ENGLAND will face Spain in the final of Euro 2024 after some last-gasp heroics from Ollie Watkins.
The Aston Villa hitman fired the Three Lions into their second straight Euros final with a sensational stoppage-time winner in Wednesday night’s semi-final against the Netherlands.
Watkins brilliantly rifled the ball past a helpless Bart Verbruggen just minutes after replacing skipper Harry Kane up front.
Gareth Southgate‘s troops will face their toughest task of the tournament to end the nation’s 58-year-long wait for silverware.
Spain are the huge favourites having knocked out two of the pre-tournament favourites en route to Sunday’s final.
Luis de la Fuente Castillo’s charges dumped hosts Germany out in the quarter-finals before ending 2016 runners-up France‘s hopes of winning the tournament in the semis.
It’s been nearly SIX YEARS since England last came up against the Spaniards, who lifted the Henri Delaunay trophy in 1964, 2008 and 2012.
And to say their starting XI for the October 2018 Nations League clash, which England won 3-2, is unrecognisable from Southgate’s current go-to team would be an understatement.
Only THREE players who started the match in Seville played in Wednesday’s downing of the Dutch.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, makeshift left-back Kieran Trippier and star striker Kane are the relics of that starting XI.
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Only a further three stars in the matchday squad were on the plane to Germany this summer, those players being Joe Gomez, Lewis Dunk and Kyle Walker.
England‘s goalscoring heroes that night – Raheem Sterling, who netted twice, and Marcus Rashford – weren’t selected for the tournament due to their poor seasons with Chelsea and Manchester United respectively.
England’s starting XI vs Spain in October 2018: Pickford; Trippier, Gomez, Maguire, Chilwell; Winks, Dier, Barkley; Sterling, Kane, Rashford
Despite having received immense pre-tournament criticism, Southgate has maintained his belief that his troops can end the nation’s trophy drought.
But the 53-year-old admits his Lions will need to turn in a tournament-best performance against the all-conquering Spanish to finally bring football home.
He said: “I took the job to try to improve English football and we’re now in a second final.
“The last one was the first in over 50 years. We’re now in a first one overseas.
“We’re giving people amazing nights. We’ve given our supporters some of the best nights in the last 50 years. I’m hugely proud of that.
“I’m delighted if everyone at home is feeling the way we are and the way those in the stadium were. But we’re not finished.
“We’ve got the greatest possible test to prepare for.
“We came here to try to win the tournament and that’s still our aim.”
