On Sunday 14th July at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, England will take on Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
For the Three Lions, this represents an opportunity to win their first international honour since 1966, while La Roja seek to become the first nation to win the European Championship four times, after success in 1964, 2008 and 2012.
England will need to be at their best if they are to end a period of dominance that started in May 2001. In the 13 years since, Spanish teams have won their 22 major finals (Champions League, Europa League, World Cup, European Championships) against sides outside The Land of Cervantes.
Gareth Southgate's men can take solace in the fact they defeated Spain last time the two nations met in 2018, running out 3-2 victors, albeit they had only won twice in the previous ten meetings.
If England are to win, then they will need to ensure they shore up weaknesses shown throughout the tournament, and nullify the La Roja's threat.
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Overloads
England have found success with their recently utilised 3-4-2-1 formation, while Spain play a 4-2-3-1. Both formations offer structural advantages against the other, but typically a 4-3-3 can be very troublesome against a back three due to the overloads it creates.
With Spain committing both full backs forwards throughout matches to support the wingers, overloads are created because England will only have one wide defender. This means either one of the attacking tens or wide centre-backs will need to provide defensive support.
However, doing so creates space in other areas. For example, if a wide centre-back commits to help, they leave space for the Spanish midfielders to occupy and make third man runs into. If one of the tens commits then the likes of Rodri may be able to receive the ball without pressure and with lots of space to play progressive passes through the English defensive lines.
Spain also look to create overloads in wide situations. Combinations and rotations between the winger, full back and central midfielder on either side are designed to create one-on-one situations to allow their speedy wingers to be direct at the opposition full/wing-backs.
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Wide Areas
One of England's major concerns - especially earlier in the tournament - has been at full-back, with no out and out left-back fit, Kieran Trippier has operated as a make-shift left-back with Kyle Walker at right-back.
The change in formation has seen Bukayo Saka play right wing-back and Trippier continue on the left-hand side as wing-back
Under the new formation, the wing-backs are tasked with providing width in attack, with the two tens playing inverted roles where they operate more centrally within the half-spaces.
This can leave space in wide areas that Spain can exploit - particularly given the pace of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, who have been two of the standout stars of the tournament.
England will need to have adequate cover otherwise Spain will be able to easily occupy dangerous wide positions with the ball and from there the Spanish will easily be able to punish The Three Lions.
Williams is direct and offers a threat to goal or crosses back from the byline. The teenage sensation Yamal can go inside or out, and as shown by his fantastic 20-yard curling goal against France, he has the ability to threaten from anywhere. Yamal has also shown tremendous delivery, creating several chances and racking up assists with his signature left footed cross.
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Transition
Luis de la Fuente has shown much desire to play more directly than Spain are usually attributed to.
Alvaro Morata often drops in to become a central option for line-breaking passes. Spain also look to utilise his aerial and physical presence, playing lofted balls into Morata who acts as a target man.
As Spain defend in a 4-4-2 shape, with the advanced midfielder Dani Olmo stepping forward to join Morata.
When Spain win the ball back, this means Olmo is in a position to support Morata, a defensive-midfielder can receive the ball and redistribute possession out to Williams and Yamal to let them attack the spaces left by England in wide areas.
The combination of Morata and Olmo also allows Spain to attack quickly and advance the ball higher up the pitch effortlessly and cause the opposition team to enter disarray as they try to track back, leaving pockets of space for the onrushing Spanish midfielders.
England have looked vulnerable at times in transition, and they will need to tighten up if they are to stop a La Roja from taking advantage.
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The Rodri Problem
Rodri is without doubt one of the best players in the world. The Manchester City midfielder is on a run that has seen him lose just one of his last 79 matches for club and country (in ninety minutes).
The holding midfielder operates in a pivot for Spain alongside Fabian Ruiz, and the duo help to control possession and the tempo for Spain throughout matches.
Rodri possess fantastic ability to play progressive passes, ranking in the 99th percentile amongst other midfielders per 90, which allows him to break defensive lines and create chances, as shown by also ranking in the 99th percentile amongst other midfielders per 90 for goal creating actions (both stats via FBref).
It means he operates similarly to a quarter back for Spain, and England must find a way to stop him doing so. With the tactical shapes meaning there is not out and out player matched up to harass Rodri, Southgate will need to adjust his game plan to ensure Rodri is harried and cannot dictate the play.
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Susceptible to the Press
Spain defend in a 4-4-2 shape, which allows them to aggressively man-to-man press when the situations arise. England have shown a lack of ability to play progressively between the lines throughout the tournament and have been prone to give the ball away in vulnerable areas.
One such example would be Xavi Simons' goal for the Netherlands, where he pinched it off Declan Rice before striking past Jordan Pickford. England may need to play more direct to bypass the La Roja press at times, otherwise Spain may be able to pen England in and mistakes may prove costly in a game with so much at stake.
With Spain in scintillating attacking form, scoring 13 times in six Euro 2024 matches, the reality is they will put England to the sword at times and create opportunities.
It will be up to Southgate and The Three Lions to make this as difficult as possible for La Roja, and if they get it right and an element of luck is on their side, then maybe football will come home after all...
