Euro 2024: Ex-Real Madrid man gives Southgate and England one key tip to beat Spain in final
i

Gareth Southgate celebrates after England's Euro 2024 semi-final success against the Netherlands to set up a final with Spain (Credit: Imago)

Euro 2024: Ex-Real Madrid man gives Southgate and England one key tip to beat Spain in final

Seye Omidiora 13:05 - 11.07.2024

The former Los Blancos winger has advised the Three Lions boss on what to do to end the nation’s 58-year drought without an international trophy.

Former Real Madrid and England winger Steve McManaman has given Gareth Southgate the blueprint to end the Three Lions’ wait for a first European Championship triumph.

Netherlands vs England

England’s Ollie Watkins was the match-winner against the Dutch on Wednesday, scoring a low drive from a seemingly impossible angle to complete the Three Lions’ turnaround after Xavi Simons put the Netherlands 1-0 up after seven minutes only for Harry Kane to level from the spot in the 18th minute.

The Aston Villa striker, who replaced Kane with nine minutes of normal time to play, notched his first of the tournament in his second substitute appearance at Euro 2024.

Gareth Southgate and Ollie Watkins at Euro 2024
Gareth Southgate's introduction of Ollie Watkins against the Netherlands was inspired (Credit: Imago)

McManaman advises Southgate, England before Euro 2024 final

The upshot of Wednesday’s success over the Oranje means the Three Lions have made it to consecutive deciders at the European Championship after finishing runners-up at the previous edition on home soil.

With Southgate’s men facing a daunting prospect against in-form Spain, McManaman, who spent four years with Real Madrid after joining from Liverpool in 1999 has given the England boss suggestions against La Furia Roja.

“You're going to have to get someone near Rodri and Fabian Ruiz,” said the former England international on ESPN.

"You have to try and stop them from playing. If Spain dominate possession which you expect them to do, England have to do something different and have to go forward to stop their best players from turning and playing the ball forward.

“And their best players are Rodri and Fabian Ruiz. We know what Spain want to do; it's how you're going to try to stop them from doing that. If he just sits back, it's going to be a Spain victory all day long.”

What comes next?

England play Spain in Sunday’s final at the Olympiastadion, keen to win only their second-ever international trophy and a first since the home success at the 1966 World Cup.