One year on from the women's teams clashing in the World Cup final, and the Under-21s scrapping for continental stardom, Spain and England fight for the ultimate Euro 2024 prize in the form of the Henri Delaunay Trophy on Sunday evening. A fervent Olympiastadion atmosphere awaits both sets of players in the German capital of Berlin, where Spain arguably arrive at the favourites as they bid to win an unprecedented fourth title at the men's European Championship. Luis de la Fuente 's men have won all of their games at the summer tournament - sinking Georgia, Germany and France in what was billed as the tougher side of the knockout draw - while England have only prevailed twice in normal time.
However, the Three Lions proved their mental grit in an extra-time success versus Slovakia, a penalty-shootout triumph against Switzerland and an unforgettable beating of the Netherlands, which saw Gareth Southgate take the Euro 2020 runners-up to consecutive continental finals. Wise old heads and vivacious young talents - some of whom have been labelled generational by keen onlookers - will be sharing the field on Sunday, and here, Sports Mole picks a combined XI for the Euro 2024 final, using only players expected to be available for the match. A goalkeeper who perhaps does not receive as many plaudits as he should, Unai Simon actually sits above Jordan Pickford when it comes to save percentage at Euro 2024, stopping 78.
6% of attempts compared to Pickford's 76.5%. However, the England nu.