B.@InvertTheWing
My ideal scenario tomorrow:
The game starts off with sustained, intricate possession. Spain are controlling the tempo, forcing England to play in their typical, compact shape, not comitting too many bodies to the press.
Spain are well aware of this, and do not flinch. They keep playing their natural game. Eventually, a combined run of Fabian Ruiz through the middle, alongside Alvaro Morata, Spain are able find a small opening, in which Rodri is able to bang in a goal.
1-0.
England, England are in deep trouble. Luke Shaw feels something in his hamstring, and is unable to continue the game. Now, England are back to the Trippier-LHS dynamic which severely hinders them.
Spain are very well aware of their limitations, and start congesting bodies to the right hand side/central areas, to indirectly divert play to England's left flank. They know the outcome will be cutting inside, and thus are able to win the ball.
Before half time, England lose it on this side, and Lamine Yamal scores a brilliant counter attacking goal. 2-0 Spain.
Gareth Southgate is in the dressing room, and throws his water bottle, and starts berating not individuals, but the entire team. The most animated he has ever been. Deep down, he is aware his tactics are not working. He cannot afford to be embarassed on the biggest stage for another time in his career.
Gareth Southgate has had enough. He takes off Kieran Trippier, and looks to fix the issues with width, and finally puts Bukayo Saka at Left Back. Cole Palmer takes his place.
England get kick off. Harry Kane is playing as a 10, they want to neutralise the Spanish midfield, and populate those zones - opening up spaces elsewhere. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo - all in these central areas. Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka, wide.
20 minutes or so, England cannot find anything. The fans begin to leave the stadium, they are angry at the uninspired at the style of football. Every player who thrives centrally are getting in each others zones. There is no cohesion, freedom, just mindless passing with no end product.
Cole Palmer has had enough. This is his team. He has to lead by example. He drops deeper, and looks to receive the ball from Kobbie Mainoo. He skips past 1, he skips past 2, he skips past Cucurella finally, and there is Harry Kane making an unmarked run into the box.
Cross by Cole Palmer. Goal Harry Kane. England are back in it.
There are about 20 minutes left on the clock, Spain do not want to rush anything. Again, just sustaining pressure. England keep their shape for a bit, but then eventually come to the realisation, that it cannot continue. With 10 minutes left, they need a goal.
In comes Conor Gallagher. Jude Bellingham off. England have taken off an attacking player in favour of a defensive one? Why? Genius by Southgate.
Spain look to play intricate build-up, and we are now heading into added time. 2 minutes.
In comes Conor Gallagher. Fabian Ruiz falls to the pressure, and Gallagher pounces. Immediately, England begin sprinting forward - Gallagher releases Bukayo Saka on the left, and it is now a spring between Harry Kane and the centre backs.
First time cross into the box, it misses Harry Kane completely. But Cole Palmer has also made a run, and he is in possession of the ball. 20 seconds on the clock left, and the Spanish have managed to get bodies forward.
In the box, congested, they know all they have to do is keep disciplined for the next 20 seconds. Cole Palmer's mind is racing. Does he shoot? Does he look for a small opening? Time is ticking, what does he do?
He plays for the handball. He sees Aymeric Laporte's hand hanging out, and it is his only hope, he intentionally fires a disguised shot into Laporte's hand.
The England players immediately rush to the referee, and there is intense discussion between the players, and the officials.
There is a brief pause in play. The stadium is silent, the referee is asked to walk towards the monitor. You could hear a pindrop.
The referee signals penalty.
The crowd goes beserk for a minute, until silence resumes again, whilst they see Harry Kane walking towards the spot.
A deep breath. A stare down at Unai Simon. A look at the ball. And a puff. Harry Kane begins his run-up, the world stops spinning.
"GOALLLLLL. HARRY KANE HAS EQUALISED, IN THE 92ND MINUTE OF THE GAME. ENGLAND ARE GOING TO EXTRA TIME".
Harry Kane does his trademark celebration. Kisses his ring. The little jump and slice downards into the air. The entire nation begins chanting his name. He, for now, is a hero.
The Spanish, they are heartbroken. Laporte breaks down into tears. Rodri goes to console his former teammate, and tells him there is another 30 minutes to play, and not to give up.
Extra-Time. England are looking to once again, play off the break. Anthony Gordon for Phil Foden, the one change.
But this time, no luck. They commit very few to the press, unlike dying minutes, and look to keep a more compact shape. Part of them wants it to go to penalties. And it does.
1 minute left, Southgate brings on 2 changes. Ivan Toney for Declan Rice, and Trent Alexander Arnold for Kyle Walker.
Penalties.
Harry Kane. Scores.
Rodri. Scores
Cole Palmer. Scores.
Lamine Yamal. Scores.
Ivan Toney. Scores.
Nico Williams. Scores.
Trent Alexander Arnold. Scores.
Aymeric Laporte. Scores.
Bukayo Saka. Misses
The nation is in shock. Bukayo Saka is in tears. Is this a repeat of 2021? The stadium, silent. Spanish supporters, the opposite.
Alvaro Morata. Misses.
And just like that, tears turn into suspense. There is still a chance, a lifeline. But there are only 5 penalty takers, who else will step up?
Conor Gallagher. The whole stadium is in shock.
Conor Gallagher steps up and bangs it top bins, so hard, the camera breaks.
England just need spain to miss.
Fabian Ruiz steps up. He misses.
"A NIGHT OF DESTINY IN BERLIN! ENGLAND HAVE FINALLY CONQUERED SPAIN IN THE EUROS, ENDING A 58-YEAR WAIT SINCE THEIR LAST TRIUMPH IN THIS STORIED CITY. UNDER THE ELECTRIC SKIES OF THE OLYMPIC STADIUM, THE THREE LIONS ROARED WITH RELENTLESS INTENSITY AND UNYIELDING SPIRIT. THE HEARTBEATS OF MILLIONS ACROSS THE NATION SYNCED WITH THOSE ON THE PITCH, AS EVERY TACKLE, PASS, AND SAVE ETCHED THIS MOMENT INTO THE ANNALS OF FOOTBALL HISTORY. WITH RESILIENCE AND FLAIR, ENGLAND STOOD TALL, A TEAM UNBURDENED BY HISTORY BUT INSPIRED BY IT, AND TONIGHT, THEY HAVE WRITTEN A NEW CHAPTER OF GLORY."
Cole Palmer wins Man of the Match.
Harry Kane secures his 1st Ballon D'or.
The entire team gets a knighthood.
