U21 Euro Golden Ball winners in Europe's primary youth competition has given a platform for some extremely talented players to strut their stuff, with some going on to achieve great things in football.

We've taken a look back at the previous nine winners of the award and how they fared after their exploits in the youth tournament.

2021: Fabio Vieira

After being named player of the tournament, one of the technical observers said that Vieira is "a playmaker who creates a lot of chances and an excellent link between midfield and attack".

This was showcased through Vieira being a vital cog in the Portuguese side, playing in all six of the group and knockout stages, netting once for the tournament runners-up.

The attacking midfielder joined Arsenal for £29.9 million in the summer of 2022, but his performances for Mikel Arteta's side suggest he remains a work-in-progress rather than the finished article.

2019: Fabian Ruiz

Spain swept all before them in the 2019 edition, beating Germany 3-1 to win the trophy in Italy – with Fabian Ruiz as the heartbeat of the side.

The midfielder was lauded as 'an all-rounder with an eye for a defence-splitting through ball, long-range shooting prowess and quick feet' by UEFA's technical committee.

His continued excellence at Napoli caught the attention of some of Europe's richest clubs last summer and Fabian joined PSG on a five-year deal. He made 37 appearances for the French champions in 2022-23.

2017: Dani Ceballos

Two weeks after winning the Player of the Tournament award in 2017, Ceballos joined Real Madrid. Everybody was very excited about his potential.

It was during the semi-final and final that he "truly made his mark, showcasing his authority in possession, ability to dictate the tempo and eye for a pass that made him a key cog in a very slick Spanish machine."

Arsenal fans have fond memories of Ceballos strutting his stuff in north London, even if his impact wasn't quite as strong as some would tell you.

And Madrid value him highly enough to have recently extended his contract until the summer of 2027.

2015: William Carvalho

Perennially linked with Premier League clubs – it's left us stumped that he hasn't had an underwhelming six-month loan at West Ham – Carvalho made his name during the 2015 tournament in the Czech Republic.

William's imposing figure and shrewdness on the ball were quickly to the fore in Portugal's opening 1-0 victory against England," said UEFA after Portugal's defeat in the final to Sweden.

"He seemed to raise the bar by the minute, with both Italy and Sweden struggling to cope with his control and composure, not to mention the relentless drive that meant he covered more ground than any other player in the group stage.

"He was also particularly influential in providing cover to allow the more creative Bernardo Silva and Ivan Cavaleiro to wreak havoc going forward."

Carvalho swapped Lisbon for Seville in 2018, joining Betis from Sporting, and has made 178 appearances for the La Liga side.

2013: Thiago Alcantara

Baller then, baller now.

2011: Juan Mata

Mata had already been part of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning squad before he linked up with the U21s a year later.

In a side containing David de Gea, Javi Martinez, Thiago, Ander Herrera and Iker Muniain, Mata was the star as Spain strolled through the competition and comfortably beat Switzerland 2-0 in the final.

"Whether instigating moves or getting on the end of them, he was a bright spark never dimmed in the Spanish attack," UEFA noted, something Mata continued to do after joining Chelsea that summer.

His spell at Manchester United fizzled out somewhat, but Mata remains a Premier League cult hero. He's now at Galatasaray.

2009: Marcus Berg

A Germany side containing Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng, Sami Khedria and Mesut Ozil won the tournament, but Berg top-scored for hosts Sweden with seven goals and was named the Player of the Tournament by UEFA.

"Blessed with grace, pace and poise under pressure, Berg captured the host nation's imagination from the start, setting the tournament alight with a blistering hat-trick in a 5-1 opening win against Belarus," European football's governing body said.

His exploits earnt him a move to Bundesliga side Hamburg, but Berg failed to shine in Germany. The best spell of a nomadic career came in Greece, where the striker scored 95 goals in 151 matches for Panathinaikos.

Now aged 36, Berg is seeing out his career back in Sweden with IFK Goteborg.

