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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Rob Smyth (earlier) and Will Unwin (now)

Spain 2-1 England: Euro 2024 final – as it happened

England Spain Euro Euro 2024 Luke Shaw Dani Carvajal Gareth Southgate Berlin
Jude Bellingham of England looks dejected at the final whistle.
Jude Bellingham of England looks dejected at the final whistle. Photograph: Michael Regan/UEFA/Getty Images

Thank you very much for joining me (but mainly Rob).

Keep the party going by reading …

Jacob Steinberg’s report.

Nick Ames on Harry Kane.

Jonathan Liew on England shortfalls.

Player ratings.

Barney Ronay on regrets.

Rob Draper on England being denied.

Sid Lowe on Spain.

Football Association chief Mark Bullingham praised the “huge commitment” of Gareth Southgate and his England side after their Euro 2024 final defeat.

England lost 2-1 to Spain in Berlin on Sunday night, their second successive European Championships final defeat. Mikel Oyarzabal’s late winner was enough to see Spain over the line after substitute Cole Palmer cancelled out Nico Williams’ opener.

It remains to be seen if Southgate will stay at the helm moving forward with the 53-year-old refusing to be drawn on the subject in his post-match media duties.
Bullingham, who will be tasked with finding a successor should Southgate depart, admitted everyone at the FA was “hurting” as a result of the defeat at the Olympiastadion.

“We came to Germany to win the tournament, and we didn’t want it to end this way,” the FA chief executive said. “We are all hurting tonight, but we should be incredibly proud. I would like to thank Gareth, Steve (Holland, assistant manager), all of the players and the support team for their huge commitment and hard work to try to win the trophy for the country. They will be more disappointed than anyone to fall just short.”

Harry Kane reacts.

Jan knows.

Sid Lowe gets the comparisons out.

This will for ever be their competition; the future belongs to them too. It may belong to Spain too on this evidence. They had to suffer, sure, England finding hope from somewhere with Cole Palmer’s strike at a time when Rodri had gone, Morata had gone, Robin Le Normand had gone and Nacho was on, but Spain deserved it. This team is a cuadrilla the coach says – a Basque word for group of mates who stay together for life – and it was a Basque who won it for them, Oyarzabal, on as a sub and sliding the ball beyond Jordan Pickford, which felt fitting too.

Spain were the better team but still needed some last-ditch defending to see them through. Rob Draper looks at the chest thumping.

Jude Bellingham bemoans the “crazy schedule” saying the players were “exhausted” coming into the tournament.

And here’s what you could have won.

The trophy lift.

One big happy family.

One foot out the door?

England striker Ollie Watkins praised Southgate, telling BBC Radio 5 Live: “He brings a real togetherness. It is a tight-knit group, so close. Since he has come in, he has been the most successful England manager there is. I think he deserves a lot more praise than he gets. Back to back finals. He deserves a lot of credit - his record speaks for itself. I would have loved for us to win tonight because he deserves it more than anyone, him and Steve Holland. I am really gutted.”

Spain midfielder Rodri: “Surely the best day of my sporting career. We have built a family, we are European champions, as difficult as it is, and now we are the most successful team in the European Championship. We have beaten everyone.”

Alvaro Morata: “Positive messages lead to positive things, and we have seen how Spain believed in us and well, I hope they are proud of this team, of everything that is coming in the future, because you have seen it.”

More reaction from the Spanish camp.

Lamine Yamal: “Very happy and looking forward to coming back to Spain and celebrating with all the fans. It is really the best present there is. It’s a dream. When we were drawing it was difficult. They pushed us hard, but I don’t know what this team is made of, but we always come back, we always win.”

Marc Cucurella: “We deserved it from the start. Not many people backed us, but we kept quiet and did our job, which is to play football. We know how to suffer as a family.”

All that time, money and effort to get to Berlin for England fans. Was it worth it?

Barney Ronay on regrets and there are plenty.

This was at least an excellent final, a full-throated affair against the team of the tournament. Spain has been the dominant football culture of the last quarter century, a tactical atelier that has fed the universal global coaching style, not least the Premier League’s own age of Guardiola-imprint possession football.

Josh Halliday went to join fans at Manchester’s Nynex/MEN/AO Arena. Pints and sadness aplenty.

Get your player ratings.

England speak.

Cole Palmer didn’t look to eager to speak to Gabriel Clarke but he got some words out: “Spain have been brilliant all tournament, they are great team. Congratulations. “We hoped to get back into the game but we didn’t do that. Gutted.

“We got to another final, there are positives to take but everyone wanted to go one step further. Gareth has been amazing for the group, he’s got to back to back finals. The World Cup is in two years time, hopefully the players will remember this feeling.”

Rodri: “It is unbelievable, this is a dream. We are the best national team in Europe, it’s unbelievable.

“We made history but we cannot stop here. We have the talent to keep going. It is important to celebrate this moment.”

King Charles and Justin Welby have some words of wisdom for England.

Gareth Southgate refused to be drawn on his future as England manager.

He told ITV: “I don’t think now is a good time to make a decision like that. I’m going to talk to the right people and, yeah, it’s just not for now.

“I think England are in a really good position in terms of the experiences they’ve got now, the age of the squad. Most of this squad are going to be around not just for the World Cup but the next Euros as well. There’s a lot to look forward to but at this moment that’s not any consolation.”

Jonathan Liew on Southgate’s plan (or lack there of).

“Honestly, apart from it coming home, I think this might have been the second best outcome for the country of England tbh,” reckons Samuel Dodson. “It provides limitless despondent argument and debate and further nostalgic pining for the past, which is what we seem to crave deeply. Plus it gives so much weight to both sides of the Gareth Southgate debate that sprang up this year.

“On the one hand, we played terribly for most of the tournament, only actually playing really well for 60 minutes (25 against Serbia, 35 against the Netherlands). But the two claims against Southgate before this tournament were that he never reacted well to the flow of the game – and that we lost to the first good side we played against after receiving very lucky draws. Yet in this tournament, all our best moments came from Southgate decisions – to stick with Kane and Bellingham against Slovakia; to bring on Trent and Toney against Switzerland; to bring on Watkins against Holland; to bring Palmer on in the final. What’s more, in beating the Netherlands (deservedly), we actually beat a good side at a crucial moment.

