Luke Shaw has insisted that England are ready to win Euro 2024 as the squad feels “calmer” now compared to before their last final three years ago.
The 29-year-old gave England the perfect start in the Euro 2020 decider at Wembley by scoring inside the opening two minutes, but Italy fought back through Leonardo Bonucci before winning on penalties.
Gareth Southgate‘s side are considered underdogs against Spain – the tournament’s top scorers – in Berlin this evening, but Shaw believes they are better equipped to handle the pressure of the occasion this time around.
“The experience of going through one [a major final] before has definitely helped. I think everyone feels a lot more calm,” he said.
“We know the situation that the game we’re going into, the occasion, we’ve been here before. So, it’s definitely different this time. Being through it before definitely helps.”
The spine of the team set to face Spain is similar to that which played against Italy.
Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Declan Rice and Harry Kane all played in England’s last final and are expected to do so again with one of Shaw or Kieran Trippier – both starters at Wembley in 2021 – jostling for position at left wing-back.
As he did before the semi-final against the Netherlands, Shaw insisted that he is “ready to go” if selected.
Although England have struggled to play fluent, exciting football at times during this tournament, their sense of togetherness has been apparent during the knockout stages when they have come from behind to win all three matches.
Lifting England men’s first major trophy since the World Cup in 1966 would represent the peak of the players’ careers and Shaw admitted that it would be extra special given the strong relationships they have forged with one another.
“It would mean everything,” he said. “I think the bond we have here is extremely special. It’s not one I’ve been a part of before.
“I think everyone is so together, everyone is really close and it feels like a big family and for all of us to win it together would be of course a very special feeling.”
While there is a familiar feel to England’s starting XI, the squad has a new-look feel to it with a dozen of the 26 players selected experiencing a major tournament for the first time.
Shaw has more experience than most and is the sole survivor from England’s 2014 World Cup squad. While he and other senior players will try to instil confidence in those with fewer caps, he is convinced that the younger players possess the mental strength to cope with the occasion.
“To be honest I don’t think they need too much [advice],” he said.
“There are a lot of young heads but I think with a massive amount of experience. I think the young heads here have been involved in a lot of big games and are in very big teams that are used to playing in big games and fighting for trophies so I think they don’t need too much.”
He added: “For us, it’s about bringing the confidence into the younger lads to express themselves in what will be one of the biggest games of their lives.”
Despite not being regarded as one of the big favourites to win the competition, Spain have excelled under the guidance of Luis de la Fuente, beating Croatia, Italy, Germany and France en route to the final.
Defeating them will be a tough ask, particularly given the record that the national team and Spanish clubs have had in major finals this Century. Since 2001, Spanish teams have played in 22 finals and won every single one.
“Maybe they are built on belief, knowing they have won a lot over the past years,” Shaw said.
“Spain are always an extremely good side, very well drilled. You know what you get from them – they are extremely good in possession. They have quality players all around the pitch so they are always a tough team to play against.
“We know it will be extremely tough, but for us we have to leave absolutely everything on the pitch. Give everything. That is all we can do. We know it is going to be tough but for us it is a final and a chance to make history and we have to give it everything we have got.”
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