Gareth Southgate’s England squad stands on the precipice of etching their names into Euro Cup Finals History, as declared by former England striker Gary Lineker, following their triumphant qualification for the Euro 2024 final. The Three Lions secured their coveted spot in Sunday’s final showdown against Spain with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday night.
This momentous occasion marks a significant milestone for English football. It is the first time the men’s national team has reached a major final held outside of England. Their previous final appearances were the iconic 1966 World Cup victory and the agonizingly close Euro 2021 final, both played on home turf at Wembley Stadium. While the Lionesses’ celebrated Euro victory in 2022 also occurred on home soil, the men’s team now seeks to conquer foreign territory and claim their place in euro cup finals history.
England’s men’s team has never lifted the coveted European Championship trophy. Their sole major international silverware remains the 1966 World Cup. In contrast, Spain boasts a formidable record in euro cup finals history, having been crowned European champions three times. The upcoming final presents a clash of ambitions and legacies.
“I think it’s hugely significant for English football,” Gary Lineker, set to anchor BBC One’s coverage of the final, emphasized to BBC Sport. Reflecting on past experiences and future challenges, Lineker added, “They were in a final, they were in the last final of the Euros, of course, and that was at Wembley, and that ended up in huge disappointment.” He alluded to the painful penalty shootout loss against Italy in the Euro 2021 final.
Looking ahead to the daunting task against Spain, Lineker acknowledged, “This is going to be tough, it’s going to be difficult, but they’re on the brink of history. No English team in football has ever won a major tournament abroad.” This stark reality underscores the magnitude of what Southgate’s team is attempting to achieve – to break new ground in euro cup finals history and secure a victory on foreign soil.
The closest any senior England team has come to major international success away from home was in 2023 when the Lionesses reached the World Cup final in Australia, only to be defeated by Spain. This adds another layer of intrigue to Sunday’s final, as the men’s team now seeks to avenge the women’s team’s loss and write their own glorious chapter in euro cup finals history against the same opponent.
Recounting the semi-final victory, Xavi Simons initially put the Netherlands ahead early in Dortmund. However, Harry Kane swiftly equalized from the penalty spot midway through the first half. The decisive moment arrived in the 90th minute when Ollie Watkins netted the winning goal, sending England to the final. Notably, Watkins’ late goal marked England’s fourth goal of the tournament scored after the 80th minute, including extra time, demonstrating their resilience and determination.
“They have got that kind of never-say-die attitude, which is something that is hugely important,” Lineker commented, drawing upon his own experience of 48 goals in 80 appearances for England. He further observed, “Even when they weren’t playing great, they were grinding out results. And it’s an old football cliche that if you can win when you play badly, then things are not that bad.” This unwavering spirit and ability to win under pressure may prove crucial as England aims to make euro cup finals history this Sunday.
