A month in Germany comes down to one night in Berlin: England and Spain meeting in the Euro 2024 final, the pass masters and the comeback kings, the best team of the tournament and perhaps the most dramatic one.
Gareth Southgate has had to hone and redevelop his team as the competition has gone on somewhat, while for Luis de la Fuente it has been a first-choice plan throughout, save for injuries and suspensions. They come together now with the teams finally looking set and some key battles all over the pitch, but one in particular which could make or break the final.
That comes in the centre of the park, where one of Southgate’s switches will face De la Fuente’s constants: Kobbie Mainoo and Fabián Ruiz.
They are not necessarily always going to be in direct conflict, of course; Spain’s dynamic pivot of Ruiz and Rodri don’t stick to channels, but insofar as one will be left-sided, it will be the PSG man. His left foot adds balance and immediate ability to play infield when La Roja recycle across during spells of sustained pressure and he prefers to attack that channel.
And while Declan Rice is predominantly the more defensive-minded, deeper-sitting of England’s pair, it’s Mainoo who tracks back into their right channel, pitting him right in Ruiz’s path in stretches where Spain are on the front foot – which could be much of the match.
There are two important factors to this from a Spain attacking perspective, and one from England’s.
On the latter, it’s simplistic but will form an important part of the Three Lions’ approach and route to victory in the final: if Spain enjoy more possession, Mainoo is the best option through the middle in changing the pace of England’s play. He is the one who can take the ball on the turn, alter the tempo with a change of direction and pass, he’s the ball-carrier centrally and can manipulate the ball in tight spaces where others are less-adept and where Spain may converge their press, opening spaces elsewhere for the likes of Phil Foden to exploit – if Mainoo can ride that initial challenge and make the pass.
Going the other way, Ruiz has been outstanding for Spain at the tournament. It’s not an exaggeration to suggest he has been better for his national team than at any point during PSG’s Champions League campaign last year, with his influence in ball retention and creativity clear to see.
Quite aside from two goals and two assists at the tournament, he’s averaging three shots a game, has created three big chances and nine overall, yet has also pitched in with four interceptions, 11 dribbles and a whopping 40 recoveries – higher than 96% of players at the tournament.
Where he has been instrumental is in his positional play high upfield and timing of when to make his regains: winning possession back 2.4 times a game on average in the final third of the pitch, Ruiz has been the best player at the tournament in that particular regard. He is the king of Spain’s press, regain and reset, and the inexperienced Mainoo will have a mammoth task in stopping him doing so in Berlin.
And so the two keys for Mainoo: escaping that press as the first out-ball for England, but also then having the athleticism and drive to get beyond Ruiz who, for all his technical attributes and work rate, is not the quickest.
For England the big benefits on having settled on the Manchester United midfielder as the partner to Declan Rice is twofold on this occasion: he is fearless, and he is relentless. He will not be cowed by Spain’s prowess, by the size of the occasion or the experience of those he faces. He’s also strong across his (admittedly fewer) minutes in the tournament so far on interceptions (1.8 per 90), duels won (62%) and pass success rate (94%) – all key traits he’ll have to rely on to get the better of this Spain midfield, even if it is only sporadically, even if it is only for part of the match.
By performance levels and consistency, Ruiz is a very worthy contender for team of the tournament and is one of the key Spain players who, if they play well, the national team will go a huge step towards winning Euro 2024. Mainoo is the one who must rise to the occasion, in the biggest game of his career so far.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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