2007: Royston Drenthe

"His marauding runs down the left brought an expectant crowd to their feet time and again, as the Netherlands proved irresistible," wrote UEFA as Drenthe helped the Netherlands win the title in their own country.

While his talent was never in doubt, Drenthe's application was frequently called into question and is now without a club following a brief spell playing alongside his cousin at Dutch lower-league club Kozakken Boys.

"No regrets at all. Everything happens for a reason," he told the BBC in 2019. "I don't regret anything because I'm happy with where I am and I'm happy with where I've been. I'm living my life at the moment."

2006: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

Going into the 2006 tournament after scoring 33 Eredivisie goals for Heerenveen and Ajax, Huntelaar fired his country to glory with an impressive four goals and scooped the Player of the Tournament award being one of the best U21 Golden Ball winners in recent times.

For the striker, the success was consolation for missing out on the Dutch World Cup squad. "That was a disappointment," he said. "I was desperate to go, but when it isn't possible, you have to move on. Once you get back on the pitch, you have your mind set on something else."

Happily, Huntelaar would go on to make 76 appearances for his country and play at two subsequent World Cup finals.

England is the joint oldest national team in football. They played in the World's first International football match in 1872 against Scotland. Despite being the oldest nation to play the game, they haven't tasted much success. FA controls the England Men's Football Team, the governing body for football in England. It is affiliated with UEFA and comes under the global jurisdiction of world football's governing body FIFA.

Several greats have played for England but couldn't win titles with their nation. Since winning the World Cup in 1966, they are trophyless. Under present manager Gareth Southgate, England have been successful in terms of their finishes in big tournaments but are still yet to win their second major title. Southgate's team is in the final of the UEFA Euro for the second consecutive time and it will be interesting to see if they manage to win the title this time.

Read Also: Trophies won by Spain in International Football (Men's)

A brief history of England Men's National Football Team in Major Tournaments

The relationship between England and FIFA wasn't good at first and England had to leave FIFA in 1928. They rejoined in 1946 and as a result, they did not compete in a World Cup until 1950. In the 1954 FIFA World Cup, England reached the quarter-finals for the first time but lost 4–2 to reigning champions Uruguay. They have qualified for the World Cup sixteen times.

England won the 1966 FIFA World Cup final on home soil, making it one of eight nations to have won the World Cup. It is their only significant achievement on the global stage to date. Despite being the oldest football-playing nation, they have not won any important international trophy in almost six decades.

Every European Nation that has won a World Cup also has a Europan Championship in their trophy cabinet. But, England have not won a single Euros. Their best performance came in 2020 when he finished as the runners-up, losing to Italy in penalties. 

Read Also: Top Five youngest scorers in UEFA Euro history

England Men's National Football Team Trophies List

Alf Ramsey's England finished top of Group 1 with only four goals but didn't concede a single one. They also became the first World Cup-winning team not to win its first game in the tournament. In the quarter-final, the only goal between Argentina and England came from England's Geoff Hurst. They qualified for the semi-final to face Portugal.

Bobby Charlton scored both goals in England's win, with Portugal's goal coming from a penalty in the 82nd minute. England booked their spot in the Final to face West Germany. In the 13th minute, Helmut Haller put West Germany ahead, but Geoff Hurst leveled the scoreline four minutes later.

Martin Peters put England in the lead in the 78th minute but Wolfgang Weber scored for Germany to take the game to extra time. In the 98th minute, Hurst helped England take the lead. There was a debate about whether the ball crossed the line or not. He scored another one as England beat Germany 4-2 in Extra time to lift their first and only World Cup title.  he became the first player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final

Major Titles:

FIFA World Cup: 1966
UEFA European Championship Finalists: 2024; Runners-up: 2020
UEFA Nations League - Third place: 2019

Regional:

British Home Championship: 54 (including 20 shared)
Rous Cup: 1986, 1988, 1989

Hello and Welcome to SportzPoint for another UEFA Euro 2024 Live. The Final between Spain and England will kick off at 12.30 am IST. Stay tuned for all the live updates. We will see Real Madrid sensation Jude Bellingham representing his nation England against Barcelona talent Lamine Yamal's Spain in Berlin.

