Euro 2024 final against Spain.
“Our mentality cannot change,” Alexander-Arnold said on Lions’ Den. “You have got to be ruthless in every single game you play, in training, in and around the place. To get this far you have to be elite in every department, which we have been. We have found our rhythm now within the team on the pitch in the games at a good time as well.
“As the saying goes, it is not how you start, it is how you finish. We are finishing this tournament well and hopefully we go out even better on Sunday. To even have any doubts going into a final is a crime in my opinion.
“No matter what journey you have, who you play or whatever people say, to reach the final of this competition is an outstanding achievement – to go and win it would be even better.
“Our mindset is we go and we play to win. It is a one-off game, finals always come down to who wants to win it more, who is willing to do that little bit extra. We believe that we can win. You have got to have that belief.
“We know it will be a very, very tough test, arguably (against) the best team in the competition in the way that they played, but you don’t just get to a final by luck – you get there through grinding through games, winning games.”
Euro 2024 games by the amount of bacteria colonies gathering in each team’s box.”
Spain celebrated, a fan leapt on to the pitch in search of a selfie. When he set off, so did José Santos, the security guard who travels everywhere with them. Slipping, he accidentally went in two-footed, a big man with a beard and bulging biceps crashing into the striker; Morata’s knee twisted inwards, leaving him limping. An ice pack was applied and for a moment there was a fear that he could even miss Sunday’s final. Especially for Santos.
“Dancing In The Dark” in the streets before games and, increasingly, a chorus of “Please don’t take me home” afterwards. Perhaps it will be something more tangential that sticks, such as the stream of St George’s flags on the banks of the Rhine in Düsseldorf or the trams in Cologne stuffed to bursting and rattling like tambourines to the beat of “Ing-er-land” bashed out on the roofs.
Paul MacInnes on the month in Germany for England fans.
Euro 2024 glory.
The Spanish became the first team to taste victory in six successive games at the finals on Tuesday evening when they beat France 2-1 to book their place in Sunday’s showdown with the Three Lions in Berlin.
However, Olmo and his team-mates are targeting silverware rather than records in pursuit of a fourth European crown, having missed out on a place in the final at the delayed Euro 2020 tournament to eventual winners Italy.
Asked about the possibility at a press conference on Friday, the 26-year-old RB Leipzig midfielder said: “We are only thinking about the final, not records, not the future. We are 90 minutes away from winning this three years after not reaching the final. We play to win.”
Spain’s route to the final has been challenging – they have beaten Croatia, Italy, Albania, Georgia, Germany and France along the way, and should they add England’s scalp to their collection, they will have got the better of all the other European World Cup winners at a single tournament.
Olmo said: “This hasn’t been an easy route to the final, but to win the Euros you have to beat the best. Beating Germany at home was a big achievement, as defeating England would be. But we go out with the same idea as in every game – to play our game and to win.”
I feel inspired for the final.
“Hi Will,” hi Simon McMahon. “A bit of reverse psychology from Des Brown? I wouldn’t make Spain strong favourites, more of a 50-50 game for me. I don’t think it would be a major surprise if either side won, which hopefully will make for an exciting game. But then again, as a Scotland and Dundee United fan, what I know about winning major finals you could write on the back of a fag packet. Sometimes it feels like they should be paying me to watch them.”
We better discuss the big tactical talking points ahead of Sunday.
Should England change to a back four to combat the Spanish wing threat?
Should Shaw or Trippier start?
Kane or Watkins?
THESE ARE THE BIG QUESTIONS!
Ben emails: “I don’t have a “fire” song contribution to make but having seen the mention of Arthur Brown, I can report that he happens to have been a friend of my parents, and my primary memory involving him is that, when I was a kid, we (including Arthur) all went to the cinema to watch Forest Gump. This is of very little relevance to the Euros I appreciate but I’ll throw in a “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get” quote. With this said, we are quite likely to get a Spain win (hopefully not though).”
Marina Hyde on the big one.
Just as the long buildup to Christmas can be infinitely more joyful and infinitely less stressful than the day itself, so this is a weekend to be intensely savoured before the inevitable tip over into mindless something-or-other when the whistle blows for the end of play on Sunday night.
Des Brown offers positivity: “Though Spain are the strong favourites on Sunday, here’s a stat for the England fans. England have played Spain 4 times in the European Championships – twice in 1968, then again in 1980 and 1996. England won every game.”
Do send in your expensive sporting occasions. What is the most you have spent on attending and was it worth it?
Good afternoon! Needless to say, I am very much here for niche Basque chat.
And with that, Will Unwin prepares to slide into the chair. He’ll be your guide and friend through the afternoon. Bye.
More fire song talk, from Rick Harris:
The key to lighting England’s fire is not Phil Foden – he is more fuel able to burn brightly – but fire starters like Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer.
I suggest England fans channel their inner Jim Morrison and repurpose the Doors’ ‘Light my Fire’.
You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I were to say to you
England cannot get much higher
Kobbie Mainoo light the fire
Kobbie Mainoo light the fire
Try to set the team on fire
Decent effort, Keith. Now, anyone want to get to work on the Crazy World of Arthur Brown’s signature tune?
Source: theguardian.com