“In short, nobody is totally vindicated. There are no clear answers. Everyone can claim they are right. Everyone can claim everybody else is wrong. The ideal thing for every person in England. And while football might not have come home; perhaps something more valuable and precious to us did: our ability to keep arguing, keep dreaming; and keep hoping.”

Updated

Jude Bellingham sat in the England dugout, away from his teammates, while Spain were on the stage collecting their medals and trophies.

Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente: “I couldn’t be happier. To see the fans, to see the players. A real team, European champions. I said I was proud and today I am even prouder. It confirms what we are. For me, they are the best in the world and today I confirm that definition.”

Nick Ames looks at what Harry Kane did (and did not) do in Germany this summer.

As Spain celebrated in the centre circle Kane stood impassively in the technical area, gathering his emotions before making his way around his stricken, desolate teammates. He had hoped to crown his life’s work here but instead all the goals and personal accolades that, the day before the final, he had offered to swap for collective success will have to stay put.

A big season for three Athletic Bilbao players. They won the Copa del Rey and now this.

Gareth Southgate: “We’ve competed until the very end of the final. Today we didn’t keep possession quite well enough, especially when we defended well, they pressed us well and we had to get out of it, which meant they had the best of the game. It is fine margins but Spain were the best team in the tournament and they deserve it.

“There is a disadvantage to having a day less to prepare but we were in game up to 80 minutes.

“Physically it’s been a tough period for Harry, he was short of games and didn’t get up to speed. Ollie’s freshness would allow us to pressure more and it did.”

Some joyous scenes in Madrid.

BBC were speaking to Southgate and then it cut away to Spanish TV …

Reaction from the Spanish camp:

Nico Williams: “Euphoric. All our people deserve it. We suffered a lot. They had a good team. They have players who can make the difference but we were able to counter their weapons and in the end we won the European Championship and we are very happy.”

Mikel Oyarzabal: “I have done my job. I did what I had to do at every moment to try to help. I was lucky enough to give the victory. Just the fact of being in the 26, you value it a lot here. To have the moment to help as it has happened to me is the best. It happened to me but could have happened to anyone.”

Updated

Lineker seems to think Southgate will depart now. That leads to the obvious question … who next?

Give it a year and then try for Guardiola? Whisper in Klopp’s ear? Lee Carsley?

Queen’s We Are The Champions blares out around the stadium. The England fans have made their exit.

“Hi MBM team.” Hi Amanda Nielsen. “Thanks so much for your killer insights and good humour throughout the tournament. As a Dane, I have been Anyone But England (I’m not yet over 2021, and probably never will be with 2024 to now add insult to injury), but regardless of what has happened on the field, the MBM team are the real MVPs of the Championships for me.” You’re too kind, Amanda.

Alvaro Morata is the last man up. He gets his golden medal around his neck before being handed the trophy by the king of Spain. The trophy is held aloft and there is confetti everyone, then comes a fireworks show.

Updated

A less sombre occasion as Spain get ready to celebrate on stage. The head coach is up first and stops for a chat with the king. The stadium has been turned red and yellow, which is a cracking shot.

Harry Kane leads England up to get hold of their silver medals. Will they use this as fuel for the next major tournament? No one wants to finish second.

Updated

Nico Williams is given man of the match. He will get a few days off now before a summer of rumour around his future at Athletic Bilbao. His release clause is around €53m, I think, which seems a bargain. I’d quite like him to stay for a season though, if you wouldn’t mind, mate.

Lamine Yamal and Rodri get a guard of honour from their teammates on their way to collect some individual trinkets.

Harry Kane: “Losing in a final is as tough as it gets. We did really well to get back in the game and to 1-1. We could have used that momentum to push on but we couldn’t keep the ball and we got punished.

“We didn’t keep the same intensity and pressure. It is the last game of the tournament, there are a lot of physically and mentally tired players out there.

“It’s been a tough tournament, we’ve had to show a lot of resilience. We wanted to do it so badly for ourselves but also our fans. For now it is a huge disappointment.

“We love the manager but that is his decision. This is not the time to talk about it. He will go away and think about it.”

Updated

Jacob Steinberg’s report has landed.

“Better players won,” says Gary Naylor. “Kane, Bellingham and Foden summed to about two players per game at most. Away from Pep’s instructions, Palmer is a much better player than Foden, a fit Watkins is better than an unfit Kane and Bellingham and Mainoo are too young to play seven matches in best form. We kept going one-down because the starting XI was weaker than the one that played the last 20 minutes.”

The post-mortem has begun on BBC who look at why England have come second once again. Basically, they have decided that England need to be less conservative which is what a lot of people said at the start. Being brave is a great quality in football.

What a night for the Basques with the goals coming from Williams and Oyarzabal. I am sure those in Euskadi will be ecstatic to know the rest of the country have them to thank for a European triumph.

The stat lives on

In time, I think England will regret the 2021 final more than tonight. There were times during the game I thought England weren’t imposing themselves enough in attack, but the more it marinates, the clearer it becomes that Spain were just too good. The best team won, the end.

I’m going to take a break, but Will Unwin is wiping away the tears, ready to bring you all the reaction. Thanks a lot for your company and emails.

Updated

Gareth Southgate has been so gracious, making a point of seeking out people like Rodri. He takes a few seconds alone, pressing his forehead, then beckons all the squad over to thank the England fans. His decency and dignity almost bring a lump to the throat.

Updated

BBC 1-2 ITV

Spain now sit alone with four European Championship wins. This might be the most impressive of the lot, which is saying something given how good they were in 2008 and 2012. They were much the better team tonight, even without the injured Rodri in their second half. Fabian Ruiz and Nico Williams in particular were brilliant, and we’ll be talking about Lamine Yamal’s tournament forever.

