Three-year itch, teenage kicks – key talking points ahead of Euro 2024 final

England face Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on Sunday as they aim to win a first major men’s trophy in 58 years.

Gareth Southgate’s side were beaten finalists three years ago and are looking to go one better at the Olympiastadion.

Here, we look at some of the main talking points ahead of the showpiece.

Standing on the edge of history in 2021, England ultimately came up agonisingly short as they lost on penalties to Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.

Southgate had overseen a reconnection between England fans and their team since the run to the 2018 World Cup semi-final and they came even closer to ending the wait for a trophy.

Since then, plenty of water has passed under the bridge and Southgate has refreshed his squad as England once again aim to end all those years of hurt by lifting a trophy high into the Berlin sky come Sunday night.

Two key players for Sunday’s finalists will be looking to leave a lasting imprint on the game, with England’s Kobbie Mainoo and Lamine Yamal of Spain shining so far in Germany.

Mainoo, 19, came off the bench in England’s last group game to answer Southgate’s midfield conundrum with the Manchester United man now flourishing in partnership with Declan Rice.

Yamal, meanwhile, turned 17 on Saturday and has already become the youngest player and youngest goalscorer in the history of the European Championship.

While both may lack the experience of their more-established team-mates, they will be keen to show that age is just a number.

There is no way England skipper Harry Kane will be dropped for the final, despite being substituted in half of their games at the Euros.

England’s all-time leading goalscorer might have faded in some games but his three goals mean he could still claim