History can be made on Sunday evening. England are in the final of Euro 2024 looking to end 58 years of hurt.
The Three Lions had the opportunity to end their long trophy drought at Euro 2020, but their hopes and dreams were shattered by Italy. Gareth Southgate’s team are back in the final now, taking on Spain for the title.
Spain are the favourites to win the final, with their free-flowing, attacking football earning plaudits from everyone. England meanwhile have felt their way into the tournament, with a less than inspiring group stage followed up by better performances in the knockouts.
England were within seconds of being knocked out at the last 16 stage by Slovakia, until Jude Bellingham‘s stunning overhead kick. But things have markedly improved since then, with better performances against Switzerland and the Netherlands.
For Spain, there is one name that has been getting rave reviews throughout the tournament – 17-year-old Lamine Yamal. The teenage superstar scored a wonder goal against France in the semi-final to send them through to the final.
Keeping him quiet will not be enough for England, with the likes of Nico Williams and Dani Olmo also in their ranks, but it will go some way to giving the Three Lions a foothold in the game if they can starve Yamal of possession.
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England have their own superstars though, with Bukayo Saka proving his worth with some stunning displays, scoring the equaliser against Switzerland and having a goal ruled out against the Netherlands.
Arsenal‘s star boy has the most shot-creating actions of any England player at the tournament, while he also tops the charts for open play chances created, crosses completed and successful passes into the opposition box.
At 22, he is only five years Yamal’s senior, but he had his own rise through the ranks as a teenager, just like the Spaniard. Saka is used to having pressure on his shoulders and will no doubt thrive on it in the final, where he can prove to the world he is the main man on the wing.
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According to CIES Football Observatory, Saka is worth much more than Yamal too. His Arsenal contract runs for a year longer than Yamal’s Barcelona deal, which will help with his higher valuation, but there are other factors, like minutes played, the proportion of those as a starter, the sporting level of matches played, results, the economic strength of the player’s club and league, that of potential buyers, the level of inflation and more.
Saka is named the sixth-most valuable player in world football, with his value at £167.8million. Yamal is not too far behind, named the eighth-most valuable player in the world at £121million.
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