National anthems time in Milton Keynes now.

Vicky Losada
Manchester City midfielder on BBC Two

The absence of Alexia Putellas and Jenni Hermoso is a massive loss for Spain. It's not just about not being able to enjoy them. They mean a lot to the girls, but maybe it's time for other players to put their hands up, take the lead and help the team. I'm sure we're going to see new players shine.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Stadium MK

Image source, BBC Sport

Spain start Euro 2022 as favourites to win the tournament for the first time after a 23-match unbeaten run that has seen them score more than 100 goals and concede only three.

They are able to call on seven of the Barcelona side that played in May's Champions League final loss to Lyon but their preparations have severely been hampered by two key injuries.

Record goalscorer Jennifer Hermoso was ruled out of the squad after suffering a knee injury in June before Alexia Putellas, the reigning Ballon d’Or holder, suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament knee injury in training on Tuesday.

Putellas' injury made the front page of all of Spain's three national sports newspapers on Wednesday as Spain now have to do without the 28-year-old attacking midfielder - last season's Champions League top scorer.

However, Finland boss Anna Signeul felt Spain had so much strength in depth to cope with her absence.

She said: "It doesn't matter what players Spain put out, they're a fantastic team, they have a lot of Putellas in the team. You do wrong if you think they come out weaker because I don't think so.

"It's really sad for the tournament, quite sad for Spain but especially sad for her. When I was Scotland coach Kim Little did an ACL (before Euro 2017) and it's devastating, but unfortunately this is the life of a football player. I feel really sad for her."

Image source, BBC Sport

Spain star Alexia Putellas has come to Stadium MK to support her team-mates despite being ruled out for the tournament.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, .

"I would be very surprised if Finland won a game at the Euros. A draw is possible but a win would require a totally perfect performance and a lot of luck. The group is so tough. Everyone in Finland knows we had such bad luck with the draw, so people don't have very high expectations."

Read Hinni Hirvonen's guide to the Finland team here.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Stadium MK

Image source, BBC Sport

Finland, at 29th in the FIFA world rankings, are the third lowest ranked side in the tournament and face three of the world's top 15 in their group.

Bookmakers have completely written them off from having any impact at Euro 2022. They're priced at 500-1 to win the tournament (only Northern Ireland, heavily beaten 4-1 by Norway yesterday, have worse odds), are 200-1 to win the group and you can find odds of 45-1 to just win today.

However, boss Anna Signeul said her side, who went through qualifying unbeaten - only conceding two goals in eight games - and finished above Portugal and Scotland, should not be underestimated.

"Spain are a fantastic team but we are also a fantastic team and have good players," she said. "Often most teams don't have more than 30% possession when you play Spain.

"You need to be very good in transition moments and do something positive at those moments. We will do our best to have more of the ball than normal. We've had a really good preparation and we're excited for the Spain game

"The players have dreams and we should take these fantastic moments and show we're a strong unit."

Finland reached the semi-finals when the tournament was last held in England in 2005, losing to eventual winners Germany, and what a story it would be if they can get into the final four this year.

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Read Bea Redondo's guide to the Spain team here.

Turn your TV dials to BBC Two now, coverage is starting.

Spain have won their last four matches against Finland, most recently a 5-1 victory in August 2018 in a World Cup qualifier.

Spain’s three wins at the Women’s Euros have come in different tournaments (1997, 2013, 2017).

Only France have won their first four games across four different Euros.

Before we tournament we asked all our pundits to predict who will win Euro 2022.

Only Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall picked Spain.

"Spain have an excellent team," he said. "They have excellent relationships with each other, and a lot of players from Barcelona, who are used to winning a lot of trophies.

"They were very good in the last World Cup and were unlucky to be knocked out by the USA."

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Ukraine's Kateryna Monzul is the referee tonight and compatriot Maryna Striletska is one of her assistants.

Here is Striletska's story.

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The loss of Alexia Putellas was not just a blow for Spain - but for the whole tournament.

"It is the worst possible news on the eve of the tournament," England and Everton midfielder Izzy Christiansen told BBC Sport, while Spanish football journalist David Menayo described it as "a jug of cold water" thrown over his country.

