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Our Spurs fans in the media are back with their views on the Euro 2024 final...

Sat 13 July 2024, 17:00|Tottenham Hotspur

Exactly a month ago, we asked five Spurs fans in the media for their Euro 2024 predictions.

All five quietly fancied England's chances - a month on, the Three Lions are a step away from glory as they take on Spain in the final in Germany on Sunday evening (8pm UK).

Ahead of the highly-anticipated clash at Berlin's Olympiastadion - England's second-successive final in the competition - we went back to our five pundits to ask for their views...

Michael Bridge - Sky Sports presenter and reporter.
Reshmin Chowdhury - presenter for TNT Sports and talkSPORT.
Kate Mason - presenter for TNT Sports, Eurosport, columnist for The Metro.
Jamie Weir - Sky Sports presenter and reporter.
And not forgetting...
Ben Haines - presenter of Inside Spurs, The Warm Up and Review Show here at Spurs.

Michael Bridge

“It’s such an intriguing final. For a start, it’s the first time England will go into a game as the underdogs. The Spanish have impressed, and it’s no surprise they are in the final. England have got the job done. There has been a lot of criticism throughout the tournament on their performances, but you don’t get an asterisk next to a result saying, ‘played well’. They have got the job done. It’s not been pretty in a lot of the games, but they are in this final and the players and manager deserve a lot of credit for that. As big and great a footballing nation we are, our record in major tournaments isn’t so good, so much so, that England are in a major final abroad for the first time. That has to be remembered. It’s all about moments… will there be another special moment on Sunday? You can look back to Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick deep into stoppage time against Slovakia, England seconds away from going home, but the beauty of this tournament for England is that, okay, the performances haven’t been as good, we haven’t relied on the odd individual, these moments have come from everyone, Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins - two of those players came off the bench. Credit to Gareth Southgate on that. He can now say he's taken England to another final, and, if they win it, it will be an unbelievable feeling and unbelievable achievement.”

Reshmin Chowdhury

“This is a funny one for me because Spain is always my second team. I lived there and was there in 2008, when they won the Euros (2008), the World Cup (2010) and then the Euros again (2012). I was there for that golden era for Spain and all the players in that era were either ones I worked with at Real Madrid or players I watched week in, week out. From that, I’ve always wanted the Spanish national team to win – except when they play England! So, it’s head versus heart. My head certainly says Spain, because they’ve been the most consistent team across the tournament, and how they’ve gelled. In my heart, of course, I want England to win. I know people have said there’s just a feeling about England doing it, but I’m not getting that. I was in Greece when they won it in 2004, who would have guessed that? But, in that country, they had a feeling. I’m not getting that, personally, but that might just be me! Anything can happen in a final and we do have players who can deliver at any time, for example, the semi-final and Ollie Watkins’ finish. What a substitution! What a finish! Big moments in games, so we can do it. Spain have that as well, and that’s why it’s so tough to call. Maybe it will just come down to the luck on the day!”

Kate Mason

“After watching Spain’s semi-final on Tuesday, I thought to myself, ‘okay, it doesn’t matter if we (England) win or not, we’re not beating that lot’, but that’s obviously rubbish, I was just trying to convince myself that’s how I felt! France didn’t seem to have answers to what Spain were doing. The question is, will England? England have improved, and we all saw that in the game against the Netherlands, who had to change to nullify us. Will Spain be able to do that? They are a very good side. Defensively, I believe they can be got at. In my heart of hearts, okay, Spain have been the better team in the tournament. But we’ve been building, improving and we seem to have found answers when we’ve been asked questions. Gareth Southgate’s substitutions… Ollie Watkins was a big call on Wednesday night, taking Harry Kane off. The squad look together, and it looks like we’re peaking at the right time. The first half against the Netherlands was so good! Another thing that helps us is that this is not new for us now. We were in the final three years ago, so, that’s got to help, that experience. A lot of the players know what it’s like to be in a final. I was there for Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen, seconds from going out, but when Jude Bellingham scored... incredible. Moments like that, and since then, make everyone believe anything is possible.”

Ben Haines

“Right then... I can’t actually call who are favourites. If truth be told, up until the Netherlands game for England, I’ve felt as though we’ve ridden our luck and relied on having wonderful players at the key moments... but really isn’t that what winning major tournaments is all about? The further through the tournament we go the more you feel like... possibly... this could be England’s time! The penalty shoot out, the extra time winner, the finding a way even when you think it’s not been the most exhilarating. Crucially, it feels as though the unity that at times has been missing is back - the fans, the coaching staff, the players and the nation more broadly all seem completely behind this group and in a one-off game, why can’t they go out and win it? I wouldn’t expect many changes, but Luke Shaw impressed when he came on, so the key question is whether he is fit enough for 90 minutes. For Spain, your big three are the ones to watch… Olmo, Yemal, Williams - they have everything you need to cause England lots of trouble. Kyle Walker’s role will be absolutely key, providing speed at the back and at the other end as ever... hopefully Harry Kane can do the business for England. Prediction my end - 2-1 England!”

Jamie Weir

“Before a ball was kicked, I felt England and Spain would have a great chance of winning the Euros. There is no question, at all, that Spain have been the standout team from the start of the tournament. They strike me as the team that has the best balance from front to back. Their defence has been pretty solid, In Nico Williams and Lamine Yemal, they have the best two forwards in the tournament, Alvaro Morata does his job between those two, Rodri is arguably the best footballer on the planet at the moment and controls the tempo of every game, he’s been incredible. There is also no question that England haven’t looked as fluent as Spain have up to this point, however, I think Gareth Southgate was pretty brave to switch to a back three before the quarter-final against Switzerland, then did the same in the semi-final against the Dutch, and England have looked a lot more fluent since – the first half of the semi-final was their best of the tournament. Phil Foden was sensational, Bukayo Saka has been brilliant throughout, arguably England’s best player all tournament. I just think on a one-off day, England have the weapons to hurt Spain, and, crucially, Spain will play the style of football that could play into England’s hands, leaving a few gaps, and those gaps are what Foden, Saka, Jude Bellingham can exploit. That said, you’ve got to get the ball off them! They are so good at controlling the tempo of a game. I understand why there’s been criticism of Harry Kane’s performances, that’s just par for the course. One day, people will understand what a world-class footballer England had on their hands with Harry as their captain. He will start the final, yes, Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins have come off the bench and made a difference, but what Harry gives you, that X factor, the passing range, the intelligence, his ability to play as a 10 and pick out passes, I don’t think people give him full credit for. I hope he scores, I hope he wins the Golden Boot and England win the final and he gets to lift that trophy. He deserves it. I think Spain go in as big favourites, they have been sensational, head and shoulders the best team, but England have world-class players, they’ve got to this stage through sheer determination - Slovakia, Switzerland, Holland, a goal down and yet they’ve managed to grind it out and get the win. That tells you something about their togetherness of this group and I think it’s almost written in the stars that it’s going to happen for them.”