All the latest updates as we count down to Sunday’s European Championship final in Berlin
That’s all from me! I’ll guide you over to our Spain vs England minute-by-minute which will take you through all the action from the match as it happens.
Thanks for joining us today! We’ve loved reading your messages and learning about your plans for the big match!
Before I log off, I’ll leave you with a little quote from Gareth Southgate…
“I’m not a believer in fairytales, but I am a believer in dreams.”
Enjoy!
Anthony will be watching all the way from the Arctic Circle! He says: “I’m spending the summer with my Swedish wife and kids forty kilometres south of the Arctic circle with my football mad father and uncles in law.
“Usually I’d need a good reason to want to spend the sun lit evenings inside to avoid insanely aggressive mosquitoes and horseflies, but they are as excited about the game as I am so can forgive me for wanting to spend precious hours of Arctic summer sunlight indoors.
“We were prepared enough to stock the fridge with (German) lagers procured from the government monopoly yesterday, and have wired up a surveillance system to look after the kids who hopefully will be asleep before kick off.
“They think it will be coming home, but I’m trying to put the thoughts away. As a die hard Arsenal fan who survived the Wenger years, I know it’s the hope that kills you!”
Several reports are suggesting that Luke Shaw will start for England tonight. He is set to replace Kieran Trippier on the left. The Manchester United defender has not started a match in 148 days.
Elsewhere, Carlos Alcaraz stormed to victory against Novak Djokovic to claim his second successive Wimbledon title!
Hundreds of England fans have gathered at Leicester Square in London hours before kick-off. There is a large police presence in the area. Some of the fans have been moved on following a small fire.
Jon had a bit of a nightmare while in Lourdes yesterday… He says: “We drove South yesterday to a Google-certified footy bar in Lourdes. Disaster. The bar ran out of beer as Le Tour passed thru yesterday. Now in Pau. Seat for final secured amongst slightly nonchalant French.”
Emma Sheppard, watching from Berlin, is convinced it’s coming home tonight. She says: “I’m watching the game from my local beer garden here in Bergmannkiez, a beautiful and tranquil corner of Berlin, which will no doubt erupt in a few hours time! I spent yesterday greeting English friends who have travelled over for this fabulous fixture! It would be so beautiful to win tonight, let’s hope Spain win Wimbledon so we can have take the Euro’s. IT’S COMING HOME!”
In other football news, Manchester United have officially confirmed the signing of Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna.
Matthew has quite the view ahead of today’s match. He says: “I will be sat on my sofa, deep in the Ligurian hills, possibly playing slightly reluctant host to two other English (although I’m part Scottish, make of that what you will...) and a German - two of whom aren’t in the slightest bit interested in football.
“Today is also the day that the holiday let next door changes occupancy, so the new arrivals may begin to question their life choices should England actually pull it off...”
England fans have been in great spirits this weekend, and understandably so. Here is what some of them had to say ahead of the big match.
Rakesh is sacrificing sleep today to watch Wimbledon, the Euro 2024 final and the Copa America final before a day at the office on Monday. He says: “I am Rakesh from Bangladesh. The Euro final starts at 1am here and Copa America final will be at 6 am. As I have office at 9am, I have to say goodbye to sleep.
“In addition, I am following the Wimbledon final (‘Come on, Alcaraz’ from a Nadal fan). Spain is playing spectacularly, but I am hoping for football to come home because as a long-suffering Spurs fan, I want Harry Kane to have something other than a teacup. But for that to happen, England has to survive 120 minutes because otherwise Ivan Toney can’t score the winning shot in penalty shootout.”
Before we get carried away in thinking that ‘everyone’ will be watching the England v Spain final tonight, a bar in Islington, north London, appears to be advertising that it will be showing Love Island at 9pm, for fans of the popular British dating game show.
What will you be watching?
Jim be watching today’s match from the US. He says: “I’ll be watching the final in Whitefish, Montana, where my wife has been nobly trying to see if there are any bars that will be showing the final.
"We’ve been on a long road trip this month, so I’ve watched England matches in Chicago (Serbia); Avoca, Iowa (Denmark); Santa Fe, New Mexico (Slovenia); Big Sky, Montana (Slovakia, Switzerland); and Condon, Montana (Netherlands). I haven’t noticed much interest in the Euros here in the Rockies, but I ran into a Spain fan on a hike outside of Moab, Utah, and complimented Spain’s performance up to that point. She politely refrained from commenting on England.”
Excited for the match? Of course you are, silly question. If you want something to listen to beforehand here’s the latest episode of The Guardian’s Football Daily, where Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning, Barney Ronay and Jonathan Wilson discuss all things Spain, England and Gareth Southgate:
A word on English smugness… Anthony insists it isn’t just England fans!
