Euro 2024

GARETH SOUTHGATE reckons his England team will have to deliver perfection to beat Spain and win Euro 2024.But the Three Lions boss believes his side’s rollercoaster journey to Sunday’s final in ­Berlin has been ideal preparation to win a first major tournament on foreign soil.Gareth Southgate has named two reasons Spain are the favourites for the Euro 2024 finalCredit: GettySpain have been the best team at the tournament according to the England managerCredit: GettySouthgate said: “We have got to be perfect to win this game and we will have to find everything that we have got from within us.“They are a bloody good side. They are rightly favourites, they have been the best team.“They have a day longer. In the last three finals it has been quite significant, so we have to get our recovery spot on.”Spain won their semi-final 24 hours before England beat Holland on Wednesday — and Italy, Portugal and Spain all won the last three  tournaments after playing the earlier semi-final.READ MORE ENGLAND NEWSSouthgate added:  “But we are in there and there is no question that this new group has formed so well and  learned so much from these six games.“We have got players who have played lots of big matches, so they will know what is required on the night.“But in the next couple of days we have got to get perfectly prepared as it is such a quick turnaround.”England’s squad all did an indoor recovery session yesterday after flying back to their Blankenhain base following the 2-1 semi-final win over Holland in Dortmund.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSYou can say it hasn’t been pretty, but England are in the final… and we’re peaking at just the right time, says Jack WilshereAFTER what has been a tough tournament of times, what an opportunity Gareth Southgate and his team will have to end in the best possible way, writes Jack Wilshere.We might like a team that played better football. But it’s a results business.Germany, Italy, France, Portugal and of course Holland would love to be where we are.People will say we’re lucky because we’re on this side of the draw.But we won the group. France didn’t and then ran into Spain.You can say it wasn’t that pretty, but we’re there.Gareth and his coaches won’t have been happy with some of the performances.But I did like the way Gareth and his team have dealt with it.There was no panic coming out of the camp.Everyone gave the same message: ‘We know we can better, but we’re here still.’And on Sunday they will be in Berlin to play Spain.They will probably have to produce two halves of football as good as the first against Holland to beat them.We have improved as the tournament has gone on and that is how you win things.You want to peak in the final.If Gareth can lead England to that major trophy we’ve all been waiting for, it will be the perfect answer to the critics and a brilliant day for us all.Read Jack Wilshere’s England vs Holland verdict in full.Or check out all of SunSport columnist Jack’s Euros 2024 opinions…Kieran Trippier hopes to be fit after suffering a groin injury on Wednesday but Luke Shaw could still start his first game of the tournament on the left.Harry Kane expects to get over the foot issue he suffered after being kicked by Denzel Dumfries.Inside the Spain camp as England face even tougher test than France didInside the baffling, brilliant story of Lamine Yamal – from being bathed by Messi to doing homework while taking Euros by stormLAMINE YAMAL has confirmed his status as football’s next superstar at Euro 2024 – but has only been playing 11-a-side games for four years, write Jack Rosser.Spain’s incredible 16-year-old bent home the goal of the tournament so far against France as La Roja sealed the spot in the final.But his first five years in Barcelona’s academy were spent playing seven-a-side football, up until the age of 12 in 2020 when he finally got a crack at 11-a-side games.Yamal’s story is baffling, brilliant and barely believable in equal measure.He is a boy born to a Moroccan father and a mother from Equatorial Guinea, who turns 17 tomorrow and was cradled by footballing royalty at just six months old.Staggering pictures of Yamal as a baby being held and bathed by Messi, taken for a Barcelona charity calendar 16 years ago, resurfaced this week.He did not restrict his brushes with greatness to Barcelona either, with footage of Yamal as an academy player walking as a mascot with Spain and Real Madrid icon Sergio Ramos at an El Clasico in 2016.There is a touch of fate about this gem, Spain’s “little MVP”, as team-mate Nico Williams has dubbed him.Yamal has been doing homework in his spare time and