GARETH Southgate says England are determined to make Sunday's shot at history count as they look to lift the European Championship trophy three years after having to walk past it.
A summer that started with underwhelming performances and grumbles from fans and pundits alike ends in Berlin with just a third ever major men's final appearance.
Spain stand in their way of becoming kings of the continent for the first time, having lost their first European final in heartbreaking fashion against Italy at Wembley in 2021.
Southgate's side return to that stage 1,099 days on from that Euro 2020 shoot-out loss ready to grasp their opportunity to make history against Spain at the cavernous Olympiastadion.
"They're excellent, I have a lot of admiration for them," he said of Sunday's opponents, as reported by England Football.
"They've been excellent with the ball and without the ball, they work as a team and without doubt deserve to be in the final.
"But we have to hope we are rising to the occasion each time. There's no we've question improved with the ball and we needed to.
"We were inhibited at the start of the tournament and we've been freer in the last few games.
"We've shown great resilience in coming through a difficult period where people doubted us.
"I'm very proud of the players and now we have a history-making possibility rather than a fear. It's a different mindset.
"I do think we feel different to 2021. To qualify for a first final in 50 years was a huge landmark at home and it took a lot emotionally from us.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 14, 2024 من MEN on Sunday.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 14, 2024 من MEN on Sunday.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Ten Hag may change things as new boys lined up for starts
HAVING named an unchanged starting line-up from the opening night victory over Fulham at Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, Erik ten Hag will be forced to tinker this afternoon.
Unstoppable object and the immovable force
\"I like it when he runs a lot,\" Pep Guardiola said last week. \"I like when he presses like an animal. I like it.\"
Confidence high that United can fight for trophies
Ten Hag aiming for more silverware ahead of Liverpool clash
Energy firm fined £25m by watchdog
NORTHERN Agenda has reported previously on the ongoing row about exactly how environmentally-friendly the massive Drax power station in Yorkshire really is after its switch from coal to wood pellets.
'We're one of the few villages frozen in time'
The picture postcard location that's entirely owned and run by one family |
Helping kids in Gaza is something I'll always be proud of
City children's nurse on the horror and humanity she saw in war zone
Max's dancing dream is a few steps closer
Teenager raising cash to be part of US competition
Bakery's £10 jar of spread to pimp your croissants
THERE aren’t many things I’d say are worth splashing a whole £10 for.
Has Pride outgrown city's Gay Village?
Adam Maidment wonders if annual festival is now simply too big for its current home
I've bean on a diet!
Mum loses four stone in transformation by using tins of baked beans as weights
