England will face Spain in the final of Euro 2024 on Sunday.
England have the chance to make history when they face Spain in the final of Euro 2024 on Sunday evening.
The Three Lions booked their place in the showpiece event in Berlin after beating the Netherlands 2-1 in their semi-final on Wednesday night.
Xavi Simons fired the Dutch in front in Dortmund with a spectacular early goal before Harry Kane levelled for England with a controversial penalty shortly after.
Ollie Watkins then came off the bench to score a dramatic winner for England in the final minute of normal time to set up a clash with Spain, who beat France in their semi-final match on Tuesday night.
Luis de la Fuente’s side have been the most impressive team at the tournament and will head into the final as slight favourites to win.
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England will be desperate to upset the odds and win their first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup, having tasted defeat in the previous Euros final – losing to Italy on penalties at Wembley.
Should Gareth Southgate’s side win on Sunday, they would not only be crowned champions but would also qualify for another competition for the first time in their history.
They would be automatically entered into the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, formerly known as the European/South American Nations Cup, the Artemio Franchi Cup and in 2022, the Finalissima.
The match sees the champions of Europe take on the winners of South America’s Copa America.
That competition is also currently taking place, with Argentina facing Colombia in the final this weekend.
England beat Netherlands in their Euro 2024 semi-final (Image: Getty)
Colombia qualified for the final with a 1-0 win over Uruguay in a bad-tempered match on Thursday, which ended with Uruguayan players brawling with opposition fans in the stands.
The CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions has taken place sporadically over the last four decades, with the first edition of the competition taking place in 1985.
France beat Uruguay 2-0 that year, with the next edition of the competition taking place in 1993 – Argentina beating Denmark on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
The competition was revived in 2022 with Argentina beating Italy 3-0 at Wembley – Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria and Paulo Dybala scoring for the South American side.
The next edition of the competition is scheduled to take place in 2025, with the host nation and venue yet to be confirmed.
Paul Merson has bizarre theory on why Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon were picked over Jack Grealish (an)
Gareth Southgate’s squad selection has been called into question
Gareth Southgate’s decision to leave out Jack Grealish from England’s Euro 2024 squad has sparked debate after a lacklustre start to the tournament.
England currently sit top of Group C heading into their final group game against Slovenia on four points after beating Serbia but drawing with Denmark.
The 1-1 draw against Denmark in particular has brought into focus Southgate’s squad selection, with many ex-players suggesting the likes of Grealish and Marcus Rashford would have given England something they’re currently lacking.
Neither Cole Palmer or Anthony Gordon have played a single minute in the tournament so far after stellar club campaigns and Arsenal hero Paul Merson has an interesting theory as to why they were called up.
Questioned what the pair would be thinking on Jeff Stelling’s Football Greatest podcast, Merson suggested Southgate selected them both to avoid conflict over playing time.
“That’s why they’re there and Jack Grealish is not there,” Merson said. “I imagine Jack would be going mad now.
“I can’t imagine Gordon and Palmer saying anything, I just imagine them sitting there just saying to themselves ‘maybe I should be getting on’. I don’t see them saying anything to [Southgate].
“I can see a Jack Grealish going to Gareth ‘why am I not not playing?’
“He brings on Eze, who’s one of our most gifted players, to do a job. He’s running back.”
Merson also questioned Southgate’s substitutions and believes Palmer in particular should have been given the chance to impress.
Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon haven’t played a minute (Getty)
He added: “He puts Bowen on the other side. Bowen is alright if you want to keep a lead, if you’re winning like we were last week, we’re one-nil up, you put him out on the right, he’ll do what it says on the tin. He’ll get up and down. He’ll block crosses and get crosses in.
“But you don’t put him on to go and win a game in my opinion. There are horses for courses.
“You’ve got to put Palmer on, he’s scored 20 goals this season. He can play with that bit of flair. Eze gets on and doesn’t touch the ball. There’s no plan.
“I’d play Watkins but I’d have to keep Kane in the team. I’d have to find a way. You’ve got to keep world-class players on the football pitch.”
England face Slovenia at 8pm on June 25.
One England player ‘refused to celebrate’ penalty shootout win as telling reaction spotted (an)
An England player did not immediately celebrate the penalty shoot-out triumph against Switzerland.
One England player appeared to initially refuse to celebrate the penalty shoot-out win over Switzerland.
Following a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes of action, the Three Lions emerged victorious via spot-kicks in Dusseldorf.
Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold all kept their cool to convert past Yann Sommer.
Helped by a water bottle containing key information on takers, Jordan Pickford made a superb save to deny Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji and ultimately set up a semi final showdown with the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Alexander-Arnold scored the winning spot-kick and sparked incredible scenes behind the goal.
Players quickly rushed over to the Liverpool star but one player refrained from doing so.
Images shared online showed Luke Shaw showing his class after Alexander-Arnold made no mistake from the spot.
Image: Getty
Instead of sprinting over along with his teammates, the Manchester United defender’s first thought was to go over to the Swiss players and console the likes of Granit Xhaka and Akanji.
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According to the Daily Express, Shaw attempted to shake hands with as many opposition players as possible.
Image: X/@Jonny_Singer
He did then join the rest of the players and was seen embracing Pickford.
Having been out of action since February due to a hamstring injury, the Southampton youth product made his first appearance of Euro 2024 after entering the fray in the 78th minute.
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His selection for the tournament was seen as a major gamble by fans and many viewed it as a pointless call after he missed a number of training sessions and matches.
Image: Getty
But Shaw managed more than half an hour on Saturday and gave the team a new type of balance on the left side of the backline.
And Frank Lampard believes Shaw, scorer in the Euro 2020 final, will get the nod for the semi final.
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Speaking on BBC One, Lampard said: “If Luke Shaw is fit, he starts. He’s Gareth’s man. If he’s fit, I would play him for the balance of the team.”
