Spain and England to meet in European Championship final in front of Prince William and King Felipe
Spain and England were close to kickoff at the European Championship final, with much of the focus on a teenage prodigy and whether one of the world’s most underachieving teams can end its decades-long wait for a title.
The match is scheduled to start Sunday at 9 p.m. local time in Berlin and is expected to be attended by Prince William, Spain’s King Felipe, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Keir Starmer, Britain’s new prime minister.
Spain is bidding to win the Euros for a record fourth time, breaking a tie with Germany/West Germany, and for the first time since 2012. The team’s new superstar is winger Lamine Yamal, who turned 17 on Saturday.
Defenders Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand returned to the starting lineup after suspensions for Spain, with Yamal part of the front three.
The only change to England’s team saw Luke Shaw return at left back, in place of Kieran Trippier, for his first start for club or country since February.
England, which lays claim to be the birthplace of soccer, hasn’t won a major title since the 1966 World Cup and that was on home soil. This is the team’s second straight European Championship final, having lost in a penalty shootout in the final to Italy three years ago.