He says: “About English smugness, no nation can hide from this, it permeates certain people everywhere. Living in Spain in Denia, an hour south of Valencia, with a wonderful Spanish wife, from Madrid, & our three amazing boys. I’ve had to absorb/endure Real Madrid fans & their “it’s just Madrid” for years, it stinks to hear it & I’ve been told various times over the last few days, “England will lose”, with unnerving *confidence*. Any notion that smugness is an English thing is entirely false.
“It would be wonderful to silence this *confidence* tonight, I also promise, should an unlikely English victory happen, to behave graciously & rise above it.”
Sam Robinson will be watching all the way from Seoul! But he might have to sacrifice the football for Bluey should his three-year-old son wake up… He says: “Ready for a 4am kick off in a very sultry Seoul. Will be watching while trying not to wake my 3 year old son, who actually likes football, but is equally likely to request a switch to Bluey at any moment, however key.”
Jo Joseph has been keeping an eye out for all of the England fans heading to Berlin today:
“Saw many cars with English plates on the A2 Autobahn this afternoon on the way to Berlin. Weather is beautiful, 22 degs, with bright sunshine and a cool breeze. If England can find a way to win, it may well be ‘Sir Gareth’ in the near future!”
Mark will be watching today’s match from Munich. He says: “Here in München (Munich to you) we will be watching in our favourite bar just south of the centre – great Frankonian bier and plenty of great company. As my wife is German, and we have many Italian and Spanish friends, our response will be more community oriented than outright English. As I haven’t lived in the UK for over 15 years, I consider myself European and would be proud to see England win but also just proud to see them challenge. Even if it started a bit “sub-optimally”.
Countdown update: Four hours and 50 minutes to go until kick-off!
Thanks Xaymaca! I’ll be with you all for the remainder of the afternoon until our Euro 2024 minute-by-minute kicks off! Keep the messages coming, I want to know where you are, what you’re up to and what you think the score is going to be.
And on that pleasant note, I’ll leave you. I’m handing over to Emillia Hawkins who will update you on the final for the rest of the afternoon.
Justin Kavanagh’s experience tonight (British Summer Time) may be the most chilling. He says:
“I am watching the Euro Final at home here in Philadelphia, in fearful trepidation. Many years ago, I worked with a young Malaysian intern, who I discovered had been named Kenny by his dad, a huge Liverpool fan. His brother, you won’t be surprised to hear, is called Kevin! I was surprised to hear that Kenny was a huge England fan and felt it my duty (as an Irishman) to point out to the young man that England would never win a major tournament in our lifetime. His response was absolutely brilliant, and has haunted me to this day: “Maybe not in your lifetime, old man, but certainly in mine they will! And when they do, I will come to your grave and spread the English flag over it to remind you of this conversation!” I now live in fear of the desecration of my grave and am considering adding a clause to my will to deny any oversees enquiries as to the whereabouts of my old bones. Enjoy the game, Kenny, I know I probably won’t.”
Dan Wakefield has probably planned the coolest Euros celebration so far. He says:
“Tomorrow I begin a 3000km solo motorcycle trip around Thailand. I planned it some time ago keeping today free just in case England got to the final.
The ride will have a celebratory feel whatever the result.”
We’re getting a great deal of Euros love from Australia. Nick Jones says:
“I’m in Brisbane, Australia and I’m waking up at 3.30am to drive to the casino as it’s one of only 2 places that will screen it live! Love the live blogs and appreciate your work.
Oh and Orlando Bloom supports Man U. Because of course he does.”
Lenny Peters is on Jules’ side. He says:
“I do sympathies with Jules as I have two Spanish sons and will watching here in Valencia with them. But in regards to the comment that “I’ll be seriously pissed if England wins and I have to stand their smugness for weeks”
Someone should tell Jules it won’t be weeks, it will be decades!”
At least Fred Decker is enjoying the back and forth about open-top bus parades and England’s smugness. He says:
“The posts about Spain and England having already planned their parade routes and suchlike amused me. Here in Canada, during the Montreal Canadiens’ 1970s heyday, Montreal’s then-mayor Jean Drapeau famously issued a press release saying that this year’s Stanley Cup parade would “follow the usual route.”
Now *there* is some top-tier trolling...”
Spain and England have met twice before in major tournaments. Read more about the previous meetings here:
Little quiz for you, before the Euro 2024 final. Team A have completed the most passes of any side in the tournament, as well as the most short passes and the most touches in midfield, and can boast three of the four players with the most touches in total. Their tournament possession is 58%.
