Gareth Southgate pinpoints major England 'concern' ahead of Euro 2024 final against Spain
England boss Gareth Southgate reckons the extra day Spain have had to prepare for the Euro 2024 final on Sunday (July 14) in Berlin could be advantageous for La Roja.
Both Spain and England saw off their respective opponents after clawing back from an early deficit to win 2-1. La Roja recovered from Randal Kolo Muani's eight-minute opener in Munich on Tuesday (July 9) by scoring through Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo.
Meanwhile, a day later - Wednesday (July 10) - the Three Lions scored through captain Harry Kane and substitute Ollie Watkins after Xavi Simons had given the Oranje a seventh-minute lead in Dortmund.
Southgate has now taken his side to successive Euro finals for the first time but recognises the challenge awaiting them in the Euro 2024 final. Admitting the need to be 'exceptional' on the ball and off it to counter La Roja's pressing game, he said (as per Metro):
"It’s not as simple as us having the ball and making them run. They press very, very well, so we’re going to have to be exceptional with the ball, and we’re going to have to be exceptional without it."
Elaborating on the 'concern' he has before the Euro 2024 final, Southgate added:
"But it’s a final, you expect it to be that way here. They (Spain) have been the best team. We’re starting to show a better version of ourselves. The extra day is a concern.
"In the last few tournaments, that has been a problem for finalists, so we’ve got to do the very best we can to recover the players as well as we can."
While Spain are looking to win a record fourth European Championship, England are on a quest for their first, which would snap a 58-year drought for a major title.
"To be able to celebrate a second final is very, very special" - England boss after booking Euro 2024 final vs Spain
For a third straight Euro 2024 knockout game, Gareth Southgate's side had to recover from a deficit. Although Kane's equaliser swiftly cancelled out Simons' opener, Watkins' late winner averted a third-straight extra time for the Three Lions.
Acknoledging the travelling support, Southgate said that he's proud to give them nights like the one in Dortmund as the Three Lions move to within one win of a maiden Euro title. In the aforementioned interaction, he added:
"To be able to celebrate a second final is very, very special. Our travelling support is amazing. To be able to give them nights like this, and we have given them a few over the last six years, from Russia onwards, means a lot.
"If I had been on the grass I’d have been watching, celebrating like they were. We’re kindred spirits in many ways. But of course, I’m the one that has to pick a team. To be able to give them nights like tonight is very, very special."
Can England stop a marauding La Roja juggernaut in the Euro 2024 final to become the newest European champions? Their fans would fervently hope that's the case, but Spain haven't lost a major final since losing to France at Euro' 84.