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England’s predicted 3-4-2-1 line-up to face Spain in the Euro 2024 final

Gareth Southgate is set to make a big decision at left-back ahead of the final

England face Spain in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday evening as the Three Lions aim to win their first major tournament in 58 years.

Gareth Southgate has guided his side to consecutive European Championship finals and now only has to overcome the 2008 and 2012 champions.

England have built into their campaign in Germany, with their best performance of the summer coming in the 2-1 semi-final win over the Netherlands.

So will Southgate stick to his guns or make some changes to stop Lamine Yamal?

England team news

Southgate has confirmed his full 26-man squad are available for the final.

This means he has every option available to him – including keeping everything just the same.

In goal, Jordan Pickford will undoubtedly start, as he has for every major tournament match of the Southgate era.

Pickford saved the first penalty of the quarter-final shootout against Switzerland and he may well have a similarly crucial role to play against Spain.

At the back, England will likely stick with the three-man defence they have used in the last two games, with Kyle Walker, John Stones and Marc Guehi set to fill the three spots.

At wing-back, Bukayo Saka will start on the right, but the situation is less clear on the left.

Luke Shaw has been fit enough to come off the bench in the last two matches, although Kieran Trippier has started every match of the tournament.

And Southgate is set to hand Shaw his first start of Euro 2024 after a late change of heart.

In midfield, Declan Rice will be joined by Kobbie Mainoo, behind Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden as twin No 10s.

And up front, despite calls to drop Harry Kane for Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney, Kane will certainly start.

Should Luke Shaw start over Kieran Trippier?

This is the position which will spark the most pre-final debate.

Shaw scored the only England goal in a major tournament final in the past 58 years, two minutes in against Italy in 2021.

But asked if he is fit enough to play a full 90 minutes, Shaw said: “It’s a case of taking it as it comes. I said before the semis that I was ready to go – and we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

He will now make his first start since February in one of the biggest matches of his career.

England’s predicted line-up to face Spain

3-4-2-1: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Bellingham, Foden; Kane.

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