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Topics: Juan Mata, Spain, England, Euro 2024, Bukayo Saka, Lamine Yamal, Manchester United
Ben McCrum
Topics: Juan Mata, Spain, England, Euro 2024, Bukayo Saka, Lamine Yamal, Manchester United
Juan Mata has picked a full Spanish team when choosing his England and Spain combined XI.
The final of the 2024 European Championships gets underway on Sunday, as England and Spain face off for Euros glory.
The Three Lions will look to avenge their loss in the 2020 Euros final to Italy, while favourites Spain will hope to continue their record-breaking tournament with their seventh successive win.
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And Juan Mata has backed his countrymen to lift the 2024 trophy, as he named a full Spanish side when asked to pick his combined Spanish and English eleven.
Mata comfortably picked Unai Simon, Dani Carvajal, Aymeric Laporte and Robin Le Normand over their English counterparts, but struggled when choosing his left back.
Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “I love Luke, but today and Sunday, Cucurella.”
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Mata played alongside Luke Shaw for eight years at Manchester United, but the Englishman has struggled with an injury for the majority of the tournament, only managing substitute appearances.
Mata also struggled when picking between Paris Saint-Germain’s Fabian Ruiz and England youngster Kobbie Mainoo.
“I love Mainoo, what he’s done for United is incredible and his age too,” he said. “But Fabian Ruiz, he’s having a great Euros.”
After a period of uncertainty over who would start alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in midfield, Mainoo has emerged as the standout pick for England and has started the last three games.
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With Dani Olmo the only Spaniard to score more goals for Spain than Ruiz this tournament, he also made the combined lineup, ahead of Bellingham.
Mata continued his love for Spain in his forward line, picking all three of Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Alvaro Morata to complete an eleven of only Spanish players.
However, the 36-year-old did acknowledge the talents of Bukayo Saka, who scored a crucial late equaliser against Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
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“Saka is amazing, and you know his level at Arsenal now for a couple of years,” he said. “But I think we all admire Lamine.”
Mata won the World Cup with Spain in 2010 and lifted the Euros trophy in 2012, helping La Roja retain their 2008 title.
And he expects the 2024 squad to repeat his success on Sunday.
He added: “I would like 2-1 for Spain in extra time, so 1-1 in 90 minutes then extra time with one late goal.”