Image source, Getty Images

England have only scored all their penalties in a major tournament shootout twice – against Spain at Wembley in Euro 96, and versus Switzerland at Euro 2024.

Bukayo Saka's spot-kick against the Swiss, following his miss for England in the Euro 2020 final against Italy, drew comparisons with Stuart Pearce, who missed a penalty in the Three Lions' shootout defeat to West Germany in the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup before returning in 1996 to score a penalty against Spain.

Pearce slammed home the third spot-kick against the Spaniards and celebrated in trademark style with a fist pump and roar, the sinews in his neck straining to breaking point.

Against Switzerland, Saka also slotted home the third spot-kick and celebrated in trademark style with a wide and beaming smile, the image of the star boy so loved by the new generation of England supporters.

For both men, shootout success brought redemption.

Read more about that here.

Sean

How many families expect to face a similar battle for the TV on Sunday? Thumbs up for yes, down for no...

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Arsenal's first black player Brendon Batson has spoken about his admiration for current Gunners forward Bukayo Saka's "mental resilience" following his standout displays for England at Euro 2024.

Saka, 22, was the target of racist abuse on social media as one of three black players - alongside Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho - to miss a penalty for England in the shootout defeat to Italy in the European Championship final at Wembley in 2021.

Yet he stepped up to become a regular penalty taker for his club after that, and, after scoring the equaliser for England against Switzerland in the quarter-final at Euro 2024, was one of five scorers from the spot in their penalty shootout victory over the Swiss.

"I've got the greatest admiration for Saka because he's shown a lot of mental resilience, but also I think people around him have been very supportive - not just Arsenal supporters and Arsenal Football Club, but across the country," said Batson, who made his first-team debut for the Gunners in 1972.

"The thing is, there is much more good in this world than bad, and I think football kind of reflects that, because you get extremes. He's come through it fantastically well and I couldn't be more proud of all those lads.

"There is a lot of pride, particularly from the diverse community, to see somebody who's had to go through a lot of abuse come through it almost immediately after by playing so well for his club and carrying on playing well for England."

Drew

Nesta McGregor
BBC Sport in Germany

An injury-time goal and an injury of his own.

A permanent and painful reminder for England fan Babac, a software engineer from Bromley, who broke his nose at the game in Dortmund on Wednesday.

“The goal happened and there were limbs everywhere. The fans were going crazy, I thought it would be a good idea to jump on a chair. But it had been raining badly, so I slipped and fell nose first on to the chair and broke my nose.“

It gets worse… Babac also broke his phone so had been unable to tell his wife.

The AFC Wimbledon fan had been watching the game with his brother, who decided to carry on celebrating instead of taking him to the hospital.

But Babac says the night was worth it. Although he won’t be moving on to Berlin for the final. The priority is fixing his nose.

Image source, Getty Images

Theo Walcott
Former England forward on the Football Daily podcast

I remember being in a situation on the bench and not playing, going to a World Cup and not featuring at all. It's hard for players if they are a bit annoyed and haven’t played to remember they still need to do a job.

[Ollie Watkins' goal] reminded me of a young Thierry Henry. People might say, with that angle, the goalkeeper maybe needs to do better. But because he doesn’t give him the chance to set and he hits it so early, it takes everyone off guard.

It took us off guard! It was just an incredible finish and you could see the emotion in him.

Matthew Upson
Former England defender on the Football Daily podcast

Just the look on Ollie Watkins' face. He was just in disbelief. It was like a gamble from him because he’d made the run, no inhibitions, and he was like ‘I’m going to hit this’ - the speed at which he swivelled and got the shot off all in one.

[Stefan] de Vrij and [Virgil] van Dijk were very good in that game when everything was in front of them - two big centre-halves, they pressed people, they stepped in, they made life difficult. They were very rugged, defended very, very well.

But the moment that Watkins made that little diagonal, slipped run, I just don’t think De Vrij expected him to hit it that early. It couldn’t have been more perfect. The look on his face and the reaction of the bench was immense.

Barrie, London

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Gareth Southgate's future, post-Euros, has been a hot topic this morning, with several of today's newspapers saying that the Football Association want the 53-year-old to stay on for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been mooted as one possible successor to Southgate, should he decide to stand down.

However, it seems that Klopp, 57, is now a man in demand, with reports in the latest BBC Sport gossip page linking the German with two different national team posts:

• World Cup 2026 joint hosts USA have made Klopp their top candidate to replace Gregg Berhalter. (Independent), external
• However, the Athletic, external reports that Klopp is not interested in the USA role and would like a break from management.
• While TeamTalk, external says that the former Borussia Dortmund boss is also wanted by his native Germany.

