Spain's manager Luis de la Fuente cautions about the formidable challenge posed by England ahead of the Euro 2024 final.
Following Spain's 2-1 victory over France and England's 2-1 triumph against the Netherlands in the semifinals, both teams have secured their spots in the tournament's climax.
Spain has been one of the standout teams at this summer's European Championship, winning all six of their matches, which included notable victories over Croatia, Italy, Germany, and France.
In contrast, England has faced criticism for their performances, particularly as they navigated what some considered the easier side of the draw.
Reflecting on the pre-tournament favorites, De la Fuente acknowledged that England, France, and Germany were considered front-runners. Despite Spain showcasing a stronger performance overall so far, the coach emphasized that this would have little bearing on the outcome of a single decisive match.
De la Fuente praised England's quality players who can influence games at any moment. He highlighted England's strength, both in terms of national team experience and their achievements at club level, as formidable obstacles for Spain to overcome in the final.
Looking ahead to the showdown, De la Fuente expressed his team's eagerness and determination to continue their growth and compete for the championship trophy.
Regarding their previous encounters, the last match between Spain and England was in the UEFA Nations League in October 2018, where England emerged victorious with a 3-2 scoreline. Despite England holding a historical edge with 14 wins to Spain's 10, with three draws, their last meeting in a European Championship was in 1996, ending in England's favor after a penalty shootout following a goalless draw.