England v Spain LIVE: Euro 2024 score and latest updates as Southgate makes one change to line up in Berlin

England striker Harry Kane has scored more knockout stage goals at major tournaments (World Cup/Euros) than any other European player (nine), including a record six at the European Championship.

Can he add to that tally tonight?

The smiles around the England camp emphasise that, in an atmosphere that is completely different to what it was like even two weeks ago. At that point, there was a risk of a bored disgruntlement taking hold, that could have made this campaign like 2010 or even 2000. It might instead be like 1966, with a chance for a grand redemption of Euro 2020.

While most of the players are just looking ahead to Sunday, some can’t help discussing that defeat to Italy at Wembley. Declan Rice has admitted it will “haunt” him “forever”. That’s only if this is another defeat, and Sunday sees England become the first ever team to lose consecutive European Championship finals, while Spain become the first to win this trophy four times.

England have reached the European Championship final in consecutive editions. They’ve now reached more major tournament finals in four attempts under Gareth Southgate (two), than they did in their first 23 appearances at the World Cup/Euro combined (one) before his tenure.

This will also be England men’s first major tournament final played outside of England, with the 1966 World Cup and Euro 2020 finals being played at Wembley Stadium.

The Three Lions have never lost a match in Berlin in six attempts (W4 D2), only playing more in Helsinki (8), Amsterdam (7) and Sunderland (7) without ever suffering defeat.

Aged 17 years and one day, Spain’s Lamine Yamal could be the youngest ever player to feature in a World Cup or European Championship final, surpassing Pele’s record from the 1958 World Cup (17y 249d).

He has three assists so far at Euor 2024, with no Spaniard ever providing four at a single edition of the Euros.

Spain have won their last three major tournament finals, winning the European Championship in 2008 and 2012, and the World Cup in 2010.

No European side has ever been successful in four consecutive World Cup/Euros final matches before. This is also Spain’s fifth European Championship final with them winning the trophy three times (1964, 2008, 2012) and losing once (1984).

They could become the first team to win the competition on four separate occasions.

Jay Diment, 24, watching the game with girlfriend Katie Hastie at Brixton’s Ritzy cinema predicts a “close fought encounter” with Spain prevailing 2-1.

He said: “It’s not all bad as my girlfriend has Spain in the family sweepstake and can win £60.

“I hope England to continue their immense growth, determination and grit from the last Euro’s final.

“Saka is the embodiment of this in. He used one of the lowest moments of his career to turn into not only a wonderful footballer but a role model for future English footballers.”

He adds: “I believe Gareth deserves until 2026 regardless of the result he has built an England team that is cohesive and united. Plus who else is there? Dyche, Howe, Hodgson?!

“As many ex-England players have pointed out, this England team are ready to play for another.

“Long gone are the days of the United, Liverpool and Arsenal cliques where England players would dread the call up.”

Now that Gareth Southgate sits in the Blankenhain base talking about how England might win a European Championship final, he can make an admission. “There was a danger”, as he puts it, that this Euro 2024campaign and his entire managerial tenure could have unravelled. There was certainly a risk of the “doom and gloom” engulfing the squad.

“But,” Southgate adds, “I was determined to confront it.” That went way beyond walking towards the beer cups being thrown after the 0-0 draw with Slovenia, although he still feels that was crucial “because we fought too hard to change the environment for the players”. More important was to actually work through what was going wrong – “a coaching challenge. That wasn’t necessarily on the training ground.” It involved showing the players what they were actually doing on video, and comparing it to their instructions. There was also just a photo.

“We’ve just drawn against Denmark, they’re on two points, we’re on four, they’re celebrating with their fans, we’re on our knees.”

England boss Gareth Southgate (runner up at Euro 2020) will be the third manager to take charge of more than one European Championship final (excl. replays).

That’s after Helmut Schon with Germany (1972, 1976) and Berti Vogts with Germany (1992, 1996), with all three doing so in consecutive editions.

No manager has ever lost two finals in the competition before.

Spain have only lost four of their last 14 meetings with England in all competitions (W7 D3), having lost seven in a row against the Three Lions before this.

However, England won 3-2 the last time they faced Spain – in the Nations League in October 2018 – and they’ve now won consecutive meetings with La Roja since a run of seven between 1960 and 1980.

“England are a huge team with world-class players. It’s going to be really difficult, but we are very excited and very eager to play because we’ve been having a really good tournament.

“The relationship between the whole squad is fantastic. I hope we can make it happen for the squad and the country. I really hope we can win that trophy.”