"The Ballon d'Or winner, the most incredible player to watch, is not going to be performing. It's devastating for all of the fans coming over, not just in Spain, but all the nations," Christiansen added.

"You want to enjoy and watch players of that calibre do their thing. It's a huge loss to the tournament and for the wider impact she has in Barcelona and in her own country."

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Finland's best European Championship was in England, reaching the semi-finals in 2005.

"I am very excited. It is going to be a fantastic experience," said Finland boss Anna Signeul.

"As a head coach I have had this experience once before [with Scotland in 2017] and that was fantastic then.

"Spain are a very strong and talented team. We have a huge respect for them. We need to be patient and wait for our chances."

Image source, Getty Images

Jorge Vilda says Spain will not change their style despite losing Alexia Putellas on the eve of Euro 2022.

"Yesterday and the day before was tough. It was a shock for everyone," said manager Vilda on Thursday.

"Today they [the players] are better and they're getting prepared for the game tomorrow.

"In the end Spain trust in our style, our play, our identity. We're not going to change that now. The style is above the system, the players, the coach."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Stadium MK

Image source, BBC Sport

This is the first of four matches to be held at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes in this tournament.

Finland play all three of their group games here, with Denmark to come on Tuesday and then Germany on Saturday before the stadium hosts the second semi-final on Wednesday, 27 July.

The capacity is set at 28,600 for the tournament and a crowd of around 16,000 is expected today, with a large number of them families and school children.

Emerson Valley School, 10 minutes from the ground, has 300 tickets for the game and their pupils received a huge surprise earlier this year when England captain Leah Williamson, who comes from Milton Keynes, spoke to a group of youngsters via a video chat and answered their questions.

Just outside Milton Keynes Central train station is the fan park, with hundreds of fans soaking up the atmosphere, while having food, drinks, ice creams. There are also lots of activities for those of all ages ranging from colouring in activities for youngsters to testing out your footballing skills with penalty competitions, one-touch challenges and keepy-up tournaments.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Finland have only won one Women’s Euros match that wasn’t played in their home country (D3 L3), although that win did come in England, beating Denmark at Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road in June 2005.

Their other two wins came in Helsinki when hosting the competition in 2009.

This is their first Euros since 2013, when they were eliminated at the group stage.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Stadium MK

Spain name six Barcelona players that featured in the Champions League final loss to Lyon, as well as Leila Ouahabi, who was an unused substitute in the 3-1 defeat.

Manchester United's Ona Batlle, the only player in the squad who plays for a Women's Super League side, starts at right-back.

Spain: Panos, Ouahabi, Leon, Paredes, Batlle, Guijarro, Guerrero, Bonmati, Caldentey, Gonzalez, Garcia.

Subs: Gallardo, Misa, Aleixandri, Andres, Del Castillo, Cardona, Sarriegi, Abelleira, Carmona, Pereira, Garcia, Pina.

Image source, BBC Sport

Finland name Tottenham duo, goalkeeper and captain Tinja-Riikka Korpela and midfielder Eveliina Summanen, in their starting 11, while Brighton defender Emma Koivisto is at left-back.

Linda Sallstrom, who scored 10 goals in qualifying - the joint second highest total behind Belgium's Tine de Caigny - starts up front for Finland.

Finland: Korpela, Koivisto, Pikkujamsa, Westerlund, Hyyrynen, Oling, Summanen, Alanen, Engman, Sallstrom, Franssi.

Subs: Talaslahti, Tamminen, Auvinen, Ahtinen, Kemppi, Heroum, Danielsson, Kollanen, Kuikka, Sainio, Rantanen, Rantala.

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Two

This game is live on BBC Two with coverage starting at 16:45 BST. You can watch it on this page or a TV.

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"Spain are the best football team in the world."

Scotland women's boss Pedro Martinez Losa, who hails from Madrid, may well be biased, but he has seen close up just how good Spain are and why they are among the favourites to win the European Women's Championship.

Unbeaten in two years and with a squad packed full of Champions League winners, Spain have reason to hope this summer is the culmination of a rapid rise and the beginning of a spell of dominance.

Read more here.