It’s a desperate night for England, who become the first side to lose successive men’s European Championship finals. Gareth Southgate and Kieran Trippier are going round consoling the England players; Southgate, dignified to the last, made a point of seeking out Luis de la Fuente in the celebratory Spain huddle.

Updated

Full time: Spain 2-1 England

Lock the door, close the curtains: football won’t be home for another couple of years at least. But Spain are European champions, and no team has ever deserved it more.

Updated

90+3 min Saka catches Cucurella, who goes down holding his face to waste a bit more time. The offside technology confirms that the knee of Guehi (I think) was playing Oyarzabal onside.

90+1 min Watkins is booked for a high tackle on Nacho, who takes the opportunity to get the physio on.

90+1 min Four minutes of added time.

Updated

90 min: Off the line by Olmo! Palmer’s outswinging corner is met by Rice, whose powerful header is pushed away by Unai Simon. Guehi’s follow up is headed off the line by Olmo and Rice’s second attempts goes just over.

Updated

89 min: Spain substitution Mikel Merino replaces Lamine Yamal.

88 min Bellingham’s through pass is miscontrolled by Watkins in the area. That was half a chance.

England substitution: Phil Foden off, Ivan Toney on.

Updated

Oyarzabal played a simple pass out to Cucurella and got on his bike. Cucurella guided an immaculate low cross back towards Oyarzabal, who got away from Guehi and slid the ball past Pickford from seven yards.

There’s a check for offside but I think he’s okay. Yep, the goal stands. And it was a terrific goal too.

Updated

GOAL! Spain 2-1 England (Oyarzabal 86)

It’s been coming, and it might not be coming home.

Updated

86 min “Since Watkins came on, his closing down of Simon and the center backs has unsettled the Spanish buildup play,” says Kári Tulinius. “If Rodri was still on the field, they could just pass it to him and he’d sort it out. It took a while, but Spain are really missing him now.”

85 min England have up to four more substitutions available, if it goes the distance, and they’ll need them because they look really tired. There’s every chance Spain will nick this in normal time.

Updated

84 min Spain are starting to pin England back again. They’ve been the better team, had the better chances, played the better football. I think we all know what that means.

83 min: Spain substitution Nacho for Robin Le Normand.

82 min: Good save by Pickford! Lamine Yamal has missed a terrific chance. Palmer lost the ball to Zubimendi on the halfway line and Spain went straight at England. Olmo played a slick one-two with Williams on the edge of the area, then dummied the ball to allow it to run across to Yamal. His first-time curler was too close to Pickford, who got down smartly to his right to make a crucial save.

81 min Nothing much is happening. Spain are passing the ball around in the middle third, both teams readjusting mentally to the state of the game.

79 min The corner is cleared, so there’ll be no controversy about the challenge on Stones.

78 min After two or three wobbly minutes, Spain are back in control of the ball. Carvajal’s cross is allowed to bounce by Walker but clears Williams’ head as well. Williams retrieves and crosses towards Oyarzabal, forcing Stones to head behind for a corner. I thought Stones was fouled but the referee didn’t, so that’s that.

77 min “Was penning an altogether breezier missive when the goal went in,” writes Russell Yong. “Still cautiously positive that England could salvage something here, though it does, kind of like with India in the last T20 WC, feel a bit like everyone else in the tournament was just lining up for the privilege of getting beaten by Spain. If, as is likely, England lose, the history of Euro 2024 will firmly read that no side in history has ever presented as a more obvious candidate to win from the start. Though I guess they said the same about India in last year’s World Cup...”

76 min England are the horror movie villain that keeps coming back to life. It will be absurd if England win all four knockout games after going behind. Before Slovakia they’d only done that three times in 94 years!

“I’m the only Englishman in a tent with 500 Spaniards,” reports Ben Roberts. “And I somehow managed to keep my gob shut for that goal.”

Updated

75 min Now England are rampant! Saka twists outside Cucurella are drives a low cross that is cleared by Laporte at the near post.

Saka and Bellingham played really important parts in that goal, with Bellingham’s lay-off perfectly weighted.

Cole Palmer has equalised with a fine goal! Saka broke away down the right and passed a low ball towards Bellingham near the penalty spot. He calmly laid it off first time to Palmer, who ran onto the ball, all in good time, and passed it nonchalantly into the far corner from 20 yards. It took a slight deflection, the hell Cole Palmer will care. He’s been on the field less than three minutes.

Updated

GOAL! Spain 1-1 England (Palmer 73)

The boy’s a superstar.

Updated

71 min These are the revised teams.

Spain (4-2-3-1) Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Oyarzabal.

England (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Shaw; Bellingham, Rice; Saka, Palmer, Foden; Watkins.

70 min: England substitution Cole Palmer for Kobbie Mainoo. That means Bellingham will drop slightly deeper.

Updated

70 min Fabian Ruiz rakes a half-volley over the bar from 25 yards. England are again struggling to get out. Spain were a bit guilty of sitting on their lead against Germany; tonight they’re going for the throat.

70 min Broadly, there are two ways of looking at England’s performance.

  1. They haven’t turned up.

  2. They’re being outplayed by the best team in the tournament, who could do this to anyone.

68 min: Spain substitution Mikel Oyarzabal replaces Alvaro Morata up front.

66 min: Fine save by Pickford! Spain cut England open on the break. Olmo plays in Lamine Yamal, who gets behind Shaw only to leaave the ball behind on the edge of the area. Lamine Yamal recovers and curls a low shot from the edge of the area that is pushed round by the diving Pickford. That’s a really good save.

64 min Bellingham turns Carvajal on the edge of the D and smashes a left-foot shot a few yards wide. England have been slightly better in the last five minutes.

Updated

63 min Saka is fouled on the right wing by Nico Williams, which allows England to send the big lads forward.

Foden’s free-kick is headed away at the near post.

Updated

62 min A doff of the cap to Christian B, who sent this at half-time.

As a United supporter, I’m really afraid Luke Shaw will lose concentration for a second, and will let Lamine Yamal in for a goal (or big chance).

