Spain vs England EURO 2024 Final: Who Has Edge In Head-To-Head Battle Ahead Of Blockbuster Clash?

Spain and England meet in the final of the European Championship on Sunday. Spain is seeking a record fourth title at the Euros to break a tie with Germany/West Germany, while England is bidding for a first major trophy in men’s soccer since the 1966 World Cup. Kickoff is at 12:30 AM, IST. Here’s what to know about the match.

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Spain vs England Match Facts Ahead of EURO 2024

Spain will start as the favourite after winning all six of its matches at Euro 2024 and being widely regarded as the best team at the tournament. Winning the title would continue a strong period of success for Spanish national teams, with the men having captured the UEFA Nations League in June last year and the women following that up by winning the World Cup two months later.

Lamine Yamal is Spain’s new star having set up three goals before the semifinals, where he scored a spectacular long-range strike in the victory over France — all at the age of 16. He turned 17 on Saturday, the day before the final. It is a breakthrough major tournament for Yamal, much like for 19-year-old Kylian Mbappé at the 2018 World Cup and 17-year-old Pelé at the 1958 World Cup.

Spain last appeared in a final at a major tournament in 2012, when the team won the third of its European Championship titles by beating Italy 4-0. England played in the final of Euro 2020, which was played in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic, and lost in a penalty shootout to Italy.

England has shown resilience by coming from behind in all three of its knockout-stage matches at Euro 2024. Jude Bellingham scored an equalizer from an overhead kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time in the extra-time win over Slovakia in the last 16, Bukayo Saka equalized in the 80th minute against Switzerland in the quarterfinals before England won a penalty shootout, and substitute Ollie Watkins scored a winner almost exactly on 90 minutes against the Netherlands in the semifinals.

England coach Gareth Southgate is often criticized for his in-game management but he has changed the culture inside the squad and is regularly getting the team deep at major tournaments. In Southgate’s tenure that started in 2016, England has reached the World Cup semifinals in 2018 and now back-to-back European Championship finals.

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Spain vs England Head-to-Head Record Ahead Of Euro 2024 Final

England and Spain have locked horns 27 times ahead of the EURO 2024 Final. The Three Lions have a slight advantage in the head-to-head battle. England have won 13 times against Spain. La Roja on the other hand have prevailed 10 times against England. The remaining 4 matches have ended in a draw. Since, this time the meeting is in the final of an international tournament, therefore, a result is imperative, there will be no draw. So, will England take the lead to 14 or will Spain attain history by winning the EURO 2024 Final?

SPAIN VS ENGLAND HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

Played: 27

England: 13

Spain: 10

Draws: 4

(With inputs from AP)