After a month of exciting footballing action, the next champion of the UEFA Euro is finally going to be decided as Spain take on England in the high-voltage summit clash on Monday, July 15. Both the teams have been unbeaten in the competition. Spain being the one who won all the matches from the group stages while England went through the rounds despite the matches being unsettled in the regulation time on few occasions. Both teams have won hard-fought games and boasts of plethora of talents who can decide the game and the title in their favour. This is the second consecutive Euro final of England and Gareth Southgate while for Spanish coach Luis De La Fuente, it is a chance to win a second title as the coach of the Spanish side after they won the last UEFA Nations League recently. Lamine Yamal Spotted Carrying a ‘Ninja Turtle’ Mask Before His Post-Match Interview After Spain Beat France To Teach UEFA Euro 2024 Final, Video Goes Viral.

Under Gareth Southgate, England has represented a specific style of play and brand of football. The brand has helped to unite the England players previously disjointed due to extreme club rivalry which was the reason of them not realising the potential of top footballers through generations for the national team. Meanwhile, De La Fuente has given Spain a new spark after their tried and tested method of success failed repeatedly in the last few competitions. The development of the two sides indicate that the result of the UEFA Euro 2024 final might shape the tactical trends of the future European Football.

How Things Happened Till Now?

In the ongoing UEFA Euro 2024, England has played with a more risk averse style. Gareth Southgate has relied on controlling possession of the ball for longer spells and the types of passes are chosen in such a way that the England players doesn't get caught out of structure. They are well-positioned to start counterpress immediately after they are dispossessed, although their pressing didn't have the required energy throughout UEFA Euro 2024 as admitted by Phil Foden in an interview. The risk averse defensive possession style has caused them to suffocate for creativity at times. They have relied on individual moments from the likes of Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane and on the basis of their success, they have climbed to the final.

Spain on the other hand, have made a visible change in their tempo of play. They have not tried to be risk averse, rather more on the frontfoot, risk takers with the ball. Off the ball they have been mobile and fluid, providing passing angles to the one in possession of the ball and in possession they have tried to be vertical, progressing the ball to the final third as quickly as possible. They have involved their two direct wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal on regular occasions and provided them with doubled up options wide by encouraging the fullbacks to make overlapping runs. All this mobility has opened up opposition defence and the intensity of Spain has stopped them from conceding many goals too.

What are the Implications of It?

There has been many arguments lately in the favour of risk averse football in or out of possession in tournaments. In the UEFA Euro 2024, coaches of big teams like France, Portugal and England have considered that risk taking is not a productive option for such high-stake competitions and it is the risk-averse football of keeping structures intact, which has helped teams make deeper runs using the dynamics of tournament football. England and France making it to the semifinal of the UEFA Euro 2024 has only made the argument stronger.

Although, in the UEFA Euro 2024, Spain has countered the theory with their high risk-high reward football. They have committed numbers infront fearlessly. Despite having the quick-feet Kylian Mbappe on the opposition side, they have dared to encourage fullbacks to go on overlapping runs. When long spell of possession and structural positioning is becoming a norm of football, Spain has provided a spark of energy showing how having the ball can have quick but creative outcomes as well. Mansour Bahrami Performs Jude Bellingham’s Iconic Celebration After Scoring a Point at Wimbledon 2024, Video Goes Viral.

The tactical styles and choices of both Spain and England makes the result of the upcoming UEFA Euro 2024 extremely important. Tactics in European football is currently standing at a tipping point. Teams have started cancelling each other out with structured play and coaches are facing deadlocks too often. A change of tactical style in a continental scale might not be too far. A win in favour of England in the UEFA Euro 2024 final will only establish the argument of risk-averse football more suited to tournaments. While if Spain win, it might change the outlook of a number of coaches and might revolutionize the tactical trends in Europe for the next few years.

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 12, 2024 09:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).