I’d like to see the goal again to see what Shaw could have done differently, but it’s certainly the first time Lamine Yamal got behind him.

Updated

61 min: England substitution: Ollie Watkins replaces Harry Kane

Kane didn’t look fit – tonight or throughout the tournament. You have to feel for him as he would have been desperate to make up for 2018 and 2021.

Updated

60 min No team, men’s or women’s, has ever come from behind to win four knockout games at a major tournament. If you’re going to make history, you might as well do it in style.

59 min England have been battered since Rodri went off, so I’m confused.

58 min “Disappointed to see Rodri going off,” says Matt Dony. “Between him and Nico Williams, Spain at least sound a bit Welsh. And that’s good enough for me. Great to see Nico Williams living up to his namesake.”

57 min Ollie Watkins is about to come on. England look a beaten team right now, though we’ve said that before in this tournament.

55 min: Very good chance for Morata! Lamine Yamal slides a gorgeous pass down the inside-right channel. Morata gets behind Guehi, through on Pickford, but screws his shot off target. Stones clears it, just in case.

England can’t get out, and moments later Williams rifles just wide from the edge of the D. That was a thrilling effort.

54 min Morata has a shot from 20 yards blocked by Guehi. I think Williams was in a good position to his left.

England could be out of this in the next five minutes if they’re not careful.

Updated

54 min “Just in case you haven’t said it in your write-up already,” says Nick Parish, “that really was Carlos Alberto repackaged for the 21st century.”

That’s a great spot, with Lamine Yamal’s assist almost a mirror image of Pele’s loving, tender pass.

53 min Stones is booked for a tactical foul on Zubimendi, who was leading a dangerous break. Spain have gone up a level since half-time.

52 min At 0-0 the obvious substitution was Watkins for Kane, but now England will have to consider a lock-picker, Palmer or maybe Alexander-Arnold, and perhaps Toney as well.

Updated

50 min This is a test, boss.

Updated

49 min: Great chance for Olmo! England should be 2-0 down. Williams guided a short pass into Olmo, who took up an excellent position near the penalty spot. His first touch was marvellous, away from Rice, but then he dragged an impatient left-foot shot wide of the far post.

Updated

Lamine Yamal got behind Shaw for the first time and shuffled infield, hugging the ball on his left foot while he assessed the ever-changing picture. Eventually guided the ball across the area to the unmarked Williams, who calmly swept it past Pickford on the run. That’s a terrific finish. A word too for Dani Olmo, whose off-the-ball run distracted Walker and meant Williams had just enough space to score.

Updated

GOAL! Spain 1-0 England (Williams 47)

The flying wingers combine to give Spain the lead!

Updated

47 min “Hi Rob.” Hi David Johnston-Raw. “Greetings from Stockholm. Please let everyone know, it’s going to be OK. I’ve just taken off my unlucky England top that my daughter bought me for Euro 2000 (I think her mother helped). She’s now 25 and sitting beside me.”

46 min Peep peep! Spain begin the second half.

I think Rodri was injured when he blocked that Kane shot and slid into Aymeric Laporte. Anyway, these are the revised teams.

Spain (4-2-3-1) Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Morata.

England (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Shaw; Mainoo, Rice; Saka, Foden, Bellingham, Kane.

Half-time substitution

Spain are bringing on Martin Zubimendi for Rodri, who can only be injured. Crikey.

“The way England played the first half,” begins Krishnamoorthy V, “it looks like they are ready for a long night. Here in Southern Poland we have a nice crowd (more in red as you can see*) well fed and nursing their drinks waiting for the match to begin.”

* There was a picture attached but there’s no time to upload it.

Updated

I watched Hit Man last night. It’s a gem of a film, full of charm and fun. Near the end, one of the main characters tells his students to ‘Seize the identity you want for yourself’.

If England lose, their attacking players are going to really regret their inability to do so in the first half. Apart from one of two runs from Bellingham, they haven’t imposed themselves. It’s been another tough night for Harry Kane.

More half-time chit chat

“The last final I watched my heart was torn between Italy (native country) and England (adopted country) but, as a dual-national, ended up being happy and sad at the same time,” explains Giovanni Cafagna. “Very confusing moments, it took me a few single malts to make sense of it. Today, emotionally is far more simple, let’s hope is just joy. Plenty of single malts in the cabinet, just in case.”

“The lopsided nature of this game means the expressive hair of Nico Williams and Marc Cucurella is flowing into moves down the Spanish left with extra whip and bounce,” notes Jeremy Dresner. “But England on the left have Luke Shaw doing Luke Shaw things. Long may the lop-sides continue!”

Half-time reading

“I don’t know why everyone is so surprised at the way the game is going,” says Claire McConnell. “I’ve faithfully read almost all the articles by your esteemed colleagues and the consensus was that Spain would have the bulk of the possession and England would hold firm defensively and try and hit them on the counter.”

Although it was always likely Spain would dominate the ball, England don’t really have the pace to hit teams on the counter.

Half time: Spain 0-0 England

The Euro 2024 final will begin just after 9pm BST. Hopefully. The first half was a non-event. Spain were much better on the ball but didn’t really create anything, and Phil Foden’s snap-volley a moment ago was the only shot on target at either end.

Updated

45+1 min Walker is fouled 35 yards from goal by Williams. Rice’s cross brushes a Spanish head at the far post and reaches Foden, who reacts smartly to crack a volley towards goal. The angle is really tight and Unai Simon saves comfortably.

Updated

45 min Bellingham muscles the dithering Carvajal off the ball and crosses low towards Kane on the edge of the area. He takes a touch and thumps an early shot that is really well blocked by Rodri. He’s been absolutely brilliant.

Updated

44 min Nothing comes from the corner.

43 min Morata makes a good run into the area on the left and touches the ball inside Guehi, who does really well to get between Morata and the ball. Stones comes across to concede a corner.

41 min Kane drops deep and wafts a good pass out to Saka. Walker makes a fine underlapping him but Saka doesn’t use him and the move peters out after a loose pass from Mainoo.