received exam results during the tournament. He passed, obviously.Now he’s the youngest ever goalscorer at the Euros, also becoming the youngest player to ever start a major semi-final – claiming that title from Pele.But it’s Yamal’s humble approach on and off the pitch that most impresses everyone he meets.And France star Adrien Rabiot probably felt quite embarrassed as he boarded his plane back home from Germany.He had tried to intimidate Yamal ahead of their semi-final clash – telling Yamal he “needs to do more.”Was this good enough, then? Yamal responded with a goal for the ages and a man of the match performance.A season which started with a pre-season game against Tottenham where Yamal excelled but was overshadowed by Oliver Skipp scoring a brace will end on the biggest stage European football has to offer on Sunday.From being outshone by Skipp to eclipsing Pele’s records is not a bad year’s work – just imagine what he will do when he grows up.Read all about the incredible rise of Lamine Yamal in full… More

DECLAN RICE has vowed to sink his first proper beer if England win the Euros.The Arsenal midfielder made the same pledge three years ago but kept his powder dry after the Three Lions suffered an agonising defeat by Italy on penalties in the Wembley final.Declan Rice will have his first-ever beer if England win the EurosCredit: RexAs Gareth Southgate’s side prepare for a Sunday showdown with Spain, Rice said: “I remember that.“Since that time I’ve had a beer but I had it with a bit of lemonade.“If we win I’ll have a proper beer. I’ll probably have to hold my nose as I hate the smell.“I’ve been in this position before and it feels just as good. Now we’re in another final. We are so together.READ MORE ENGLAND NEWS“You can see how much it means to everyone.”England’s progress to a second consecutive Euros final has been anything but smooth with little to raise a glass to in some of the performances.But champagne moments like Ollie Watkins’ last-minute semi-final winner against Holland have sent them to Berlin.That followed Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time overhead kick equaliser against Slovakia in the last-16 and the five perfect penalties that did for Switzerland in the quarter-finals.Most read in FootballEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSKing Charles has now urged England to find a less dramatic way to win.And Rice revealed the team also got a little royal advice before the tournament kicked off.The Sun’s Charlie Wyett praises England as Ollie Watkins 90th minute winner puts Three Lions into Euro 2024 finalRice said: “When Prince William came into St George’s Park he said it would be a rollercoaster and that this tournament is brutal.“That’s what it’s been from the first minute. You couldn’t write it and to be part of it is so special.“It started with Jude’s overhead, then the pens, then Holland was a completely different challenge.“But those moments in football that Ollie has just come back with, you can’t describe it.“I was so emotional at the end because it’s been a tough road.“I know the final is going to be a really tough game and hopefully someone else can write some history into the books.“It is a game we believe we can win so it is poised to be a great final.READ MORE SUN STORIES“There is one more in our legs to give it everything for the boys, for the fans and for this manager.“We are so desperate to do this and bring some happiness to the country.”You can say it hasn’t been pretty, but England are in the final… and we’re peaking at just the right time, says Jack WilshereAFTER what has been a tough tournament of times, what an opportunity Gareth Southgate and his team will have to end in the best possible way, writes Jack Wilshere.We might like a team that played better football. But it’s a results business.Germany, Italy, France, Portugal and of course Holland would love to be where we are.People will say we’re lucky because we’re on this side of the draw.But we won the group. France didn’t and then ran into Spain.You can say it wasn’t that pretty, but we’re there.Gareth and his coaches won’t have been happy with some of the performances.But I did like the way Gareth and his team have dealt with it.There was no panic coming out of the camp.Everyone gave the same message: ‘We know we can better, but we’re here still.’And on Sunday they will be in Berlin to play Spain.They will probably have to produce two halves of football as good as the first against Holland to beat them.We have improved as the tournament has gone on and that is how you win things.You want to peak in the final.If Gareth can lead England to that major trophy we’ve all been waiting for, it will be the perfect answer to the critics and a brilliant day for us all.Read Jack Wilshere’s England vs Holland verdict in full.Or check out all of SunSport columnist Jack’s Euros 2024 opinions… More

