‘We were enjoying every minute of Euro 2024 up until the final, we began to feel the pressure – it was do or die’ Mikel Merino opens up on Spain’s run to the European Championship

Spain players celebrate with the European Championship trophy after winning Euro 2024.

As Argentina proved in 2022, to win a major tournament you do not need to be at your best from minute one of the first game.

Momentum is often key, as belief and improving performances go hand-in-hand, just as they did for Spain at Euro 2024. That was a squad that grew in confidence as the tournament went on, leading them out of the group stage and into the final against England.