- England has overturned a one-goal deficit in each of its three knockout matches.
- Spain scored at least two goals in four of six matches.
- Spain and England haven’t met in a major tournament since the Euro 1996 Round of 16, which England won in penalties.
England has made it to the European Championship final in successive tournaments for the first time. Sunday’s match against Spain at Berlin’s Olympiastadion also marks the first time England has made it to a final on foreign soil.
Spain is entering its first final since winning back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012. The three-time winners are the +145 soccer betting favourites, while England enters the match as the +240 underdogs.
Spain and England haven’t played each other in almost six years.
Spain vs. England Odds: Euro 2024
- Spain Moneyline: +145
- England Moneyline: +240
- Draw Moneyline: +285
- Total Goals: Over 2.5 goals (+137), Under 2.5 goals (-192)
Spain vs. England Prediction
I predict England will win its first European Championship, and the Euro 2024 final will need extra time and possibly penalties.
While England and Spain were the best two teams on paper entering Euro 2024, La Roja has risen to the top, playing the most enterprising and direct football.
Luis de la Fuente’s side has also been the most consistent team and has overcome a more demanding side of the bracket, beating Germany and France en route to the final. Spain has the most goals in the tournament (13), scoring at least two in four of six matches.
This angle of Lamine Yamal’s goal 🤯pic.twitter.com/nheIUKCCuH
— Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) July 10, 2024
For all of its formidable offensive weapons, including semifinal hero Lamine Yamal, who turns 17 on Saturday, Spain has shown vulnerabilities defensively. France had several Grade A scoring chances in the semifinal but was unable to make any count.
La Roja has allowed a goal in all three knockout matches after starting the tournament with three clean sheets during the group stage.
Spain deserves to win Euro 2024 based on pure quality. However, England has shown the resilience and resistance of a champion, prevailing despite conceding the opener in all three knockout matches.
“How many times have you watched the Ollie Watkins goal?”
“Yes”#Euro2024 #ItsComingHome pic.twitter.com/DyfyCSDa8y— 🚨The Celebration Police🚨 (@PLCPolice) July 11, 2024
Earlier in the tournament, England was scrutinized for negativity in possession and an inability to carve out chances against perceived lesser teams. However, England has proven countless naysayers wrong, going about their business in a similar fashion to France at previous tournaments.
England hasn’t been the best team at the tournament; far from it. But that won’t matter to anyone in the Three Lions’ camp.
Man to man, England is Spain’s equal across the pitch. Both teams have superstars who can win a match on a magical swing of the boot, and both can defend.
Spain prevented the opposition from scoring in all three group games, while England has two clean sheets. Neither side has kept a clean sheet since the group stage.
Robin Le Normand and Dani Carvajal will almost certainly re-enter de la Fuente’s starting 11, as both were suspended for the 2-1 quarterfinal win over France. Álvaro Morata should be fine to play after sustaining a freak injury after a security guard slid into him after the quarterfinal.
Everybody is wondering whether Southgate will prefer Luke Shaw to Kieran Trippier to mitigate Yamal’s threat more effectively. After recovering from a hamstring injury, Shaw hasn’t started yet but is England’s only left-footed left back.
The togetherness they showed in staving off elimination against Slovakia and Switzerland, along with the callouses it developed after losing the Euro 2020 final, should help England find a way to pull off a historic upset.
England to lift the trophy is my best online sportsbook bet for the Euro 2024 final.
Best bet: England to lift the trophy (+110)