THERE are rarefied moments in sport when the heart misses a beat, when the blood runs cold, when time stands still for a second.Moments when you doubt the evidence of your own eyes.Ollie Watkins’ goal against the Netherlands will go down in English sporting folkloreCredit: AFPThe Aston Villa striker’s last-minute strike booked England’s spot in the Euro 2024 finalCredit: AlamyBut then you process what you’ve just witnessed.And then the only natural human reaction is to yell: “F*** my old boots!”And when Ollie Watkins swivelled to beat Stefan de Vrij and struck the sweetest of shots low into the far corner, this was one of those thrilling moments when a nation is united in euphoria.An Oliver twist that even Charles Dickens couldn’t have written.READ MORE ENGLAND NEWSThe clock read 89min and 59sec. And England were into their first major final on foreign soil.Watkins now sits alongside Geoff Hurst, David Platt and Paul Gascoigne.Like Jonny Wilkinson, Ben Stokes and Mo Farah too, he owns a moment which will be seared into the national consciousness for eternity.When you have been following the England football team throughout most, or all, of these 58 years of hurt, you watch Watkins turn and shoot and you are convinced that ball will ping back off the inside of the post.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSOr graze the outside of the post. Or that Holland goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen will turn it wide.So when the ball nestles in the onion bag, you have to perform a double-take.England fans gush ‘my manager’ as incredible footage emerges of Southgate going wild after reaching Euro 2024 final And then you scream.But then you look for a linesman’s flag.And then you wait for the dreaded VAR check.Even though there clearly couldn’t have been an offside or a foul.Because fatalism is at the core of following the England men’s football team.And this adds to the drama. Because this sort of thing doesn’t happen to us. We don’t reach finals on foreign soil.Least of all in Germany, with the Germans eliminated almost a week ago.And we don’t dominate possession against the Dutch — who had long since resorted to lumping it long to their big man, 6ft 6in Wout Weghorst.Just as we never used to win penalty shootouts, as the Three Lions did against Switzerland.Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick fired England to World Cup glory in 1966Credit: GettyDavid Platt caused passionate celebrations against Belgium at Italia 90Credit: Action Images – ReutersPaul Gascoigne’s wondergoal sealed a 2-0 win over Scotland at Euro 1996Credit: GettyJust as we never scored 96th-minute bicycle-kick equalisers, as Jude Bellingham did when England were dead and buried against Slovakia in the last 16.This is a reversal of the natural order. This is Gareth Southgate’s England.So where does the Watkins moment rank among those most dramatic and glorious in English sporting history?Hurst produced not just one, but two, of them in extra-time against West Germany in 1966.First, there was the crossbar and the Azerbaijani linesman.Then the “They think it’s all over…” moment when Hurst completed his hat-trick with a rocket after delirious supporters had already invaded the pitch.But you need to be a  pensioner to remember those moments.For the rest of us, there was Gascoigne’s sensational goal against Scotland and his dentist’s chair celebration at Euro 96 — just a minute after David Seaman had saved a penalty from Gary McAllister with England leading 1-0. That was special and yet it was only a group-stage match.Greatest English sporting moments since 1966David Platt’s last-minute extra-time winner vs Belgium at Italia 90Paul Gascoigne’s wondergoal vs Scotland at Euro 96Jonny Wilkinson’s drop goal to win the 2003 Rugby World CupAshes victory over Australia in 2005Super Saturday at London 2012Ben Stokes’ heroics to win 2019 Cricket World Cup finalLionesses winning 2022 Women’s Euros at WembleyAnd it arrived in the 79th minute, not the last second of normal time.The greatest parallel was Platt’s extraordinary turn and volley in the final minute of extra-time against Belgium, at Italia 90.Like Watkins, Platt was a relatively unsung Aston Villa player who had arrived as a substitute.But that was a last-16 match, not a semi-final.Wilkinson’s drop goal to win the 2003 Rugby World Cup final against Australia was special.But