Spain vs England predictions: Three Lions set for final heartbreak again
- Spain have won all six of their matches at Euro 2024 without needing penalties
- England have been level at 90 minutes in four of their last five matches
- Recommended bets:
- Draw
- Spain to lift the trophy
England have rode their luck more than once throughout this European Championship but they have hushed their critics by making the final thanks to a 2-1 win over the Netherlands on Wednesday.
The Three Lions went 1-0 down after just seven minutes in their semi-final against the Dutch but a Harry Kane penalty and a last-gasp strike from Ollie Watkins sent England through to their second successive Euros final.
Awaiting them will be arguably the strongest team in the competition, Spain, who took down Georgia, Germany and France in the tournament's knockout stages to reach Sunday's showpiece.
Team news
Defenders Robin Le Normand and Dani Carvajal are set to return from suspension for Spain, but Pedri is still sidelined so Dani Olmo will retain his place in midfield.
Gareth Southgate could choose to swap Kieran Trippier on the left for Luke Shaw, who came on as a substitute for the Newcastle man against both Switzerland and the Netherlands.
The stats
Spain have won all six of their contests at Euro 2024 without the need for penalties and they are also the tournament's leading scorers with 13 goals.
England have been held to draws in normal time in four of their last five matches and conceded first in their last three games against Slovakia, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
The Three Lions have also failed to score more than two goals in any of their last seven matches in all competitions.
Prediction
It can be hard to predict which England team will turn up in Berlin on Sunday.
Aside from a promising opening against Serbia, England were tepid and uninspiring in the group stages and nearly crashed out against Slovakia in the last 16, had it not been for a moment of magic at the death from Jude Bellingham.
They then needed penalties to see off Switzerland and the late Watkins goal to defeat the Netherlands and it has been anything but convincing.
Defenders of Southgate and his team will insist winners of major tournaments often find their groove later on and England were certainly better against the Dutch, having probed them with Kobbie Mainoo and Phil Foden in the first half in Dortmund.
But the Three Lions have been too inconsistent to back in this final and the draw looks the value pick after 90 minutes.
Four of England's last five matches have been level at full-time and Spain, despite not yet having to go to penalties, were taken to extra-time by Germany in the quarter-finals.
Their semi-final with France was also tight and Luis de la Fuente's men have naturally been a little more reserved in the latter stages.
But with wins over Croatia, Italy, France and Germany under their belts and lively wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams able to trouble England, La Roja are worth a bet to lift the trophy as well.
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