Read Also: Spain vs England UEFA Euro 2024 Final Match Preview, Head-to-head, Possible Lineups and Fantasy XI Prediction

Follow us on Twitter for all the updates on the upcoming matches. Subscribe to our newsletter to have the latest news on your favourite sport. 

Spain is one of Europe and the World's most supported and successful football-playing nations. Spain has been a member of FIFA since its founding in 1904, even though the Spanish Football Federation was first established in 1909. It is governed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain.

Several greats have played for Spain and won trophies. They were going through a tough phase as they hadn't won a major trophy since 2013. But, they ended the drought in 2023 after winning the Nations League and became the second national team besides France to win three major titles. Under their new Manager Luis de la Fuente, La Roja are playing attractive football once again and are now set to play the final of the Euro 2024. So, let's look at the trophies Spain has won in their footballing history.

Read Also: Football Transfer News: 10 players to attract big bids after Euro 2024

Spain Men's National Football Team's History in Major Tournaments

The first Spain national football team was made in 1920 to find a team that would represent Spain at the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Belgium. Spain made their debut against Denmark and managed to win that match by a scoreline of 1–0, eventually finishing with the silver medal. Spain qualified for their first FIFA World Cup in 1934, defeating Brazil in their first game and losing in a replay to the hosts and eventual champions Italy in the quarter-finals.

At the 1950 finals in Brazil, they topped their group and then finished in fourth place. Until 2010, this was Spain's highest finish in the FIFA World Cup finals. Spain won its first major international title when it hosted the 1964 European Nations' Cup, defeating the Soviet Union 2–1 in the final at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. It was Spain's lone major title for 44 years. 

In the UEFA Euro 1984, Spain reached the final but they lost the final against France. At UEFA Euro 2008, Spain won all their games in Group D. They faced Italy in the quarter-finals match, which Spain won 4–2 on penalties. They then beat Russia in the semi-finals by 3–0. In the final, Spain defeated Germany 1–0, with Fernando Torres scoring the only goal of the game. This was Spain's first major title since the 1964 European Championship.

In the 2010 World Cup, Spain advanced to the final for the first time by defeating Germany 1–0. Iniesta scored the only goal in the final against the Dutches. Spain became the third team to win a World Cup outside their continent, and the first European team to do so. They then became the first team to retain the European Championship, winning the final 4–0 against Italy.

Since then Spain have won only one title, the 2023 Nations League by beating Croatia in the Final via penalty shootout. After the 2012 Euro triumph, Spain faced several heartbreaks. They were eliminated from the group stage of the 2014 World Cup. At Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, La Roja reached the last 16 in both tournaments but lost to Italy 2–0 and Russia 4-3 on penalties. In the UEFA Euro 2020, held in 2021, Spain reached the last four of a major tournament for the first time since 2012. But, it didn't end well as they lost to eventual champions Italy by 4–2 on penalties.

The same year they managed to reach the 2021 UEFA Nations League final but lost to France. In the 2022 World Cup, Spain lost to Morocco 3–0 on penalties in the Round of 16.

In the ongoing UEFA Euro 2024 Spain progressed to the Round of 16 after winning all three matches and without conceding a single goal. They beat Georgia in the round of 16 by 4–1. Then they eliminated the hosts Germany in the quarter-finals with a 2–1 win and defeated France in the semi-finals with the same result, qualifying for their fifth European Championships final. La Roja set a new record of 6 consecutive matches undefeated in the European Championships.