England were favourites and everything was set up for Wilkinson to slot that ball between the posts.The fly-half was Clive Woodward’s go-to man.He wasn’t a supposed  bit-part player like Watkins.In my quarter of a century covering elite sport, none of those genuine heart-stopping England moments involved the men’s football team.Mo Farah won gold on Super Saturday for Team GB at London 2012Credit: PA:Press AssociationJonny Wilkinson’s drop goal clinched the 2003 Rugby World Cup against AustraliaCredit: GettyEngland won the 2019 Cricket World Cup following Ben Stokes’ heroicsCredit: GettyThere were several such moments during the 2005 Ashes, when England’s cricketers regained the urn after 16 years in a breathless, epic series.And then Stokes’ golden summer of 2019 when he played a remarkable innings in the World Cup final and England won with a run-out from the final ball of a super over after the match was tied.Just weeks later, at Headingley, Stokes and the bespectacled everyman No 11 batsman Jack Leach shared a ridiculous 76-run final-wicket partnership to win an Ashes Test.I noted at the time that it was like watching Superman and Clark Kent in the same place. When Stokes cracked the winning boundary and a sun-baked Western Terrace rose as one with their arms aloft, that was a time-stands-still moment too.But England didn’t win that series.There was Super Saturday at the 2012 London Olympics when Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Farah all nailed track-and-field gold medals in the space of 44 minutes.And we must not forget that the England women’s team — unlike the men — have been crowned European champions.When Chloe Kelly netted the winner in extra-time against Germany, in 2022, twirled her shirt above her head  and cavorted across Wembley in her sports bra, that was an iconic moment and a breakthough for the women’s game.England ratings vs HollandENGLAND stormed into the final against Spain thanks to Ollie Watkins’ last-minute strike in the 2-1 win over Holland.It was a brilliant team performance, but how did each player rate?SunSport’s Tom Barclay ran the rule over Southgate’s boys, and here’s how he rated them.Jordan Pickford: 7Bigger goalkeepers may have got a stronger hand to Xavi Simons’ early stunner – though that was being hypercritical. Solid stop to deny Virgil van Dijk after the hour.Kyle Walker: 7Looked re-energised after some lumbering displays and bombed on at times in the first half, despite his role on the right of a back three. Last-ditch tackle on Cody Gakpo was spot on.John Stones: 7Strong in possession. He looks to have benefited from regular game-time after rarely featuring for Manchester City in the last few months.Marc Guehi: 6Came back into the side after suspension ruled him out of the Switzerland game. Had an unenviable task of making the big man Wout Weghorst after the break.Bukayo Saka: 7Razor-sharp in the first half, winning tackles, making runs and dribbling the ball proficiently. Less of an impact after the break, had a goal ruled out for offside and was booked.Declan Rice: 6Lost possession for Simons’ thunderous opener but grew into the game, mopping up where necessary. Poor pass when Kane was open midway through the second half.Kobbie Mainoo: 8Was England’s youngest-ever player to play in a major-tournament semi-final, aged 19years 82 days, and had a stormer in the first half. Great bursts forward, vital tackles, and his interplay with Foden was a joy.Kieran Trippier: 6We all know by now that he is playing out of position, so again he was limited going forward and reliable defensively. Subbed at half-time for the more natural Shaw.Phil Foden: 7The first 45 minutes was by far and away his best half of the tournament. Thought he’d scored when his shot was cleared off the line by Denzel Dumfries, and cracked the post with a cracker. But was then surprisingly subbed.Jude Bellingham: 5Back at the ground where he made his name but struggled to make much of an impact on his old stomping ground. Fortunate it was not he that was subbed.Harry Kane: 6Won and dispatched the penalty to go joint top-scorer in the tournament with three goals. Had looked more mobile initially but still tired badly after the break and was taken off.SUBSLuke Shaw (for Kieran Trippier, half-time): 6Looked assured for a man who has been out for so long.Ollie Watkins (for Harry Kane, 81): 9 and STAR MAN Surprisingly given the nod over Ivan Toney as striker sub as Southgate looked for more pace in behind. Brilliant finish into the corner to win the game – you could not ask more from him.Cole Palmer (for Phil Foden, 81): 7Had his big chance in the final minutes