By his standards, Mainoo hasn’t had a great half.

40 min Stones strolls imperiously through midfield, gets to within 25 yards of goal and tries a through ball to Kane that is cut out. That was a lovely, Beckenbauerian run.

Updated

38 min Bellingham nutmegs Rodri before Le Normand comes across to make a fine challenge. Bellingham is on his haunches and looks shattered.

37 min At times England look like they are waiting for the cattle prod of going behind. They had a decent five-minute spell but apart from that Spain have been dominant, albeit without creating any clear chances.

36 min If you’re into the whole data thing, the best players on the pitch so far have been Fabian Ruiz and Jude Bellingham.

35 min The corner hits the unsighted Guehi and goes behind for another. Laporte wants a penalty after being manhandled by Rice. Careful now. Had VAR got involved there, Rice could have few complaints.

34 min Lamine Yamal skips away from Shaw and into the area, but Shaw times his tackle perfectly to concede a corner. That was a brave tackle because, with apologies to Vanilla Ice, anything less than the best was a penalty.

34 min Rodri’s positioning has been terrific, and he’s already put out three or four fires in an around the Spain area.

33 min No shots on target yet and no big chances. Surely we won’t have to rewrite this.

32 min Pint of wine anyone?

Updated

31 min Dani Olmo is booked for a high challenge on Rice, studs into the breadbasket. He was going for the ball and he almost got two of them.

Updated

30 min Foden is getting swallowed up in that No10 position, with the masterful Rodri allowing him no space at all. I’d like to see Foden pull out to the right a bit more, as he did so effectively in the first half against the Netherlands.

29 min “Not sure that it’s just Lamine Yamal has been quiet,” says Richard Hirst. “Shaw has played him beautifully.”

28 min Fabian Ruiz’s shot from 20 yards has the sting taken out of it by Guehi, who has also started well, and bounces through to Pickford.

Fabian Ruiz and Rodri are dominating midfield.

27 min Possession percentage: Spain 70-30 England. Who did we think we were kidding.

Updated

26 min “Hey Rob,” writes Niall Mullen, “what time does the match start?”

Not great for the neutral is it.

25 min Shaw, who has started really well, dinks the ball neatly over the sliding Carvajal on the edge of the area. Rodri comes across and the move peters out.

Kane is then booked for a lunge at Fabian Ruiz. He got the ball but then followed through into his boot.

Updated

23 min Foden loses the ball in a dangerous area to Olmo, who plays in Lamine Yamal. He moves into the area and screws a shot from a tight angle that is deflected behind by Guehi. Good defening.

England break from the resulting corner and Carvajal is fortunate not to get booked for a cynical foul on Saka. Carvajal then makes a crying motion towards one of the England players, possibly Kane who was trying to get him booked.

20 min Lamine Yamal has been quiet until now, with more of Spain’s play going down the left through Nico Williams, Fabian Ruiz and Cucurella.

As I type, Cucurella is bundled over by Saka, which elicits the biggest cheer of the game.

Updated

18 min Fabian Ruiz is taken up some dangerous positions in the inside-left channel, between Mainoo and Saka. England need to watch that.

17 min Shaw springs a great pass out to Saka on the right. He runs Cucurella, then cuts back inside and lays the ball off towards the onrushing Rice. His first-time shot from 22 yards is well blocked by Rodri.

England have woken up.

Updated

16 min Foden’s corner is poor and doesn’t beat the first man.

“Spain’s probing passing,” begins Charles Antaki, “has the look of the white-coated medic palpating the patient to find exactly where it hurts.”

15 min England’s best attack to date. Saka plays in the overlapping Walker, who whacks a low cross that is blocked at the near post by Le Normand. Walker looked fine there.

15 min England are struggling here. They’re not being battered – Pickford hasn’t made a save – but they can’t keep the ball and it’ll be a long night if that’s the case.

14 min “This is a matchup between reason and unreason,” writes Kári Tulinius. “Spain are a side where everyone plays in their position, and has a settled, logical way of playing, that is also aesthetically pleasing and efficient. England are all vibes and whatever, last ditch everything and not a whit given to beauty or joy. By all rights Spain should win, but by all rights England should’ve gone out in the round of 16, and here they are.”

13 min The corner is lofted deep and headed back across goal towrds Le Normand. He hooks a volley over his shoulder and well wide.

12 min Fabian Ruiz plays a brilliant pass down the left to put Williams one v one with Stones. He vrooms into the area, does a few stepovers and is very well challenged by Stones. Another corner to Spain.

Walker hurt himself while trying to challenge Fabian Ruiz. He’s on his feet but he’s limping and Kieran Trippier is warming up.

Updated

11 min Bellingham is caught late by Rodri, which gives England a free-kick on the left wing near the halfway line. Shaw curls it deep, Guehi is penalised for fouling Laporte.

It’s been a scruffy start from England, certainly when they have the ball.

Updated

8 min Williams plays a neat one-two on the edge of the area and gets the wrong side of Walker, but Rice comes across to make a timely interception. Spain have started better; England aren’t haven’t enough of the ball.

7 min “Earlier today I watched the last five minutes of the much underrated Mike Bassett: England Manager, released the same year Bukayo Saka was born,” says Gary Naylor. “I hope it doesn’t end like that tonight, but I also kinda hope it does.”

You’re allowed a spoiler, Gary, especially as most of us haven’t seen it for 20-odd years and the ending wasn’t quite as memorable as The Sopranos’.

6 min Spain are settling into their passing rhythm. Cucurella is still being booed for his unpunished handball against Germany nine days ago.

Updated

5 min Nico Williams’ awkward cross is put behind for the first corner by John Stones. It’s headed away at the near post, I think by Bellingham.

4 min It looks like England have started in a 4-2-3-1 themselves, with Bellingham playing from the left and Foden behind Kane. Interesting, very interesting.

Updated

3 min We put Spain’s shape as 4-2-3-1 but when they have the ball it’s closer to 4-1-4-1, with Fabian Ruiz playing further forward.

