England take on Spain in Sunday’s Euro 2024 final in Berlin, with Gareth Southgate’s side hoping to avoid a repeat of the Euro 2020 final (an agonising penalty shootout defeat to Italy at Wembley) and La Roja aiming to add a fourth European title to their trophy cabinet.
The last time the two sides met at the Euros was in the quarter-final at Wembley in 1996. That match ended 0-0 after extra time with England advancing to the last four after a 4-2 penalty shootout win. Whether you’re old enough to remember what happened in that semi-final or not, we’re sure you (and Gareth Southgate) have heard about it.
Twenty-eight years ago the football world was a completely different sphere to now. The Premier League was in its infancy - only two clubs had won it at that point - and the coverage of European leagues on British TV was not as extensive as it is now.
So it may not surprise you to hear that none of the starting 22 players in that Euro 96 quarter-final had ever played together before at club level. It would be three years before Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman would make his move to Real Madrid.
But there will be a more familiar feel on Sunday with almost half the players lining up against each other having played together at club level.
-- Courtesy of BBC.com