England is aiming to end their long wait for a men's major international tournament victory when they face an outstanding Spain team in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday. The match at Berlin's Olympiastadion, kicking off at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT), concludes a month of football where Spain, featuring teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, has been the standout team. Spain has won all six of their matches, eliminating several top teams and aiming for a record fourth European Championship title, following their victories in 1964, 2008, and 2012.

England, who struggled against lesser teams, delivered their best performance in the semi-finals, defeating the Netherlands 2-1 with Ollie Watkins scoring the decisive goal. Now, they are in their second consecutive European Championship final, seeking to overcome the disappointment of their penalty shoot-out loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final. A victory would secure England's first major title in 58 years since the 1966 World Cup.

Manager Gareth Southgate acknowledged the need for his team to win this final to gain the respect of the football world, reflecting on their recent near misses, including the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup and the quarter-finals at the 2022 World Cup. Led by Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, England was considered a strong contender but struggled in the group stage, securing only one win and two goals. Bellingham's crucial contributions helped them advance in the knockout stages, culminating in a narrow win over the Dutch.

Spain presents the toughest challenge yet for England, as the teams face each other in a major tournament for the first time since Euro 96. Spain's young and exciting squad, under coach Luis de la Fuente, has impressed throughout the tournament. With key players like Rodri Hernandez, Nico Williams, and Yamal, Spain has excelled, defeating teams like Croatia, Italy, and Germany, and overcoming France in the semi-finals with a stunning goal from Yamal.

De la Fuente emphasized the importance of enjoying the final and noted that the match would be decided by small details and minimizing mistakes. Spain welcomes back Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand after suspension, while England is likely to retain their lineup, with Kane leading the attack and Watkins on the bench despite his semi-final heroics. Reports suggest that England fans could make up a significant portion of the 71,000-capacity crowd at the Olympiastadion, which also hosted the 2006 World Cup final.