2 min Shaw wins his first little duel with Yamal, who controlled a crossfield pass sweetly but then ran into Shaw.

2 min “Morning Rob (it’s ten till noon in Los Angeles)!” writes Michael S Weller. “I’ll be cheering for Spain today, but I’ll keep the immortal Eduardo Galeano’s (translated) words in mind: “I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead, ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’ And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle, and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”

“If England do win, I hope it’s Saka who scores the winner. Such an elegant player.”

And a sheer delightful human being.

1 min Kobbie Mainoo has the first kick of the Euro 2024 final. England are kicking from left to right as we watch.

Updated

Whose destiny is it anyway? We’re about to find out. Whoever you support, whether you’re English, Spanish or Simon McMahon, good luck.

“The Euros is such a great tournament,” begins Justin Kavanagh, “in that it gives the plucky little footballing underdogs like Denmark, Greece, and England a shot at a prize to take home with them.”

“Due to medical reasons too boring to describe, I’ve been unable to watch TV for the last three months,” says Martin O’Donovan-Wright. “I’ve waited a lifetime of 55 years to watch England win a trophy, and that’s how I know they’re going to win tonight, because they’ll finally get over the line when I can’t watch. Every cloud has a silver lining!”

So you were the curse? And to think we all blamed ITV.

A final wouldn’t be a final without a Mac Millings XI. It’s with the utmost sadness that I can confirm he’s sent one in.

“Since this may be Gareth’s Southgate’s last time leading England, perhaps you will allow me to present my all-time Goodbye Gareth XI,” says Mac. “All players appeared for the national team under Southgate except one. Can you spot the odd man out?

  1. It’s Joe Hart to say goodbye

  2. Ben Farewell

  3. UnPhil we meet again Jones

  4. Aaron Cressmell you later

  5. ‘Arry-vederci Maguire

  6. Cheerio Ferdinand

  7. Adieu-le Alli

  8. Jadon Sancho revoir

  9. Bye-bye-o Saka

  10. Tara-heem Sterling

  11. À bientôt-ny Gordon

A reminder of the teams

Spain (4-2-3-1) Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Morata.
Substitutes: Raya, Nacho, Vivian, Merino, Joselu, Torres, Grimaldo, Remiro, Baena, Zubimendi, Oyarzabal, Jesus Navas, Lopez.

England (3-4-2-1) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Foden, Bellingham, Kane.
Substitutes: Alexander-Arnold, Trippier, Ramsdale, Konsa, Dunk, Gallagher, Toney, Gordon, Watkins, Bowen, Eze, Gomez, Henderson, Palmer, Wharton.

Referee Francois Letexier (France)

The players are about to emerge from the tunnel. Both teams look pretty relaxed, surprisingly so. This is not just another game.

Giorgio Chiellini, winner with Italy in 2021, brings the trophy onto the field, then the players make their way onto the pitch.

“I’m writing now because I won’t be following your MBM,” cheers Jeremy Boyce. “ I live in France where they ARE actually showing the match. Apparently English smugness is a thing, I was smug the other evening predicting to my local barman then watching the outcome of the France semi-final. Smugger still next evening obviously. It’s been hard living as an ex-pat with all their nonchalant successes.

“Is it our turn? Will any of the commentators fall for the oldest trick in the book, criticising the Spanish for not singing the national anthem with GUSTO!? There are no words to the Spanish national music. Fittingly so, their footie is often beyond description. Thankfully I’m self-employed so I can phone myself for tomorrow’s sickie. My main bet is, they’re all knackered and fancy a couple of weeks off, all done and dusted in 90 mins, one way or t’other...”

“Here we are,” sighs Guy Hornsby. “This is hard to believe, that we’re back in a final again so soon. It’s a testament to this team and this manager and their ability to find a way to get through games when it feels like we have a mountain to climb. I hope Gareth Southgate gets the credit he deserves. Because for all the vitriol, no one else has done what he has, or likely will again in such a short period. My head says a Spain win, with all the talent they have, but we’ll love proving everyone wrong. So we can absolutely do it. And that’s why we watch this crazy game, eh?”

The song that’s sweeping the nation

“Friday 14 June seems like an awfully long time ago,” writes Simon McMahon. “Good luck Scotland England.”

Updated

At every major tournament the media talks about the uniquely stressful experience of watching England, as if supporters of all the other countries have a cigar and a resting heart rate. But there has been a unique, bizarrely recurring theme to England’s departures from major tournaments have often been carbon copies in the last 30-odd years.

  1. Score early, usually in the first five minutes

  2. Beat our chests for the next 10 minutes

  3. Slowly retreat.

  4. Concede an equaliser

  5. Concede another or lose on penalties

It happened in 1992, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2016, 2018 and 2021. They also lost leads against Argentina in 1998 and Portugal and Romania (the latter effectively a knockout game) in 2000.

This year, England have put their fans through a whole new wringer. They’ve come from behind to win all three knockout games, the first time that has happened in the European Championship. In fact I could only find two examples in men’s or women’s football of teams doing the same at a major tournament.

Appropriately enough for such acts of cockroachery, both begin with C: Croatia at the 2018 World Cup, when England were their third and final victims, and China at the AFC Women’s Asia Cup in 2022.

While I’m not suggesting England should throw one in straight from kick off, comebacks and late winners have a happy habit of perpetuating themselves. But this is a step up in class for England. Spain have been the stars of the tournament, a joyous team whose style has more in common the Ramba-Zamba Fußball of 1972 than the tiki-taka of the early 2010s.

If both teams play to their tournament level, Spain will win. Finals don’t really work like that though eh.

“I asked ChatGPT to tell me what would happen as a haiku,” writes Edan Tal, “and it said:

Kane’s dodgy penalty,

Wembley roars, Spain’s dream fades fast—

England lifts the prize.

“AI knows best.”

It’ll kill us all you know.

The Prince of Wales and the prime minster are among those who will be at tonight’s game. Here’s what they had to say.

