Spain will play England in the final of Euro 2024 in Berlin on July 15th 3AM Manila time.
This will be Spain's fifth appearance in the final. They won it in 1964, 2008, and again in 2012 and were runners-up in 1984.
England will be playing in their second successive final. Three years ago, they were beaten by Italy on penalties at Wembley.
However, their route to Berlin has been vastly different. In many people's eyes, Spain has been the best team in the tournament, whilst not even the most biased England fan would describe them as that.
Nevertheless, the ability to win ugly in knock-out football counts a lot.
Spain
In the previous two tournaments under coach Luis Enriqué had looked like one of the most accomplishing footballing sides, with their possession-based style. Still, they had previously lacked a cutting edge.
His successor, Luis de la Fuente, has rectified that problem and has been bold in selecting young players for his squad, who have richly rewarded his faith with stand-out performances. Winger Nico Williams has been arguably the tournament's stand-out player, and Pedri impressed before he was kicked out of the competition by Germany's Toni Kroos.
Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal, who only turns 17 years old the day before the final, has emerged as a genuine superstar.
He has made history in Germany—the first teenager to provide three assists, and then, with his wonder strike in the semi-final, he became the youngest player to ever score in a major tournament, beating Pelé's record, which had stood since 1958.
Spain began with the disadvantage of being drawn in the Group of Death (group B) alongside defending champions Italy and Croatia, consistent overachievers in tournament football, and Albania.
In the end, they made short work of it. Three first-half goals against Croatia put them in control of the match, and they could ease off after that. A single goal was enough to see off Italy's challenge, although Spain were much the better side.
Having already topped the group, de la Fuente had the luxury of fielding a changed side from their final group match with Albania, but they still edged that.
In the round of 16, they faced the surprise team of the tournament in Georgia and experienced the unfamiliar feeling of going behind. However, they soon equalized and overpowered the minnows in the second half.
The vagaries of the draw meant they had to face the hosts, Germany, in their quarter-final in Stuttgart, a match many believed was worthy of the final.
Dani Olmo gave them the lead, which they held until injury time before Florian Wirtz equalized for the home team.
In extra time, they had arguably their closest shave of the tournament when the ball struck the arm of Marc Cucurella. Many penalties have been given in such a situation, but the referee waved the calls away this time.
With penalties looming, substitute Mikel Merino lost his marker, and his header sent them to the semi-finals.
France, which had been in the last two World Cup finals, awaited them. This team had not played well in the tournament but had the players who could respond to the big occasion.
And when Kylian Mbappé finally made a decisive contribution, providing the cross for France to go ahead with a header, Spain was temporarily ricked.
It was then that Lamal announced himself on the world stage with his curling effort into the top corner, and then four minutes later, Jules Koundé turned a shot by Dani Olmo into his own net.
France had chances to equalize, but few could argue that Spain were worthy winners at the final whistle or that they are now favorites to lift the trophy.
England
Although England came to Germany as one of the pre-tournament favorites, based on the caliber of players, especially in forward areas, that Gareth Southgate had at his disposal, they have rarely looked like justifying that status.
They have looked stodgy and turgid, slow in playing out from the back and then disjointed further forward, too many square pegs in round holes, or players asked to play out of position.
And the absence of a recognized left-back until the latter stages of knock-out games means they have only consistently offered a threat from the right side.
This is likely to be Southgate's last tournament—his contract is up at the end of it, and there have been no talks of a renewal. Some of his flaws as a head coach have been manifested over the past month—innate conservatism, a tendency to make substitutions too late, and blind loyalty to some players, even though they are obviously out of form, like his captain Harry Kane.
What they possess, though, is character and individuals who can dig them out of a deep hole when their backs are against the wall.
They were drawn into Group C, one of the easier groups, by common consent, but they made hard work of qualifying from it.
An early goal from Jude Bellingham was enough to get them past Serbia in the opening match, although England sat back in the second half and invited the Serbs on to them.
Again, Kane put them in front against Denmark, but this time, the Danes responded soon after, and they had much the better of the match after that.
Although a goalless draw with Slovenia was enough to qualify them as group winners, England fans were so dissatisfied with their performance that they pelted Southgate and his coaching staff with beer.
However, by a stroke of good fortune, results elsewhere opened up the draw for England and gave them a potentially easier route to the final.
All that seemed unlikely in the round of 16 games with Slovakia, as they trailed deep into injury time.
Almost in desperation, they launched a long throw into the box, and the ball fell to Bellingham, who produced a brilliant overhead kick to save his side's bacon. The comeback was complete when Kane scored in the first minute of extra time.
They arguably had the better of their quarter-final tie with Switzerland, but they fell behind in the 75th minute and seemed to be heading home. This time, Bukayo Saka—normally a right winger but asked to play in multiple positions by Southgate—came to their rescue with a fine individual goal.
Extra time produced no resolution, and it went to penalties, so often England's undoing in tournament football. However, they showed that some of the lessons had been learned by converting all of theirs, whilst Jordan Pickford kept out Manuel Akanji's effort.
Although they started their semi-final with Switzerland brightly, this time, it was their turn to fall behind early to a fine strike from Xavi Simons.
That was a cue for them to play their best football of the tournament, although they were gifted a way back into the match following a hugely generous penalty decision. Harry Kane duly tucked it away.
Tactical changes made by the Dutch at half-time helped nullify some of the English threat, and a height advantage at set-pieces meant the Men in Orange seemed the more likely winners.
Yet again, though, Southgate found a savior in substitute Ollie Watkins, who had played only ten minutes of football in the tournament previously. His swivel and turn allowed him to get his shot away. It found the bottom corner, and England had battled their way to Berlin.
