Euro 2024 finals: England v Spain in numbers – BBC News

How ready are you for the big game?

Whether you followed the competition or not, it must come up in the conversation today. If impressing your friends with football scores is important to you, read on, we’ve got you covered.

Since the turn of the millennium, The Spanish Fury have topped the Euros in 2008 and 2012 (and won the World Cup in 2010) but the Three Lions’ desire to end 58 years of injuries could see them up against problems. .

Although English hearts may dare to believe, what do the cold facts say?

For many fans, the heartbreak after England’s Lionesses lost to Spain in the 2023 World Cup final will still be raw.

The good news is that England’s men have a strong record against Spain – of the three times they have faced each other at the Euros, the Three Lions have won the last two.

They have scored twice as many goals as England – 13 goals compared to seven. They also added 42 more attempts on goal, had more runs into the opposition penalty area and fired more crosses and corners.

Spain also set out to get their boots dirty, committing 83 of the Lions’ 50 fouls and picking up more yellow cards (the latest score is 15 – 11, in case you’re wondering). Daniel Carvajal was even sent off in the quarter-final against Germany.

Let’s face it – sanctions can decide the outcome.

England can take solace in their recent performance when placed in that position: they have scored all six of their penalties in this tournament. Spain has no points yet. However, to be honest, they haven’t taken either.

The squads are well matched when it comes to important factors such as age, height and top speed. But England did more, running 737 km (456 miles) compared to Spain’s 724 km (450 miles).

Declan Rice has outrun all other competitors from both teams so far, covering a massive 75km (46.6 miles). It’s like increasing the speed 745.5 times.

Both sides have youngsters making their international debuts.

Lamine Yamal, the Spanish player, was only 16 years old when the Euros started (he turned 17 on Saturday).

Kobbie Mainoo, England’s football star, is a relatively intelligent 19-year-old.

And what about the captains? Harry Kane and Alvaro Morata are closely matched in age and height and have recorded the same top speed of 32 km (19.88 miles) per hour in this competition.

But Kane outdistanced his Mediterranean rival, covering a distance of 63 km (39.15 miles) compared to Morata’s 45 km (about 28 miles).

If the Euros were a long run, England would have this in the bag.

Domestic rivalries dominate football. So where is England best represented in the 2024 squad?

At 31%, more players in this England squad were born in the North West than anywhere else.

Of the 94 different players selected for the Euros between 2004 and 2024, more than half were from the North West or London.

The East Midlands are represented for the first time since 2004, when Ivan Toney took over the mantle from Emile Heskey.

There has never been a player from the East for two Euros in a row – the region was last represented by Stevenage’s Jack Wilshere in 2016.

Apart from penalties, only one England player scored in the Euro final – London-born Luke Shaw. Hopefully that list will grow on Sunday.