This will come as a shock to some, but journalists are human beings too.

“Drinking?” thunders Joe Pearson. “Of course I am, and I live in Indiana, and it’s just past 2 PM. We just had a rollicking thunderstorm roll through, so I hope that’s an omen of a great rough and tumble football match. Oh, and tell me you think beets are disgusting. Will left before I could cajole him about that.”

Were it not for the astonishing Lamine Yamal, the greatest 16-year-old we’ve ever seen, there might be more fuss about Kobbie Mainoo’s eerie maturity. At the age of 19 years 86 days, he becomes the youngest England player to appear in a major final.

Here’s Jonathan Liew on what makes Mainoo so good.

And this, written by Tim de Lisle a year ago, wins the award for prescience.

“Ugh, it is now 2.30am and I am wilting in China,” mails Alexandra Fullerton. “Here with a mixed table of English and Chinese fans supporting England and Spain. Excellent. Thanks as always for the MBM. As a Costa Rican I will be supporting England for the first time ever!”

One really intriguing battle tonight is between the Real Madrid pair of Dani Carvajal and Jude Bellingham. Bellingham has been slightly wired throughout the tournament, and Carvajal has never been a poster boy for the Corinthian spirit.

Spain could make history tonight. They’ve won the European Championship three times, a record they share with Germany. Win tonight and they’ll be all alone. And Luis de la Fuente will join Jose Villalonga (1964), Luis Aragones (2008) and Vicente del Bosque (2012) in the pantheon.

“Sitting in Dublin airport flying to Milan with 31 Italian students,” laments Steven Wicks. “Not only am I missing the game , but being constantly reminded about our defeat three years ago. Just terrified to switch my phone back on when we land.”

“Two hours to go before the whistle blows and fickle fate unfurls,” writes Andy Gordon. “During the match, as the tension ratchets inevitably upwards on the screen, at what point is it acceptable to start using the Ivan Toney ‘no-look’ method, using just the commentary or MBM posts?”

I wondered why there was a row of seats behind the sofa.

“So go on, what’s your prediction?” says Max Williams. “I think (hope) we might get an early goal and then get the crucial second this time. Just feels like Spain might have peaked and England are getting better each match. Then again, ‘the opposition have played brilliantly’ isn’t the soundest logic but logic hasn’t troubled England this tournament.”

If I had to bet the farm it’d be on Spain, but I wouldn’t be particularly surprised by any outcome from 3-0 to 0-3.

Thanks Will, hello again. Have you been drinking? Ach what the hell, work will take care of itself tomorrow.

The big news is that Rob Smyth is back and fully primed for what is to come.

Enjoy!

England head out for the warm up, soundtracked by Robbie Williams’ ‘Angels’. Emotional.

Manager is not an A-list tactical genius, but he can adjust to circumstances – and that could prove crucial in the final. Barney Ronay on the England manager.

I have just been handed a goat’s cheese and beetroot salad. This is proper football scran!

Welcome to the party, Luke.

Gareth Southgate: “We realise this is a wonderful opportunity to make history, it is a privilege to being this position, we need to make it count.

“He’s [Shaw] been on the road to getting back and we think he is ready to start and gives us that balance on that side.

“We have to keep the ball well, we have goal threats, moving the ball quickly through their press is the key to the game.

“We have shown a huge amount of resilience and we have found ways to win. Any team that scores late goals is a good sign and it’s helped create belief.

“We are here to give them [the fans] the night of their lives. We know what it means to everyone.”

Updated

Sid Lowe talks to Aymeric Laporte, one of the quiet pillars of Spain’s success.

ITV News’ Daniel Hewitt speaks for many.

Luke Shaw is brought in for his first start since February for club or country. All he has to do now is keep Lamine Yamal quiet. Good luck, Luke.

Starting lineups

Spain (4-2-3-1): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Ruiz, Rodri; Lamine, Olmo, Williams; Morata

Subs: Raya, Remiro, Vivian, Navas, Nacho, Grimaldo, Merino, Baena, Zubimendi, Oyarzabal, Torres, Joselu, Lopez, Perez

England (3-4-2-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Rice, Mainoo, Shaw; Bellingham, Foden; Kane

Subs: Ramsdale, Henderson, Dunk, Konsa, Gomez, Gallagher, Alexander-Arnold, Wharton, Bowen, Eze, Palmer, Gordon, Toney, Watkins

Updated

Jordan Henderson has rented a van to take him to Berlin in a van. He could have been in the squad if he’d made different decisions.

I’ve really enjoyed our writers’ diaries from Germany. This week the man revealing all is Nick Ames.

Starmer: “It’s been an amazing 10 days, our Labour government has hit the ground running. We had to work for our electoral victory, it is the same for the England manager. I just hope they get the win tonight.

“We are all really proud of the team, the whole country is behind them. I think there is such optimism, I have just come from London, it is breathing optimism.

“I don’t know about that [having a bank holiday], let’s get through the next few hours and get out hands on the trophy but we would mark it in an appropriate way.”

Sir Keir Starmer has been for a pitchside chat with his best mate Gary Neville.

“From three championship points to losing the next 5 points and let the match slip (thankfully, only temporarily) reminded me that these are humans after all,” emails Krishna. “I instinctively recalled Baggio , Zico, GYAN, Socrates , Kane , Saka.....

“We sit in our comfort zones and pass a lot of criticism and comment forgetting elite sport is altogether at another level

“Will Spain win both that was on offer today?”

Updated

A lot of England fans have made their way to Berlin.

Updated

“I’ve overdosed already and we’re still a long way from kickoff,” says Charles Antaki. “Wing backs, midfield control, weakness down the left-hand side, national pride at stake… It’s all too much. Right now I think I’d happily settle for a straightforward 90 minutes between the Fox and Duck and El Bar de Juan-Miguel - no great worries about inverted wingbacks, tactics or indeed national destiny. Give them the ball and let the best drinking-hole representatives win.”

Should be a decent on BBC.