Read Also: Spain vs England UEFA Euro 2024 Final Match Preview, Head-to-head, Possible Lineups and Fantasy XI Prediction

Spain Men's National Football Team Trophies List

Spain is one of eight national teams to have been crowned world champions and have participated in a total of 16 out of 22 FIFA World Cups, qualifying consistently since 1978. They are three-time continental champions and have participated in a total of 12 out of 17 UEFA European Championships. 

From 2008 to 2012, Spain became the only national team to win three consecutive major titles, including two back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012, while becoming the first European team to win a World Cup held outside of Europe in 2010. From 2007 to the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, Spain recorded 35 consecutive undefeated matches.

FIFA World Cup: 2010
UEFA European Championship: 1964, 2008, 2012
UEFA Nations League: 2023
FIFA Confederations Cup - Runners-up: 2013
Olympic Games - Silver medal: 1920

The Euro is one of the biggest platforms for European football players to show their talent. International football tournaments are mostly held before the beginning of a club football season. Players often break down under pressure on the big stage but some of them give their best for their respective nations and attract big money in the summer transfer window. The Euro 2024 is on the verge of conclusion so let's look at the 10 players who can attract big bids in the summer transfer window after Euro 2024.

Read Also: Greatest teenagers in the UEFA Euro history

Football Transfer News: 10 players to attract big bids after Euro 2024

Marc Cucurella | Spain

The Chelsea full-back Marc Cucurella is proving every doubters wrong with his consistent sensational performances in the UEFA Euro 2024. La Roja reached the final with a brilliant defensive record, conceding just four times in six games, and keeping two clean sheets. Marc Cucurella deserves a lot of credit and he will be hoping to deliver that in the final too. He was struggling in Chelsea after a big-money move from Brighton but it seems like he has found his form back.

Marc Guehi | England

Marc Guehi replaced the injured Harry Maguire ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024. There was not much expectation from the Crystal Palace defender but he has been one of the best players for the Three Lions in the Euro 2024. Gareth Southgate's side have been solid at the back and The 23-year-old has been exceptional with John Stones at the back. After those stellar performances, he will expect some big clubs to fight for him in the summer transfer window.

Fabian Ruiz | Spain

La Roja are in the final of the UEFA Euro 2024 and they have been the best team in the tournament. One of the reasons behind Spain's brilliant run in the tournament is Fabian Ruiz. De la Fuente has been his biggest supporter of Fabian and the PSG midfielder is ruling the midfield in every game. Of all midfielders at the Euro 2024 to have played over 180 minutes, Fabian ranks seventh for completed dribbles per 90 minutes. With three goals and two assists, he has been one of the best players in this year's tournament.

Lamine Yamal | Spain

"What were you doing when you were 16?" Lamine Yamal is asking this question to everyone with his consistent fiery performances. At 16 years old, Lamine Yamal is the youngest player ever to score a goal at a major international tournament. He is making headlines in every game and will play in the Final of the Euro 2024 with Spain. He is a first-team player who starts every game and then comes up with a perfect performance.

Yamal is being compared with Lionel Messi already and may lift his first international title much earlier than the Argentine great. He will be wanted by every football club on the planet in the ongoing summer transfer window, but he will likely remain at his boyhood club Barcelona.

William Saliba | France

William Saliba performed brilliantly for Arsenal in the 2023-24 season and there were high expectations from Saliba before the beginning of the Euro 2024. He didn't disappoint and stood out as one of the best defenders in the tournament. Les Bleus didn't concede a single goal from open play in the five matches before the semi-final, and lots of credit should go to Saliba.

France were pretty wasteful in their attack and paid the price by getting knocked out of the competition in the semi-final against Spain. Saliba is likely to remain at Arsenal but his transfer value will surely go up after this stellar season.

Read Also: Top Five youngest scorers in UEFA Euro history

Arda Guler | Turkey

Arda Guler was injured for almost 90% of the last season but the Real Madrid fans got to see some glimpses which were more than impressive. He showed why he was being called the Turkish Messi before arriving in Madrid. He entered the EURO 2024 with a stunning strike from outside the box against Georgia in the first group-stage game, before becoming one of the best players for his nation in the tournament. The 19-year-old led his side to the quarter-final and after this successful campaign, his price will surely go up in the transfer market but will likely remain in Los Blancos.

