Gaz definitely walked to the stadium and was almost certainly faster than a German train.

Gary Rose
BBC Sport in Berlin

Image source, BBC Sport

The trains from Berlin city centre to the Olympiastadion can get very, very busy on match day and as it’s hot too at 25C I’ve decided to head to the stadium early, just the five hours to go until kick off…

I wasn’t the only one, however, and these England fans are Danielle and Darren. They drove from Leeds to Berlin to be here for the final and they are having quite the sporting week, having watched Lewis Hamilton win at Silverstone last weekend.

“We watched the penalty shootout against Switzerland with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell on stage after qualifying,” says Darren.

“We got the final tickets last week but we couldn’t get flights or a hotel so decided to drive it.”

Who else is playing some classic footy tunes right about now?

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer in Berlin

Image source, PA Media

Those of us chronicling the years of disappointment have witnessed all manner of reasons why England have had their noses pressed up against the window while other countries, most notably huge underdogs Greece at Euro 2004, have enjoyed success that has agonisingly eluded them.

In major tournament terms, past history makes the Gareth Southgate years seem like a golden era, with a World Cup semi-final, the Euro 2020 final, a World Cup quarter-final, and now this final against Spain on his CV.

It is all a far cry from what went before under his predecessors, when high hopes were dashed as England specialised in falling short.

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport

If you have children, should you let them stay up? We're no child psychologists but the answer is yes - if they want to.

England don't reach many finals - this is only their third at a men's tournament - so it could be a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

After all, you never hear any of the older generation say they wish they hadn't watched the 1966 World Cup final because they felt tired the next morning.

Of course if your child has no interest in the football - this author's boy would sooner watch a spider walk around for two hours than a football game - get them all tucked in before kick-off.

Some schools and businesses are opening slightly later on Monday as a result of the game.

Lovely words from actor David Harewood.

Don't forget you can pick your preferred starting England XI here.

Why not share your team with us?

Chris Sutton
Former Celtic striker

I think Gareth Southgate will keep it the same and I would be happy with that. I’ve been calling for Cole Palmer to come in since the tournament started and while that is not going to happen, he is being used from the bench and having an impact that way.

When England went to a back three, I assumed that Bukayo Saka would go to left wing-back and Kieran Trippier would be right wing-back but in many respects, if he does stay with a back three, and the way the Spanish wingers play, Yamal will come in on his left foot, and Trippier is predominantly right-footed while Williams will come inside on his right foot and Saka is left-footed so there are pros and cons of putting them up against them each other

But you always think with teams who play with wing-backs, it is about having balance and using the wide areas, wingers who drive on the outside and cross balls in, but that hasn’t been the way with England.. but then when Saka chops inside and bends one into the far corner, as he has done versus the Swiss, it is hard to argue Gareth has got that wrong.

Win tonight and Jordan Pickford will be on Saturday night TV for years. I'm sure Peter Shilton was on grab a grand every week in the early 90s.

Comedian Michael McIntyre very much in the grip of football fever... like most of the nation.

It may not be a popular view but I always thought (How Does it Feel to Be) on Top of the World? was alright! Any other spice girl songs that can be turned into England tunes?

Rio Ferdinand
Former England defender

Image source, Reuters

It all depends on Luke Shaw. If the manager sees he is fit, I think he starts. But I actually think Kieran Trippier will start.

As for Harry Kane, it is not even a conversation for me. If you want the ball to drop for anybody, in the box, it’s Harry.

Having Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney to come off the bench is a weapon, but I don’t think Harry knows how to come off the bench, he has never done it, so I don’t know you can think that Harry is going to have an impact on the game like that, coming off the bench.

The best role for him, as your top goalscorer, as your captain, is to start him. I don’t think it’s even a consideration to leave him out.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker

Image source, PA Media

I think Gareth will go with the same team as the semi-final other than that he may start Luke Shaw over Kieran Trippier. That would be really harsh on Trippier because he has started all six games before now, but I would understand why, if Shaw did come in.

I think that’s the only change Gareth has got to contemplate – it is the only one I am thinking about. He is not leaving Harry Kane out, and that’s the right decision, you can’t leave your captain and record goalscorer out, and Kane is on three goals for this tournament as joint top scorer.

The rest? It stays the same. I think Ollie Watkins is a great option in the second half at some stage if England have to chase the game. We know what he can do as an impact player.

Izzy Christiansen
Former England midfielder

Luke Shaw comes in at left wing-back if he is fit enough, that’s the only change. Keep Marc Guehi in at the back, definitely.

I don’t think you can start without Harry Kane. I actually think he had a bit about him the other night, that all stemmed from the early shot he had.

After that, he looked like he was in the mood and he went out looking for the ball the way you want him to do. As long as he is in the right shape, then he is the person you want the big chance to fall to.

We are just seven (SEVEN) hours from kick-off in Berlin now.

Time to ask a few people who should know about the likely team news...

The British Heart Foundation have projected 12 images of young English fans who have lost their lives to sudden cardiac death.

The charity have done so to raise awareness that 12 young people under the age of 35 die from the condition every week in the UK.

Here is an example of one in the German capital:

Image source, British Heart Foundation