but shanked it horribly wide – but then fed Watkins for his wonderful winner.Gareth Southgate: 8His switch to a back three against Switzerland helped dig out the win there, and here it had his team finally playing some great football in the first half. The team went into their shells again as the game wore on and you feared the worst – but you have to say his decision to bring on Ollie Watkins was a masterstroke. But the longest-running national sporting obsession is the England men’s team and their elusive hunt for silverware.That’s what makes the Watkins moment — Take My Breath Away and off to  Berlin — arguably the most astonishing since 1966.Perhaps on Sunday night, in the final against Spain, that moment will be swiftly eclipsed.Who knows. Anything seems possible right now. There’s a feeling of fate and destiny about this campaign.READ MORE SUN STORIESThere would be no logic in England defeating Spain, the best team in the tournament.But then where’s the  logic in those moments when your heart misses a beat, when the blood runs cold, when time stands still, when you cannot believe your own eyes? More

RAISE your glass, clear your throat and scream it loud and proud… for England, Harry Kane and St. George!One game from glory, the chance to write history — now go out and make yourselves footballing legends.England face Spain in the final of Euro 2024 on Sunday nightCredit: GettyOllie Watkins’ last-minute winner against the Netherlands saw the Three Lions throughCredit: GettyThat’s the message I’m sure Gareth Southgate will be giving to his boys on Sunday, and you know what? I’m convinced they’ll do it as well.I’ve said all along that this is our time, so there’s no way I’ll be going back on my prediction.Not because it’s written in the stars, not because the draw has been kind, and not because we’ve ridden our luck on more than one occasion in these Euros.All that’s helped, for sure, but not the reason I’m so confident. It’s because I look at the two teams and just think, man for man, we are stronger than Spain.READ MORE ENGLAND NEWSYes, I know they’ve been the most impressive team at the tournament but let’s be honest, we’re not talking all-time greats like some of the sides of old.The two young Spanish wingers are fantastic players, especially the kid Lamine Yamal. We certainly need to keep him quiet.I tell you something, though — England have a hell of a lot more for them to be worried about, trust me.Like Jude Bellingham, for a start.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSIn Madrid they won’t be thinking of a man who’s only been at his best in flashes but the outstanding star of LaLiga who took Spain by storm.They’ll be scared to death of  facing him, while Jude will be full of confidence at what he can do to them.England fans reaction to dramatic last minute Euros win over NetherlandsPhil Foden has been different class since Gareth moved him inside, and Spain have a huge issue in how they cope with him.And what about Bukayo Saka? If he’s in the same form as the last two games, would you fancy Marc Cucurella to get the better of him? I certainly wouldn’t.And then there’s captain Harry. Fair enough, I accept he’s not in the form of his life right now, maybe he isn’t 100 per cent.But he’s still got three goals, there’s every likelihood he will finish the Euros as top scorer, and here’s a question.If there’s a half chance in the box in Berlin, who would you fancy to stick it away, Harry or Alvaro Morata?It’s an absolute no-brainer. Morata gets through a ton of work but let’s make no bones about it, he was something of a disaster when he played at Chelsea.In terms of the world’s great strikers, the genuine goalscoring centre-forwards, if you were picking the best around, he would be lucky to make the top ten. Harry, for me, would be No 1.To think there were people who felt he should be dropped for the semi! To be honest Gareth won’t want to make any changes for the final, either.You can say it hasn’t been pretty, but England are in the final… and we’re peaking at just the right time, says Jack WilshereAFTER what has been a tough tournament of times, what an opportunity Gareth Southgate and his team will have to end in the best possible way, writes Jack Wilshere.We might like a team that played better football. But it’s a results business.Germany, Italy, France, Portugal and of course Holland would love to be where we are.People will say we’re lucky because we’re on this side of the draw.But we won the group. France didn’t and then ran into Spain.You can say it wasn’t that pretty, but we’re there.Gareth and his coaches won’t have been happy with some of