Spain & England combined XI: Man City superstar surprisingly left out

The Euro 2024 final will see Spain take on pre-tournament favourites England in what promises to be an all-time great game in Berlin on Sunday.

The final will pit the two undisputed best teams at Euro 2024 against one another, with both sides possessing plenty of players capable of turning on the style to secure the trophy for their nation.

For a bit of pre-game fun, we have decided to created a dream combined XI of the two nations’ best players…

GK: Jordan Pickford

Spain’s Unai Simon is a brilliant goalkeeper, but we can’t look past the version of Jordan Pickford that rocks up for international duty with England.

When in a Three Lions jersey, Pickford is a completely different, utterly exceptional goalkeeper.

Pickford has continued his fine form with England during Euro 2024, making a number of eye-catching saves and generally not putting a foot wrong thus far.

RB: Dani Carvajal

Kyle Walker vs Dani Carvajal? Yep, this was a tough one.

We just gave the nod to Carvajal though thanks to his superior Euro 2024 form. In his first ever European Championships (we’re also baffled by this stat, don’t worry) the Real Madrid full-back has been brilliant both in and out of possession.

His return from suspension for the final will be a huge boost for Spain.

CB: John Stones

After barely kicking a football for the large bulk of the 2023/24 season, John Stones’ return to full fitness has come at just the right time for Gareth Southgate’s side.

The defender has been a rock at the back thus far for England, playing every single minute of every single game.

CB: Aymeric Laporte

To be perfectly honest, thanks to his transfer to footballing obscurity (the Saudi Pro League), we almost forgot Aymeric Laporte even existed.

Having watched every Spain thus far at Euro 2024, we can confirm that Laporte still exists and he’s still bloody brilliant.

LB: Marc Cucurella

Look, he didn’t have much competition considering England have played a right-back at left-back for most for Euro 2024, but Marc Cucurella has actually been very impressive for Spain thus far.

Considering his form at Euro 2024, Chelsea’s decision to fork out £62m for his services has almost started to make some sense.

CM: Rodri

As Manchester City fans know all too well: if Rodri is in your team, you win games of football.

The midfielder is a natural born winner who provides both quality on the ball and off it in equal measure.

Don’t be surprised if he pops up with a big goal in the final on Sunday.

CM: Fabian Ruiz

We have to be honest, we didn’t expect Fabian Ruiz to be a genuine candidate for player of the tournament at Euro 2024 this summer.

And yet, thanks to his prime Luka Modric-esque performances for La Roja, that’s exactly what he is.

He’s been outstanding in every game thus far.

AM: Jude Bellingham

Jude Bellingham hasn’t been consistently brilliant during Euro 2024, but he has produced when England have needed him the most.

His two goals, especially his added time overhead kick in the last 16 to keep England in the tournament, have been vital to his nation’s progression to the final.

RW: Lamine Yamal

Bukayo Saka is a great player, but we have literally never, ever witnessed a player like Lamine Yamal before.

The right winger is literally the greatest 16-year-old footballer of all time.

Yamal has showed maturity way beyond his years at Euro 2024, and also showed talent way beyond 99.9% of footballers to ever live.

He’s pretty damn special.

ST: Harry Kane

There’s muted calls for Harry Kane to be dropped by Southgate for the Euro 2024 final, but considering his talent it’d be a hard move to justify.

While he hasn’t been at his brilliant best (likely due to a niggling injury), the England captain has still managed a tournament-best three goals, and his clever movement is sure to cause Spain problems in the the final.

LW: Nico Williams

It’s very, very, very easy to see why so many clubs have been linked with a move for Nico Williams this summer.

It looks like Barcelona are set to win the race for his signature, and bah gawd what a footballer they’re getting.

The winger has been a joy to watch at Euro 2024, combining pace, trickery and end product to devastating effect.