Euro 2025 final preview: England vs. Spain, tactics, players, prediction - ESPN

After a long month of continental competition stretching from one end of Switzerland to the other, Euro 2025 is set to conclude on Sunday in Basel, where Spain will take on England in a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final.

The paths these two teams have taken through the tournament in Switzerland are starkly different. Spain were in the tough side of the knockout bracket, but eased past the hosts and eight-time winners Germany. England, meanwhile, have struggled, going behind to Sweden and Italy before needing incredible comebacks with the help of their super-subs to grind out the late results needed to mount a defense of their trophy.

Who will emerge victorious on Sunday? How will the match unfold? ESPN asked the two writers who have followed these teams most closely throughout Euro 2025: Tom Hamilton and Sam Marsden.

There were at least three times in this tournament where England's campaign looked doomed. They were outplayed in their opening game against France (a 2-1 loss) but bounced back against Netherlands (4-0) and Wales (6-1). They were dominated by Sweden, only to haul it back in the final 11 mins from 2-0 down and edge a chaotic penalty shootout to somehow get through. Then they were one minute from elimination against Italy before the super-subs saved the day again. So they've got luck on their side.

This is manager Sarina Wiegman's fifth major tournament final in a row — it's an unbelievable record. And England also know what it takes to beat the champions, having prevailed 1-0 in February (admittedly against a Spain team minus a few key players). That day was the genesis of «proper England» mentality, which has guided them through this tournament. It was a dogged, physical and resilient performance as