BBC pundits' pre-tournament Euro 2024 predictions resurface ahead of England vs Spain final

The Euro 2024 final takes place on Sunday evening as England bid for their first piece of silverware since 1966.

Gareth Southgate's side will be aiming to win the European Championships for the first time when they head to Berlin's Olympiastadion to face Spain, who themselves are seeking to lift the trophy for the fourth time, which would be a record.

Spain have won every single game they have played so far at the tournament and are the clear favourites heading into the fixture.

After topping Group G with victories over Croatia, Italy and Albania, victories followed throughout the knockout phase against Georgia, Germany and France.

England have grown into the tournament, it would be fair to say, after topping a group including Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia in which they picked up a win and two draws.

Southgate's team overcame Slovakia 2-1 after extra-time in the last 16 phase, before beating Switzerland 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the quarter-final.

And their best performance of the tournament so far came in the semi-final victory over the Netherlands, when Harry Kane's penalty cancelled out Xavi Simons' opener, before Ollie Watkins came off the bench to net a late winner which booked England's place in the final.

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England are into their second successive European Championships final, but will be aiming to avoid the result of three years ago when Italy secured victory on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Before the tournament, England was seen as among the favourites to win it, by both pundits and bookmakers.

BBC Sport pundits cast their predictions before a ball was kicked in anger and many of them went for one of three nations to emerge as victors - England, France or Portugal.

Among those to back England was Alan Shearer, who wrote: "England can go all the way. This is the greatest chance we've had in a long time.

"If it's not going to be England, then I would have to go with France. With some of the talent and experience they have, they will be really really tough to beat."

Former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney also backed the Three Lions, saying: "England have to be looking at winning the competition. I also have a feeling for Portugal, they have got a really good squad, good individuals. They will have a good go."

Former Lionesses star Izzy Christiansen said: "It's got to be England, finally! After reaching the final last time out, let's hope they can take the next step this time, just like the Lionesses did in 2022."

Micah Richards could not pick between England and France: "England are going all the way to the final but if they don't win it, then you have to look at France.

"You could argue that, individually, we have got the better players but as a team they will be hard to stop, with the way Olivier Giroud leads the line and how Antoine Griezmann plays in the pocket... oh, and they have got Kylian Mbappe."

Ex-England goalkeeper Joe Hart simply said: "It's England's time."

And Martin Keown was similar to many, with struggling to pick between France and England, saying: "France or England. I don't want to put any pressure on England, but France are quite magnificent."