I’ve just had a quick scan of my Instagram stories, because I am cool and down with the kids. The general image I am seeing is of very busy pubs. I’m quite happy to be in the quiet but that’s just me.

Guardian’s brilliant Karen Carney on the equally brilliant Lamine Yamal.

“Hi guys and greetings from Vietnam,” writes Phil Keegan. “I remember watching that Spain 82 game on TV. I would have been 22, I guess. It wasn’t just my namesake Kevin who missed a sitter (and it was an absolute sitter) but the other sub, Trevor Brooking, also missed one when through on goal and only the keeper to beat. To be fair, I also remember a Spanish player, a full-back I think, also missing with only the goalie to beat. For the life of me I cannot believe my brain chooses to remember such utterly worthless information.”

ITV News is very keen to be at a Manchester fanzone. It looks, to say the least, lively.

“I’m watching with friends in Kutaisi and have communicated my passion for the dynamic passion of Georgian football and watched the video of Dinamo Tbilisi beating my beloved Liverpool 3-1,” mails Mikey Georgeson. “If Trent Alexander-Arnold comes on I will want us to bring football home, otherwise happy to enjoy the beautiful Georgian world I’m currently a temporary son of.”

Mary Nightingale has signed off at ITV News for the evening from outside the stadium in Berlin. We must be close to the punditry beginning in earnest.

The eternal question: BBC or ITV?

Updated

England are not known for their counter-attacking nowadays but it did once work against Spain …

I’m going to hand over to Will Unwin for the next hour or so, otherwise I’ll have hyperfocussed myself out of contention by kick-off. The team news should be confirmed at around 6.45pm BST; Luke Shaw for Kieran Trippier is reportedly the only England change.

In their last two wins over Spain, in 2011 and 2018, England had less than 30 per cent possession. It’ll be a surprise if that’s the case tonight, whatever the result.

“In an effort to calm my nerves I was thinking about England v Spain in 1982,” says Martin Widdicks. “It really is the forgotten England elimination story. We’re all too well aware of Bonetti in ‘70, Maradona in ‘86, Pearce in ‘90 etc but know next to nothing about the ‘82 Spain game. I shall happily watch some scratchy highlights shortly but anyone else have more insight about that game?”

It was before my time but I know the basic story – England’s two best players, Kevin Keegan and Trevor Brooking, had been out through injury all tournament and were only fit enough for the bench. I think they came on after about an hour, and poor Keegan – playing his only World Cup game – missed a terrific headed chance to get the first of the two goals they needed.

On 23 May 2001, Oliver Kahn saved a penalty from Valencia defender Mauricio Pellegrino to make Bayern Munich champions of Europe. Since then, Spanish men’s teams – club and country – have won all 26 finals against foreign opposition. I haven’t heard such an eye-widening stat since I realised Alec Stewart (born 8 April 1963) finished his Test career with 8463 runs.

“I’ll be watching from sunny Bolnuevo where I live on the Murcia coast in the local bar (I don’t actually live in the local bar),” writes Pat Manning. “Hopefully I won’t be listening to a cacophony of car horns and fireworks at the end of the game. All the best.”

Some places will be livelier than others.

‘There’s only one way to beat them/get overloads in midfield’

“Hi Rob,” writes Niall Mullen. “I wonder if you could help publicise my startup, Pyrotechnic Suppository Solutions. I thought it was a sure thing but sales have been really poor for some reason.”

Hahaha. I wonder what AFG is up to today. I know lightning doesn’t strike twice, but a lit flare might.

It’s three years and three days since England lost to the European Championship final to Italy, and all concerned are determined not to make the mistakes: no performative flares up the hole for purposes, no sitting on a lead, no 120th-minute substitutions.

It was fascinating to re-read Scott Murray’s majestic MBM of that game and be reminded of all the mood swings.

18 min: Italy are slowly gaining a foothold in the game. A few passes, a bit of probing down both flanks. Nothing too much for England to worry about yet, but there are signs that their opponents are stirring after their nightmare start.

Right, lots of preview pieces to get through. Let’s start with David Goldblatt’s piece on Gareth Southgate.

In the fact-free world of our public conversations, his coaching credentials have been dismissed, his huge success discounted. His loyalty, stability and caution – despite everything we have experienced in an era of political backstabbing, chaos and recklessness – have been derided. But perhaps we are at a turning point. England are in the final. Southgate’s detractors have been muted, and his defenders have become more vocal, yet it still feels a little like Labour’s “loveless landslide”.

Spain v England: a short history

Tonight is their fifth meeting at a major tournament – two in the World Cup, three in the Euros – although we should really count the Euro 68 quarter-final as well. (In those days it was technically a four-team tournament so the quarters were part of qualification.)

Louise Tayloir has been looking at the two previous meetings in the European Championship proper.

Shaw expected to start

The word on the street is that Luke Shaw will replace Kieran Trippier at left wing-back. That’ll be the only change from Wednesday’s semi-final win over the Netherlands.

Spain have Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand available again after suspension; they are likely to replace Jesus Navas and Nacho.

Spain (4-2-3-1) Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Morata.

England (3-4-2-1) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Foden, Bellingham, Kane.

The teams should be confirmed after 75 minutes before kick-off.

Preamble

You’d better believe it Brenda. For the fourth year in a row, England are in the final of a major football tournament and a nation is high on life, football and the harmonies of Neil Diamond.

The prodigal sport could finally return home tonight. After 58 years of hurt, and 28 years of talking about years of hurt, England’s players* have the chance to become immortal. There’s just one problem: Spain are really good.

It’s the irresistible force versus the indestructible object. From 1950 to 2023, England came from behind to win a knockout game just three times: West Germany 1966, Cameroon 1990 and Denmark 2021. They’ve doubled that in the past fortnight. If they win tonight, that will be their legacy.

Kick off 8pm.

* Unless otherwise stated, any reference to England in this blog refers solely to the men’s team, the country or Bethany. The first person to ignore this and engage in toxic liberalism will be tracked down and forced to watch England 0-0 Slovenia on a loop for the rest of their natural-born days.

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