Alan Shearerformer England top scorer and now sports commentator, speaking to BBC.om spoke about Southgate’s national team that will play the Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday: “The fact that we are here, again, is worth savouring. I turned 50 before I saw England reach a major men’s final in my life and now we are in the second in the last three years, the first ever on foreign soil.
Just getting this far should be cause for celebration, but Gareth Southgate has already changed the game. We are expected to go all the way in these tournaments and, of course, everyone wants to take the next step. Now all that’s left for England to do is go and finish, cross the finish line and give us the ending everyone wants, with Harry Kane lifting the trophy at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
As an England player, captain, fan or pundit, these are the moments I have always dreamed of and I hope Sunday’s Euro 2024 clash with Spain will prove to be a truly special day.”
Spain are favourites, but England can have their say: “We’re going to face the best team in the tournament, who have won all six games without penalties and have shown that they are extraordinary in everything they’ve done, but there are still reasons to believe that this England team can win and make history. For a start, you know that Gareth and his players will believe they can do it. They’ve always said clearly that they came to this tournament to win it, and that belief has never wavered.
Our performances in Germany didn’t always confirm this thesis, but even when we weren’t playing well there were other moments when we showed why we’ve reached the finish line and why we have an incredible chance of reaching the final.
I am referring to the character that was able to come back and find a way to win in all three knockout games, to the great individual moments that scored decisive goals in the final minutes and to the perfect penalties kicked under pressure in the shootout against Switzerland.”
On how Sunday might go: “There will be intense individual battles, but England have players who can hurt even Spain, and we have another quality that will be crucial: fearlessness. Our younger players like Kobbie Mainoo and Marc Guehi will certainly not be intimidated by the opponent or the occasion.
This England team is on the brink of something very special and Sunday is their chance to make it happen. I can’t wait to see how they get on.”