On Sunday night at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, England are seeking to become European Champions for the very first time while, on the flip side, Spain are aiming to get their hands on the Henri Delaunay Trophy for the fourth time, a new record, currently level with Germany on three. Ahead of the Euro 2024, we bring you ten facts and stats about this huge game.
England looking to go one better
By beating the Netherlands on Wednesday, England have become the fifth team to reach back-to-back Euros Finals, after Soviet Union (1960 & 64), West Germany, who actually reached three on the spin (1972, '76 & '80), Germany again (1992 & '96) and of course Spain (2008 & '12). None of those teams lost successive finals, with the Germans capturing the trophy in both 1980 and '96, having been beaten in the one before, something England are aiming to replicate in Germany of course.
Spain's winning streak
Spain won now won 12 consecutive competitive matches, their longest-ever streak, breaking the record of 11 that came to an end at the hands of USA during the 2009 Confederations Cup. Meanwhile, Luis de la Fuente's team have also won all eight fixtures played this summer, if you include their two warm-up friendlies, la Roja's longest sequence since 2010, a streak actually ended at the 2010 World Cup, that they'd ultimately win of course.
At this tournament, as mentioned, Spain have won all six games, becoming the first side to claim six victories at a single edition of the Euros. In fact, no team since France in 1984 has won the European Championships with a perfect record, without requiring a penalty shootout, albeit les Bleus only played five fixtures back then, defeating Spain in the final at Parc des Princes.
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