Team B, meanwhile, sit joint-top on the list for goals and shots created on the counterattack. They have won 57% of their aerial duels, completed the most crosses, and have the third-highest rate of cross completion in the tournament (a fraction below Euro 2024 cross completion rate champions Scotland, you’ll never sing that, etc). Now: which team are England and which team are Spain?
Earlier I referred to Barney Ronay’s article which explored the similarities between the England and Spain teams. Jonathan Liew also has an interesting take about how England and Spain have essentially switched roles since 2018. Check it out here:
Speaking of major tournaments, there’s another final getting underway now. Check out our minute-by-minute coverage of the Wimbledon men’s singles final between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz here:
In all fairness, England have also planned an open-top bus parade from Guildhall to Buckingham Palace. I believe it’s common practice for any team that reaches the final of a major tournament.
Nick Harland has this to say in response to Jules’ message:
“No, Spain haven’t announced a day off. But they have already announced the location and time of their victory parade on Monday. ‘That’s never happened in Spain’ indeed...”
Ben Roberts has a response to Jules’ previous message about how annoying an England victory would be:
“I am the only England supporter in a Spain supporting household near Madrid. I can guarantee that my 7-Yr-old will give me grief for months if Spain win, and I will enjoy the back and forth immensely! Good luck to both teams tonight - either would be deserved winners.”
Dennis Hamer offers a bit of explanation:
“Loving the build up - I’m English but was living in Madrid so converted to supporting Spain during the 2008 (we didn’t qualify) and 2010 (we were abysmal) tournaments. Tawdry behaviour really, but it was fantastic fun.
Katy Perry’s husband is Orlando Bloom, who’s English, so maybe that’s why she feels she’s got skin in the game? I assume he’s an Arsenal fan, got that vibe about him.”
The US appears to be taking great interest in the final. The golfer Brooks Koepka trolled his Spanish teammates Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia at LIV Golf Andalucia.
When you get paired with two Spaniards on the day of the @EURO2024 final 😅@BKoepka rocking the England jersey 👀🏴#LIVGolf @SmashGC pic.twitter.com/wC1UjNeins
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) July 14, 2024
Katy Perry has offered her own prediction (for some reason) on the final. It seems football will be returning to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland tonight.
FOOTBALL IS COMING HOME 🇬🇧
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) July 14, 2024
Jules says:
“Spain on the other hand has worked so hard and delivered amazing games. Every English [person] in my house sat to watch them too because while the England games literally put them to sleep, the Spanish ones were more interesting even to them. So they seem to be more keen to support Spain tonight as well.
Whatever happens we decided we’ll make good food and enjoy the food and the friendship - but I think I’ll be seriously pissed if England wins and I have to stand their smugness for weeks (not from my family but from England itself). Any other team? Fine. England? No way. They’re so cocky they even approved arriving late to school/work on Monday didn’t they? That’s never happened in Spain, even when we won the world cup in 2010!
Have a blast!”
This message from Jules made me chuckle:
“I’ll be the lone Spaniard in a British home. Normally we just want either to win. This time I really want Spain to win just because I really feel they’ve been the best team all tournament, unbeaten, while to me England hasn’t earned it. If Spain had to be beaten, I’d want it to be by a team that’s really played amazing football all Euros (whether they won every game or not wouldn’t matter if they played great) but very often watching the England games I felt they didn’t even care. The only time I’ve seen them show some good football was in the semis and I don’t think it’s good enough to slack all Euros, win in the end and proclaim you’re the best. You’re not. You just got lucky the others were worse or that better teams had a bad day”…
Thank you, Emillia. There’s only a few more hours to go now. What will you do if England win tonight? Send me an email with your thoughts.
That’s all from me for now, I’ll hand back over to Xaymaca for the next few hours. Keep the messages coming though!
Matt Carroll will be watching all the way from Japan at 4am! He says: “Will be watching on an iPad at 4AM from a traditional inn in Takayama Japan - in near silence as the walls are literally paper thin…”
Simone Palmieri will be supporting Spain today from Italy, but has wished England luck for the big match. He says: “Here in Italy the atmosphere is quiet after our terrible exit, for sure we’re going to support our Spanish brothers to lift their 4th Euros. It’s a friendship that comes from our souls.
“Btw an Italian newspaper set a survey in 20 European countries, and in all of 20 at least 70% of respondents want Spain to win. I guess you have to prove all of us wrong. Good luck…you’re in the final all of these 20 countries aren’t. Enjoy the final and the better team may win.”
Rory Hill will be watching from the US with family. He says: “Pleaded for no extra time on Wednesday as we were up at 3am on Thursday morning for a flight to New Jersey. Now I’m trying to explain to my American in-laws why I might rip my shirt off this afternoon and run down the ‘boulevard’ to the nearest beach bar. I’m not sure anyone here really cares. My 4 year old daughter does!”