Southgate warns England they must be ‘tactically perfect’ to beat Spain in final

Gareth Southgate is confident ­England have enough character and knowhow to play the “tactically ­perfect” game that will be vital to becoming European champions at Spain’s expense on Sunday.

 

Southgate, who is wary of Luis de la Fuente’s side having an extra day to prepare for the showpiece in ­Berlin, did not downplay the size of the task that awaits England after they reached their first major final on foreign soil thanks to Wednesday’s victory over the Netherlands.

Spain are favourites and there was nothing but respect from him for opponents who have played the best football at Euro 2024. Southgate, however, has a battle-hardened team and said he had learned from England’s defeat by Italy in the final three years ago, but the 53-year-old would not go along with the notion that Spain’s lack of experience could be a weakness.

“They have won a few trophies,” he said. “They are a bloody good side. Let’s pitch it right. We have got to be perfect to win this game and we will have to find everything that we have got from within us.

 

“We have got players who have played lots of big matches so they will know what is required on the night but in the next couple of days we have got to get ­perfectly prepared as it is such a quick turnaround.”

 

Southgate hopes England’s spirit, underlined by Ollie Watkins coming on to score his late winner against the Netherlands, will give them a chance of winning the ­country’s first major trophy in the men’s game since the 1966 World Cup. But he knows how hard it will be to stop Spain.

 

“They would rightly be favourites for what they have done this tournament,” he said, also highlighting that the winning semi-finalists that played first have won the past three Euros.

 

“They have been the best team. They have got a day longer and in the last three finals it has been quite significant, so we have got to get our recovery spot on. Tactically, we will have to be ­perfect as they are such a good side.