the performances.But I did like the way Gareth and his team have dealt with it.There was no panic coming out of the camp.Everyone gave the same message: ‘We know we can better, but we’re here still.’And on Sunday they will be in Berlin to play Spain.They will probably have to produce two halves of football as good as the first against Holland to beat them.We have improved as the tournament has gone on and that is how you win things.You want to peak in the final.If Gareth can lead England to that major trophy we’ve all been waiting for, it will be the perfect answer to the critics and a brilliant day for us all.Read Jack Wilshere’s England vs Holland verdict in full.Or check out all of SunSport columnist Jack’s Euros 2024 opinions…He’d sooner go with Kieran Trippier to counter Yamal but Luke Shaw would hardly be a weak link.As a regular left-back, you could even argue he’s a better option. But that’s the thing with this England squad — it’s so deep.If it comes down to the bench, as it has so often already, Gareth is spoilt for choice.Cole Palmer is effective every time he comes on, Ivan Toney was key in the quarter-final, and Ezri Konsa didn’t put a foot wrong when he got his chance against Switzerland.And then there’s Ollie Watkins — what a fairytale that is.From Exeter and Weston-super-Mare on loan to England’s matchwinner against Holland — and what a finish it was, too.I’m sure there were times in the past when Ollie worried where his career was going.But if ever there was an example to keep trying, to never give up, it’s him. So you can see why I’m so confident of beating Spain.  And as good as they’ve been at the Euros, how many thought three weeks ago we’d be playing them in the final?Spain will be scared to face Jude Bellingham, says Harry RedknappCredit: GettyRedknapp is also tipping Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka for big performances in BerlinCredit: GettyNot that I think it’s going to be a stroll, by the way. Far from it, because if England aren’t at it, they will cause us big problems.It could be a long night, and it wouldn’t be the greatest surprise if it did end up going all the way to penalties.But if that’s what it takes, then fair enough, because I wouldn’t fancy anyone to beat us in a shootout these days.READ MORE SUN STORIESThat’s not something I thought I’d be saying a few years ago… any more than England being European champions.And on Sunday I wouldn’t back against either. More

A NEW photo has emerged of Lionel Messi with Euro 2024’s breakout star Lamine Yamal before he hit the big time.Yamal, 16, has enjoyed an incredible tournament for Spain, who play England in Sunday’s final.A new photo of Lamine Yamal with Lionel Messi has emergedCredit: XThe pair were previously in a photo shoot for a charity calendarCredit: APThe Barcelona winger became the youngster scorer in Euros history with a wonder-strike in the semi-final win over France.And Yamal is now ready to become a global megastar by capturing his first international title just a day after his 17th birthday.The left-footer plays on the right wing for club and country, with many hailing him as Barcelona’s natural successor to Messi.The Argentine has won the lot as a player, including eight Ballon d’Ors and the 2022 World cup.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSAnd it seems Messi left his mark on Yamal when the pair linked up for a photoshoot 17 years ago.Yamal was just a baby when Messi, then 20, posed with him for a charity calendar.And he was even given a bath in the adorable snaps, with many claiming it was destiny that Yamal would go on to become football’s latest sensation.However, it’s not the only time the pair have met for a photo.Most read in FootballEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSAnother picture was unearthed by internet sleuths today, showing Yamal posing with Messi in 2019.Yamal looked worlds away from the player he is today, as he was just 11 years old at the time.England vs Netherlands Player RatingsYamal is hoping to win the Euros with Spain on SundayCredit: GettyMessi has the chance to clinch back-to-back Copa Americas this weekendCredit: GettyMessi was still a Barcelona player at the time, and it appears the duo may have posed together at the club’s training ground as Yamal tucked a kit bag under his arm.Messi is sure to be keeping a close eye on Yamal’s fortunes this Sunday.He too is preparing for a final in the Copa America after Argentina set up a showdown with Colombia.Messi netted in the 2-0 semi-final win over Canada and will be hoping to add a second Copa America crown to his collection after victory in 2021. More