RAISE your glass, clear your throat and scream it loud and proud… for England, Harry Kane and St. George!
One game from glory, the chance to write history — now go out and make yourselves footballing legends.
That’s the message I’m sure Gareth Southgate will be giving to his boys on Sunday, and you know what? I’m convinced they’ll do it as well.
I’ve said all along that this is our time, so there’s no way I’ll be going back on my prediction.
Not because it’s written in the stars, not because the draw has been kind, and not because we’ve ridden our luck on more than one occasion in these Euros.
All that’s helped, for sure, but not the reason I’m so confident. It’s because I look at the two teams and just think, man for man, we are stronger than Spain.
Yes, I know they’ve been the most impressive team at the tournament but let’s be honest, we’re not talking all-time greats like some of the sides of old.
The two young Spanish wingers are fantastic players, especially the kid Lamine Yamal. We certainly need to keep him quiet.
I tell you something, though — England have a hell of a lot more for them to be worried about, trust me.
Like Jude Bellingham, for a start.
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In Madrid they won’t be thinking of a man who’s only been at his best in flashes but the outstanding star of LaLiga who took Spain by storm.
They’ll be scared to death of facing him, while Jude will be full of confidence at what he can do to them.
Phil Foden has been different class since Gareth moved him inside, and Spain have a huge issue in how they cope with him.
And what about Bukayo Saka? If he’s in the same form as the last two games, would you fancy Marc Cucurella to get the better of him? I certainly wouldn’t.
And then there’s captain Harry. Fair enough, I accept he’s not in the form of his life right now, maybe he isn’t 100 per cent.
But he’s still got three goals, there’s every likelihood he will finish the Euros as top scorer, and here’s a question.
If there’s a half chance in the box in Berlin, who would you fancy to stick it away, Harry or Alvaro Morata?
It’s an absolute no-brainer. Morata gets through a ton of work but let’s make no bones about it, he was something of a disaster when he played at Chelsea.
In terms of the world’s great strikers, the genuine goalscoring centre-forwards, if you were picking the best around, he would be lucky to make the top ten. Harry, for me, would be No 1.
To think there were people who felt he should be dropped for the semi! To be honest Gareth won’t want to make any changes for the final, either.
AFTER what has been a tough tournament of times, what an opportunity Gareth Southgate and his team will have to end in the best possible way, writes Jack Wilshere.
We might like a team that played better football. But it’s a results business.
Germany, Italy, France, Portugal and of course Holland would love to be where we are.
People will say we’re lucky because we’re on this side of the draw.
But we won the group. France didn’t and then ran into Spain.
You can say it wasn’t that pretty, but we’re there.
Gareth and his coaches won’t have been happy with some of the performances.
But I did like the way Gareth and his team have dealt with it.
There was no panic coming out of the camp.
Everyone gave the same message: ‘We know we can better, but we’re here still.’
And on Sunday they will be in Berlin to play Spain.
They will probably have to produce two halves of football as good as the first against Holland to beat them.
We have improved as the tournament has gone on and that is how you win things.
You want to peak in the final.
If Gareth can lead England to that major trophy we’ve all been waiting for, it will be the perfect answer to the critics and a brilliant day for us all.
Read Jack Wilshere’s England vs Holland verdict in full.
Or check out all of SunSport columnist Jack’s Euros 2024 opinions…
He’d sooner go with Kieran Trippier to counter Yamal but Luke Shaw would hardly be a weak link.
As a regular left-back, you could even argue he’s a better option. But that’s the thing with this England squad — it’s so deep.
If it comes down to the bench, as it has so often already, Gareth is spoilt for choice.
Cole Palmer is effective every time he comes on, Ivan Toney was key in the quarter-final, and Ezri Konsa didn’t put a foot wrong when he got his chance against Switzerland.
And then there’s Ollie Watkins — what a fairytale that is.
From Exeter and Weston-super-Mare on loan to England’s matchwinner against Holland — and what a finish it was, too.
I’m sure there were times in the past when Ollie worried where his career was going.
But if ever there was an example to keep trying, to never give up, it’s him. So you can see why I’m so confident of beating Spain. And as good as they’ve been at the Euros, how many thought three weeks ago we’d be playing them in the final?
Not that I think it’s going to be a stroll, by the way. Far from it, because if England aren’t at it, they will cause us big problems.
It could be a long night, and it wouldn’t be the greatest surprise if it did end up going all the way to penalties.
But if that’s what it takes, then fair enough, because I wouldn’t fancy anyone to beat us in a shootout these days.
That’s not something I thought I’d be saying a few years ago… any more than England being European champions.
And on Sunday I wouldn’t back against either.