Click here to read today's gossip column in full.

Tom, Laugharne

Lamine Yamal will celebrate his 17th birthday tomorrow, and aged 17 years and one day, he could become the youngest player to feature in a World Cup or European Championship final, surpassing Pele’s record from the 1958 World Cup (17y 249d).

The Barcelona forward has so far claimed one goal and three assists at Euro 2024, with no Spanish player having ever provided four assists at a single Euros.

Anders: To Dawn (11:17) I get your point that Spain have benefited from their youngsters playing a lot of minutes, however, Ollie Watkins is 29 in December, he's almost old enough to be Yamal's Dad. Anyway, sorry to be 'that guy'. It's coming home!

Theo Walcott
Former England forward on the Football Daily podcast

What Gareth [Southgate] has done, he’s brought the whole nation together. It was quite emotional, to be honest. Certain players weren’t particularly happy not getting minutes, [Cole] Palmer being one.

They have all been patient and I think Ollie Watkins has been incredible, the fact he’s been so patient. I’m lost for words because that was such an incredible finish [against the Netherlands].

You always need that first touch at certain points in the game, to get you going, but what I love about him is, he just always keeps you guessing, and he can finish.

I'm not saying he’s going to start the final but, again, he’s such a great weapon that Gareth’s got.

Matthew Upson
Former England defender on the Football Daily podcast

Image source, Getty Images

Back when we used to play, when we weren’t in the starting line-up and we played the last couple [of games], it would feel like we’d been dropped.

Players these days, if they aren’t in the starting line-up, they’re not seen as being dropped now. I think players now understand that there is actually a system and a structure of how we want to finish a game. It’s not about the starting line-up these days - at international and club level.

Image source, VWGS Andy

VWGS Andy

Matt Upson
Former England defender on the Football Daily podcast

Image source, Getty Images

Matt Upson reflects on a emotional night in Dortmund, where England beat the Netherlands 2-1 to book a place in the Euro 2024 final: "It was worthy of a bit of emotion, to be honest, and there has been a few, hasn’t there? Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick, for example [against Slovakia].

"Whilst the matches and performances haven’t been great, we haven’t been starved of drama. I think that’s one thing that’s come out of the Euros, from England especially. A penalty shootout [against Switzerland] and that [against the Netherlands], I mean, it’s fairytale stuff. You come off the bench, you've not featured a lot, he rolls down the side and just the way he takes it - the precision, the timing, just bang on, seconds before 90 minutes, when you think you’re going into extra time.

"I was just amazing, in a stadium that’s got character - it’s got feel, it’s got atmosphere. There were so many Dutch supporters there and just to do it in that moment, in that way - the group has strengthened massively from it and to be there was amazing."

Nesta McGregor
BBC Sport

Steven from Sutton Coldfield is sharpening up his German as he searches for tickets for Berlin. The Aston Villa fan is here with his 16-year-old son and has vowed to get a pair for Sunday's final.

How much is he willing to to pay?

He joked: “Well, if my wife back home is seeing this… then a lot less than what I’ll actually pay.”

Image source, Nesta McGregor

James, Bristol

Here we go again, then. Another final. One more game. One last push.

Before we think about what comes next, the fact we are here, again, is worth savouring. I turned 50 before I saw England reach a major men’s final in my lifetime, and now we are into our second in the past three years, and our first ever on foreign soil.

Just getting here should be a reason for celebration but Gareth Southgate has already changed the narrative so that the expectation is for us to go deep into these tournaments, and of course everyone wants the next step.

Now England just have to go and finish it off, to get over the line and give us the ending that everyone wants, the one with Harry Kane lifting the trophy at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

As an England player, captain, fan or pundit, these are the moments I have dreamed of, and hopefully Sunday’s Euro 2024 showdown with Spain will turn out to be a very special day.

Click here to read Alan's column in full.

England have reached the Euro 2024 final and will face Spain on Sunday in a game that will kick off in Berlin at 20:00 BST.

There will be plenty of people making plans about where to watch the match as manager Gareth Southgate's players try to win the competition for the first time in England's history.

Events and businesses are altering plans to accommodate the game, with the World Matchplay darts in Blackpool is the most high-profile sporting event to announce a change in schedule.

Tesco and Sainsbury's are among shops closing early and comedian John Bishop has also moved a show.

Click this link to find out more.

Have you had to change plans to watch the match? Has your boss given you Monday off?

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