The Euro 2024 is about to end, but it must be caught first Spain or England as a great champion. The road to the final was very different, though Spain impressed the world with Nico and Lamine’s stuporand the ‘computer’ stopped Rodri HernandezEngland are jumping over bumps and miraculously in Berlin.
Now, in a game with all the talent led by the team Gareth Southgate will not be an easy rival for the team of Luis de la Fuente.
Fatigue can tip the balance
One of the factors that may not balance the balance is fatigue, because the English will come more physically weakened. Both for the minutes played in the Euro Cup and for all accumulated throughout the season with their clubs. No Spaniard has played every minute on German soil, while four Englishmen have done so. (Pickford, Walker, Rice and Stones). Also considering that England played two overtimes, to just one for Spain.
Moved throughout the season, adding many club competitions to an endless calendar, the distance from the physical increased. Rodrigo is the most ‘squeezed’ player with 5,382 minutes and 62 games, followed by Le Normand (4,622), Laporte (4,450), Unai Simón (4,264) and Dani Carvajal (4,238) in Spain.
There are five who have surpassed the 4,000 minute barrier. Up to seven Englishmen. Led by Declan Rice with 5,444 minutes and up to 65 games. Foden surpassed that with 68 games in one season (5,435 minutes). Kyle Wlaker (5,111), Jordan Pickford (4,950), Harry Kane (4,924), Bukayo Saka (4,580) and Jude Bellingham (4,511).
According to data from Besoccer, theoretical starters in Spain total 42,226 minutes and England’s 47,847.
The day’s lack of recovery worried Southgate
In addition to having more minutes accumulated in the English legs, they will also have one less day of recovery before the final. Something that worries Southgate as he said in the press room: ”The extra day (of rest or preparation for Spain, who played on Tuesday, 24 hours before England) was a concern. We know that in recent tournaments it has been a problem for the finalists, so we have to do everything we can to recover the players properly.”warning
The last finals gives Southgate reason to worry. The closest to the Euro Cup, in 2021, is also straightforward for him, who also complained about that incident when he lost on penalties to Italy at Wembley. In the semifinals, his team played on July 7 against Denmark, which they defeated in extra time. Their rivals did it in the 6th, all the way to penalties, in a 1-1 draw against Spain.
An event that was repeated in 2022 (Argentina, World Cup), 2018 (France, World Cup), 2016 (Portugal, Euro Cup), 2014 (Germany, World Cup), 2012 (Spain, Euro Cup). In the last six major tournaments the winner played in the semi-finals before the loser.
Spain was the last to break this dynamic by winning the Euro Cup against Germany in 2008 and the World Cup against the Netherlands in 2010. If both rules were followed, Spain would be champions.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
