When Gareth Southgate watches his players walk out at the Olympiastadion on Sunday night, he will trust them to finish the job. If England expects then this time belief rather than entitlement is the cause. A squad that has spent the past four weeks walking through fire and somehow emerging unscathed is ready. In Berlin, where England face Spain in a Euro 2024 final that pits process-driven Southgateism against possession football mixed with devastating wing play, there is no room for fear.
Instead, as the chance to follow the heroes of 1966 into sporting immortality beckons, the sense is of a group hardened by previous disappointments. Southgate can feel it when he looks at the old-timers. Some stalwarts have had to make way for the new generation – Harry Maguire is missing through injury, age has caught up with Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling has drifted from contention – but when it comes to leadership England’s manager can still count upon Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, John Stones and Harry Kane to remember the pain of losing to Croatia after playing in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.
“There has been an incredible commitment,” Southgate said. “I keep pulling Kyle Walker’s leg because he’s retired three times but is still wheeling his body out in the middle of the summer. It’s a passion – himself, Tripps, Stones, Pickford, that group that has been a bedrock of the team with Kane.
“Through injury we’ve lost a couple and those guys have had to step up even more. Particularly Harry, not having Hendo here, not having Maguire here. We’ve lost some of those senior figures, so we’re wondering: ‘OK, how is this going to play out?’ Especially when we were going through a difficult period at the start.”
Southgate has loved watching Kobbie Mainoo, Marc Guéhi, Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and others adapt to tournament life. It has not been easy. England made an uneasy start, with Southgate unsure about the configuration of his midfield, the left-sided issue and the squad’s ability to press. The criticism grew and humiliation was on the cards against Slovakia in the last 16, only for Jude Bellingham to do that Jude Bellingham thing: equalise with a bicycle kick in the 95th minute.
A sliding doors moment? Since then England have celebrated a penalty shootout win over Switzerland, followed by Watkins coming off the bench to score the winner in Wednesday’s semi-final against the Netherlands. “To see the way they celebrated in the dressing room after the game on Wednesday – that hit us as you saw how deep that has got,” Southgate said. “Part of that is the adversity they’ve been through in the last few weeks.”
There will be more difficulties against Spain. England have dominated possession in each of their six games but something will have to give against Luis de la Fuente’s dangerous team. A midfield of Rodri, Fabián Ruiz and Dani Olmo will not be giving away the ball lightly. England must remember how they lost control against Italy in the Euro 2020 final. “The experience of going through one before has helped,” Luke Shaw said. “Everyone feels a lot more calm.”
England have been more robust since switching to a 3-4-2-1 system. Declan Rice has less space to cover and Mainoo, who treats the ball like a friend, has made a huge difference since displacing Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher.
It could help that Mainoo negated Rodri when Manchester United beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Another boost is that Shaw has recovered from his hamstring injury and could replace the right-footed Kieran Trippier on the left. Stopping Lamine Yamal, Spain’s 17-year-old sensation, will be vital. “Spain’s wingers have been unbelievable at this tournament,” Shaw said. “The whole team has been amazing. But we understand their threats, where their dangerous players are.”
On the left, for instance, where the flying Nico Williams will test himself against Walker’s enduring pace. “Walks doesn’t surprise me,” Shaw said. “He’s built like a machine and I think he can keep on going. He’s looking as sharp as ever.”
Shaw considered that Spanish men’s teams have won 26 consecutive finals at senior club and international level. The tactical challenge for England is immense. Do they press and risk Spain playing around them? Do they sit in a low block, back Stones and Guéhi to shackle Álvaro Morata and take it deep? Is there enough speed to play a counterattacking game? If Kane is tiring, is Ivan Toney’s physicality a better bet than the pace of Watkins?
Above all, will England remember to be bold against opponents yet to develop the same aura as the Spain team who dominated between 2008 and 2012? An inferiority complex would be silly. England have Bukayo Saka, who will want to run at Marc Cucurella on the right, and it is fair to assume that Spaniards are worried about Bellingham after his performances for Real Madrid.
Win this and Bellingham could have the Ballon d’Or wrapped up. But England are not defined by him. For Kane, there is a chance to add to his three goals, silence the noise about his fitness and perform in a major final at long last. Elsewhere, Phil Foden has been revived by Southgate moving him from the left wing to an inside-right role.
It is an intriguing switch. Southgate talked about wanting his best players on the pitch, even when England looked painfully unbalanced. Very quietly, he has turned this into the Phil Foden team. The City forward was brilliant against the Netherlands; look how he finds space and releases Walker for Saka’s disallowed goal.
England almost looked like City in that moment. They have so many weapons. On the bench is Palmer, who set up Watkins against the Netherlands and scored the only goal when England’s under-21s beat Spain in the European Championship final last year.
There are special players at Southgate’s disposal. No wonder he believes his mixture of old and new will bring the trophy home.