra time, and eventually penalties. All five of England’s takers scored theirs, while Jordan Pickford saved Manual Akanji’s to provide the heroics for his nation once more.
The Netherlands stood in the way of England and a place in the final for the second successive tournament, and it would take the former just seven minutes to get on the scoreboard through Xavi Simons’s long-range effort. Ten minutes later, Kane equalised from the spot. But with mere seconds remaining, in what was yet more late drama for Southgate’s side, second-half substitute Ollie Watkins struck a winner from a near-impossible angle to make it 2-1, with almost no time for the Dutch to respond, sending the Three Lions through.
It's worth noting that England go into this final having played more football due to the additional period of extra-time, and with one day less to recover from their semi-final than Spain. Could that make a difference?
Jude Bellingham's acrobatic winner v Slovakia at Euro 2024.
Euro 2024 final: Players to watch – difference-making teenagers
Lamine Yamal (Spain)
Lamine Yamal is defying all expectations right now. On the biggest stage of all, the teenager has played an integral part in his homeland’s road to the final.
His sublime strike against France at the age of 16 years and 362 days saw him become the youngest player to ever score at a men’s Euros, but his game is about more than just the numbers. A creative cog in this Spanish side, he has proven to be a real game-changer on the right-hand side, one that almost every defence so far has struggled to handle.
Expectations were already high after his breakthrough season at FC Barcelona last term, but this is no doubt beyond the wildest dreams. In the same month that he completed his school exams, he is set to contest a major European final for his country, which will be the day after his 17th birthday.
There are a handful of Spanish players who have proved critical to their run to date, with the likes of Olmo and Rodri in particular important to their success, but there is no denying that Yamal is truly a sensation.
Should Spain go on to lift their fourth Euros title, there is little doubt this teenager will play a starring role.
16-year-old Lamine Yamal of Spain.
Kobbie Mainoo (England)
From one teenager to another, with England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo one to watch in the final. At 19, the Manchester United star has had a year like no other.
In a difficult season for the Red Devils, Mainoo was a true bright spark, with his fine form soon rewarded with a call-up to the senior England side. Weeks later, he was named in Southgate’s Euros squad. Initially, the Three Lions manager tried a few different options next to Declan Rice in the middle of the park, including Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher, before settling on the teenage Mainoo.
But it was the move to a back five that has really brought out the best in the youngster, specifically looking at his connection with Phil Foden. With the lights at their brightest, United’s Academy graduate scarcely set a foot wrong to spur his nation into a major final with not only a disciplined showing defensively, but a progressive one going forward, too.
Should he start the final against Spain, he will face off in midfield against Rodri. The Spanish midfielder is unbeaten in 470 days with his national side, which may bode well heading to Berlin. But the last time he had such a historic run on the line was for Manchester City, going into the FA Cup final unbeaten in 74 games. Mainoo scored, won Man of the Match, and lifted the trophy with United.
Could this be a sign of things to come?
19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo of England.
Euro 2024 final: Spain v England, schedule and how to watch
Spain and England will contest the final of Euro 2024 on Sunday (July 14), kicking off at 20:00 BST/21:00 CEST at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany.
In Spain, supporters can watch it live on RTVE, while both BBC and ITV will air it in the UK & Ireland. A full list of broadcasters in other regions can be found here.