Euro 2024 final: England vs Spain

We have a guaranteed winner in Berlin with both teams having Chelsea representation.

Marc Cucurella has been a revelation for Spain at left-back. He only played his first game for the national team since 2021 in March, but has become a permanent fixture in Luis de la Fuente’s defence since the pre-tournament friendlies.

His relationship with Nico Williams down the Spain left has been a highlight of the tournament, with Cucurella’s overlapping and underlapping runs creating space for Williams to work his magic. Our man’s typically enthusiastic and all-action defensive style has also won plenty of plaudits in Spain and beyond, and he will be hoping to crown a fantastic few weeks by following in the footsteps of Juan Mata and Fernando Torres and winning the Euros while a Chelsea player.

Standing in his and Spain’s way are England. Their route to the final has not been as impressive as Spain’s – who have beaten Italy, Germany and France – but nonetheless they have got the job done to make it back-to-back European Championship finals under Gareth Southgate.

Cole Palmer has played a significant part in the moments of brilliance that have propelled England to Berlin. In the first knockout game, against Slovakia, he came off the bench to add an extra dimension to the Three Lions’ attack. In the next, Palmer coolly despatched his spot-kick, as we know he does, in the penalty shoot-out win over Switzerland. Then, on Wednesday, it was his perfectly-weighted pass Ollie Watkins latched on to before firing into the bottom corner, sparking pandemonium in Dortmund.

Conor Gallagher is our other England man at this tournament and he has featured in five of England’s six games. He started against Slovenia and has been brought off the bench in the others to add energy and industry to the midfield, helping close out the wins against Serbia, Slovakia and the Netherlands. Both Palmer and Gallagher likely know they could once again have huge roles to play off the bench.

England have never won the European Championship, nor even competed in a major international tournament final overseas, so this is unchartered territory. Spain meanwhile have won it three times and we will be looking to become the most successful team in the competition’s history with victory at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Kick-off is at 8pm UK time.

Copa America 2024 final: Argentina v Colombia

A few hours later, Enzo Fernandez and Argentina will begin their quest to win another international title.

The world champions of 2022 can add to their trophy cabinet by beating Colombia in the Copa America final in Miami. That is a 1am kick-off UK time in the early hours on Monday morning, 8pm Sunday night in Florida.

Our midfield maestro Enzo came into the tournament fresh from the surgery he received towards the end of the domestic season to fix a groin issue. He was an unused substitute for Argentina’s opening game, a 2-0 win over Canada, played an hour in the narrow victory against Chile, and then came off the bench for the final group game. That was a 2-0 win over Peru.

Enzo subsequently started both the quarter-final and semi-final, sign of his improving fitness. He went toe-to-toe with his Chelsea colleague Moises Caicedo in the first of those, as Argentina edged out Ecuador on penalties. Earlier this week, Enzo assisted Lionel Messi who put the seal on another 2-0 success over Canada, and with it a berth in the tournament showpiece.

Colombia will pose a threat having shown plenty of attacking nous and defensive fortitude in this tournament, overcoming Uruguay with 10 men in their semi-final, but Argentina understandably start as the favourites because of their firepower and history of winning big games in recent years.

We will have reports from both finals on our channels, so for now it is good luck to Cole, Conor, Marc and Enzo!