- Mendis clinches Sri Lanka series win over West Indies
- Israel says killed Hamas chief Sinwar in Gaza
- Panel urges Secret Service shake-up after Trump assassination bid
- Trump, Harris back on friendly ground after tough interrogations
- Pressure on Ten Hag is 'too much': Brentford boss Frank
- Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar: Israel's most wanted man
- ECB bans transgender women from women's professional cricket
- Monaco aiming to last in Ligue 1 title fight with PSG
- Kenya deputy president impeachment trial in chaos after he falls ill
- English coaches 'capable' of managing national team, says Southampton boss
- Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies retires from international rugby
- Real Madrid fans dismiss 'fake' Mbappe rape reports
- IMF chief calls for unity on shared challenges in 'deeply troubled times'
- Australia post 134-5 in semi-final of women's T20 World Cup
- Tech giants go nuclear in AI arms race
- 1,100 mpox deaths recorded across Africa: CDC
- UK's National Gallery bans liquids after activist art attacks
- Onboard wifi is latest frontline in airline competition
- Instagram moves to face rising tide of sextortion scams
- Tributes to One Direction's Liam Payne after hotel balcony fall
- Bangladesh court issues arrest warrant for ex-leader Hasina
- Israel says 'checking' if Hamas chief Sinwar killed in Gaza
- Victims of Vietnam tycoon's record scam count losses after sentence
- EU leaders talk tough on migration, but divided on action
- Global stocks climb as ECB cut rates and tech rebounds
- Biden heads to Germany to discuss Ukraine, Middle East
- US retail sales pick up pace in September
- Pakistan sense series-levelling win over England after Sajid heroics
- Kenya deputy president falls ill during impeachment trial
- Mbappe to keep any explanations for Swedish justice, 'if necessary' - lawyer
- 345,000 Gazans face 'catastrophic' hunger this winter: UN
- ECB makes back-to-back interest rate cuts as inflation falls
- France's richest family, Red Bull in 'exclusive talks' for Paris FC takeover
- Public money 'must be at core' of new climate pact: UN's Stiell
- Russian MPs back ban on 'propaganda' of childless lifestyles
- New Zealand on top after India bowled out for 46 in rain-hit Test
- UK's Lammy visits China in bid to reset London-Beijing ties
- What's next in Swedish rape investigation into Mbappe?
- Nestle overhauls executive team as sales slump
- US B-2 bombers strike Huthi facilities in Yemen: military
- Eurozone stocks climb as ECB rate cut looms
- Lebanon crowdfunded ambulances under fire in Israel-Hezbollah war
- S Korean Nobel winner Han Kang hopes daily life 'won't change much'
- Pakistan extend lead beyond 200 in second England Test
- Liam Payne: One Direction singer swept up by teenage stardom
- Zelensky defends 'victory plan' at EU and NATO
- Vietnam death row tycoon jailed for life in separate trial
- Hard talk on migration tops agenda at EU summit
- Beckham says Ratcliffe needs time to revive Man Utd
- Conway puts New Zealand in lead after India bowled out for 46
BCC | -3.28% | 142.33 | $ | |
JRI | -0.23% | 13.14 | $ | |
SCS | -0.88% | 13.025 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.06% | 24.905 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.08% | 25.131 | $ | |
RBGPF | 1.67% | 60.5 | $ | |
BCE | -0.12% | 33.44 | $ | |
NGG | -1.27% | 67.284 | $ | |
RIO | -1.63% | 64.895 | $ | |
RYCEF | 2.28% | 7.47 | $ | |
RELX | 1.01% | 48.64 | $ | |
VOD | -1.18% | 9.735 | $ | |
AZN | -0.03% | 78.29 | $ | |
GSK | -0.27% | 39.105 | $ | |
BTI | -1.17% | 35.385 | $ | |
BP | 1.09% | 31.27 | $ |
Great entertainers Spain bring much-needed thrills to Euro 2024
England and Spain face off in Sunday's Euro 2024 final after taking very different routes to Berlin in a tournament that has at times lacked for thrills.
Spain have been a class apart despite a devilishly difficult draw that has seen them beat 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Croatia, holders Italy, hosts Germany and the pre-tournament favourites in France.
By contrast, England have stumbled their way into a first ever final on foreign soil thanks to a series of late goals to paper over the cracks despite the wealth of talent available to manager Gareth Southgate.
They were among the continent's powerhouses who were accused of turning European football's showpiece into a tough watch.
England topped Group C despite scoring just two goals in three games, form which drew such opprobrium from their own fans that Southgate was pelted with beer cups after a 0-0 draw against Slovenia.
Should Southgate's men go on to lift the trophy, Jude Bellingham's 95th-minute overhead kick to avoid a last-16 exit to Slovakia will go down as one of the most significant goals in English history.
But it was also their first shot on target of the match.
Similarly, Bukayo Saka's stunning strike to equalise against Switzerland on 80 minutes in the quarter-final was the first time England hit the target.
"Our intention is always to play well with the ball -- in football you have an opponent that's trying to stop you," said Southgate when quizzed on the lack of entertainment in England games. "None of this is easy."
- 'Change the channel if you're bored' -
Yet Southgate was far from the only coach who stood accused of failing to maximise bountiful resources by deploying overly-cautious tactics.
France advanced to the semi-finals without one of their players scoring a single goal from open play.
Despite that, coach Didier Deschamps was defiant when questioned by a Swedish journalist over the lack of entertainment offered by his side.
"If you are bored you can watch something else. It's ok. You are not obliged," the French boss hit back when criticised over his side's lack of goals.
"We have the ability to share emotions, to make lots of French people happy with the results we have had, especially in what is a difficult time in our country...if Swedish people are bored that is not too important for me."
Portugal were another of the favourites who failed to fire.
Blessed with one of the deepest squads in the tournament, coach Roberto Martinez's refusal to drop Cristiano Ronaldo backfired as his side crashed out on penalties to France in the quarter-finals having failed to score in any of their last three games in Germany.
The 114 goals at the tournament so far, at an average of 2.28 per match, is down on the 2.78 at the previous Euros three years ago and the 2.69 at the 2022 World Cup.
Bucking the trend has been Spain's new generation, looking to follow in the steps of the all-conquering side that won three consecutive major tournaments between 2008 and 2012.
Drawn into the toughest group, Luis de la Fuente's men shone from the start, scoring three times in the opening half in a 3-0 win over Croatia.
A 1-0 victory over Italy did little justice for the scale of Spanish domination in Gelsenkirchen, before they rounded off the group stage with a 1-0 win over Albania despite making 10 changes.
Even an early own goal to give Georgia a shock lead in the last 16 did not derail the Spanish charge as they stormed back to dish out a 4-1 thrashing.
Spain ended German dreams in Stuttgart with their own piece of late drama as Mikel Merino's header edged the highest quality game of the tournament 2-1.
Lamine Yamal's stunning strike to become the youngest ever Euros goalscorer lit up the 2-1 semi-final win over France.
"They've been the best team," added Southgate, on the challenge of facing Spain. "We'll have to get the ball off them first."
England will need their best display to stop the Spanish juggernaut but the tournament could also do with a classic final if it is to be remembered fondly by neutrals in years to come.
F.Dubois--AMWN