ENGLAND’S kit will get a brand new addition should the Three Lions beat Spain in tomorrow’s Euro 2024 final.
Gareth Southgate’s men stand on the brink of history after overpowering the Netherlands in Wednesday’s semi-final.
England have never won a European Championship before.
And it has been 58 painful years since Sir Alf Ramsay delivered the World Cup on home soil.
Southgate will now be looking to make amends in Berlin tomorrow night after losing the Euro 2020 final on penalties to Italy at Wembley.
And should England emerge victorious against Spain, the only side to have won every single game in the tournament, their iconic white shirt will look completely different.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
That’s because the winner of the Euros gets to add a special badge to their jersey declaring their triumph.
Portugal proudly wore the white crest, which features a picture of the trophy as well as the words “Uefa European Champions”, after winning Euro 2016.
And Italy were allowed the same privilege after beating England in 2021.
Teams are allowed to wear the badge until the start of the next major tournament.
Most read in Football
EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERS
Italy displayed their emblem all the way until their 2-0 defeat to Austria in November 2022, totalling nearly 18 months.
The Italians did not qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, which started that same month.
And their shirts no longer bore the Euro winners’ crest in their next match, a 2-1 defeat to England in March 2023.
As for Portugal, they were able to wear the badge following their Euro 2016 victory until the start of the 2018 World Cup.
It means if England win tomorrow’s final, their shirts will boast the crest until the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off on June 11 and is hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
SunSport can exclusively reveal Southgate will stick with the same XI that started against the Netherlands, with Kieran Trippier keeping his place at left wing-back ahead of Luke Shaw.
It also means Harry Kane and Phil Foden will retain their spots, despite subs Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins linking up to deliver England’s fatal blow to the Dutch.
Reflecting on the massive game, Southgate said: “In the end, winning and what that means completely changes how you’re going to be viewed.
“I want to win so much on Sunday it hurts, don’t get me wrong. But I can handle whatever comes and I know it’s not going to change what the dog thinks when I walk back through the door.
“The margins are so fine and there are bits you can affect, others you are not going to affect.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“I would probably have felt differently about that three years ago, five years ago.
“But I’m in a different space now — and that’s a good thing because otherwise I’d have been in a mess these last five weeks.”
England vs Spain record
England have played Spain 27 times in total – here is a look at every result…
- May 1929, Spain 4-3 England – International Friendly (L)
- December 1931, England 7-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- July 1950, Spain 1-0 England – World Cup (L)
- May 1955, Spain 1-1 England – International Friendly (D)
- November 1955, England 4-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- May 1960, Spain 3-0 England – International Friendly (L)
- October 1960, England 4-2 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- December 1965, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)
- May 1967, England 2-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- April 1968, England 1-0 Spain – European Championship (W)
- May 1968, Spain 1-2 England – European Championship (W)
- March 1980, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)
- June 1980, England 2-1 Spain – European Championship (W)
- March 1981, England 1-2 Spain – International Friendly (L)
- July 1982, Spain 0-0 England – World Cup (D)
- February 1987, Spain 2-4 England – International Friendly (W)
- September 1992, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)
- June 1996, England 0(4)-(2)0 Spain – European Championship (W)
- February 2001, England 3-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- November 2004, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)
- February 2007, England 0-1 Spain – International Friendly (L)
- February 2009, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)
- November 2011, England 1-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- November 2015, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)
- November 2016, England 2-2 Spain – International Friendly (D)
- September 2018, England 1-2 Spain – Nations League (L)
- October 2018, Spain 2-3 England – Nations League (W)
Overall, England have won 14, drawn three and lost 10 matches against Spain.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk