ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Spain v England (EURO 2024 Final)

Star Sports football ambassador Alex Crook looks ahead to the big one as England take on Spain in the final of EURO 2024…

So how are the nerves back home?

Here in Berlin the English invasion has well and truly began with fans flocking to the German capital by road, boat, train and plane to hopefully see the Three Lions win their first major trophy since 1966 and a first ever on foreign soil.

All of the pessimism that surrounded Gareth Southgate’s side after the boredom of the group stage and narrow escape against Slovakia in the round of 16 seems to have been swept away by one swing of Ollie Watkins’s right boot to see off the Netherlands in the dying stages of Wednesday’s dramatic semi-final victory.

Many of those longs-suffering England fans who have witnessed numerous tournament disappoints of the past now see this as a golden opportunity to end 58 years of hurt and that surely has to be how Southgate and his players view it too.

After all, despite being the competition’s standout team there was no great expectation of Spain to go deep into the draw before they kicked their first ball against Croatia a month ago.

And while Luis De La Fuente’s dynamic side will be England’s toughest opponent, the same can be argued in reverse.

That may seem churlish given they have had to account for World Cup semi-finalists Croatia, holders Italy, hosts Germany and World Cup runners-up France en route to the final, but Germany apart, none of those sides were at the top of their game against La Roja.

While Spain hit the ground running by topping their supposed ‘Group of Death’ with a 100 per cent record, England have had to grow into the tournament, but that is often the way for any eventual World or European champions.

If Southgate’s men can play as well as they did in the first half against the Dutch then 6/5 withstarsports.bet for the pre-tournament favourites to win the tie may prove to be a touch on the generous side, especially as they are now unbeaten in their last 14 competitive games.

You’d also fancy England to banish the memories of defeat to Italy three years ago if the game went all the way to penalties after their nerveless display from the spot against Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

That is not to downplay Spain’s obvious quality going forward, with wingers Lamine Yamal, who only turned 17 yesterday, and Nico Williams vying for the player of the tournament gong, but I saw enough even in the 3-0 Croatia win, to suggest they could be defensively vulnerable.

The key for an England triumph in my opinion is stopping Manchester City midfielder Rodri bossing the game as he has throughout Spain’s so-far seamless journey to the iconic Olympic Stadium, which means it’s a big night for Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo – one of England’s best performers in the knockout stages.

Southgate, who may well stand down even if England win, also needs another big showing from Rodri’s City teammate Phil Foden, who is improving with every game and, deployed in a more central role, was the standout star of the opening 45 minutes against the Netherlands.

The Premier League Player of the Year also posed much more of a goal threat in that game and was only denied by the woodwork with a long-range rocket so I like the look of Foden to score at any time at 5/1 with starsports.bet.

The other bet that I really fancy is Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella to be shown a card at 9/5 with starsports.bet.. Cucurella is always liable to fly into a late tackle, particularly up against the in-form Bukayo Saka.

I do think both team will score in the 90 minutes and you can back that combined with a Foden goal and Cucurella card as a build-a-bet at 21/1 with starsports.bet

Let’s hope by the time I touch down at Heathrow on Tuesday morning at the end of an epic summer adventure football has already come home.

RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK England to win the tie 1pt at 6/5 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Phil Foden to score any time 1pt at 5/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Marc Cucurella to be shown a card 2ps at 7/4 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK BTTS, Phil Foden to score and Marc Cucurella to be shown a card 0.5pts at 22/1 with starsports.bet