Georges Mikautadze | Georgia

Georges Mikautadze is attracting big clubs from Europe already after a sensational campaign with Georgia in the Euro 2024. He netted three times as Georgia qualified for the Round of 16 in their tournament debut, After a huge 2-0 victory over Portugal, they were able to make it further and lots of credit should go to Mikautadze. The 23-year-old has done remarkable things in the tournament and will expect to sign a big club rather than play in the second division in France.

Giorgi Mamardashvili | Georgia

Giorgi Mamardashvili holds this year's record for most saves in the tournament. Georgia also conceded eight times in just four games at EURO 2024 but Mamardashvili made 29 saves during that time. If it wasn't for him, Georgia could have easily been out of the group stage. He is only 23 and plays for Valencia in the La Liga but it will be hard for the club to stop him from signing up for a European Giant. His saves are almost double the number of his nearest competitor (Netherlands' Bart Verbruggen with 17). He may appear in the UEFA Euro 2024 Team of the Tournament as things are going.

Diogo Costa | Portugal

Despite having so many world-class players, Portugal struggled throughout the campaign and got knocked out of the campaign by France in the quarter-final. The only positive from Portugal's campaign was Diogo Costa. He couldn't help Portugal in the penalty shootout of the quarter-final, but his heroics in the round of 16, which saw him save all three of Slovenia's penalties in the shootout, will be fondly remembered for quite some time. Not only that but he pulled off some crucial saves in every game. He currently plays for Porto and is already attracting many big clubs ahead of the upcoming season.

Dani Olmo | Spain

European clubs are already trying to get their hand on Dani Olmo after his magnificent Euro 2024 campaign. He is not only helping his side with his goals and assists but his workrate is unmatchable. The RB Leipzig forward has already scored 3 goals and provided 2 assists in the Euro 2024 for La Roja. With Rodri and Fabian Ruiz in De la Fuente's midfield, Dani Olmo is flying high. He wasn't the first choice and was coming off the bench earlier in the tournament. But after Pedri's injury, he is starting games and giving his best.

Luis de la Fuente's Spain will face Gareth Southgate's England in the UEFA Euro 2024 Final match at the Olympiastadion Berlin, Germany on 15th July, Monday. England have some world-class players in their squads but haven't played attacking football throughout the campaign. On the other side, Spain looks like a far more stable team. They knocked out France in the Semi-Final while Jude Bellingham's side beat the Dutches in the Semi-Final. From possible starting XIs to Fantasy predictions, here is everything you need to know about the Spain vs England Final match in the UEFA Euro 2024.

Read Also: Greatest teenagers in the UEFA Euro history

Match Details

• Match: Spain vs England - UEFA Euro 2024 Final

• Date: 15/7/2024

• Time: 12:30 am (IST)

• Venue: Olympiastadion Berlin, Germany

How to watch the Spain vs England UEFA Euro 2024 Final match?

The Live streaming of the Semi-Final match between Spain and England will be on the Sony Liv app. The Spain vs England football match will also be telecast live on India's Sony Sports TV network.

Spain vs England: Head-to-Head stats

Spain and England have played 27 games against each other. England have a lead, winning on 14 occasions while Spain have won 10 clashes against the Three Lions. The other 3 matches have ended in a draw.

• Matches Played: 27
• Spain won: 10
• England won: 14
• Draws: 3

Read Also: Top Five youngest scorers in UEFA Euro history

Team News

Spain

Spain will get a huge boost for the final with Robin Le Normand and Dani Carvajal returning from suspension. They will be starting in place of Nacho Fernandez and Jesus Navas. Nacho and Navas both played with their hearts out against France but Carvajal and Le Normand are the sure starters.

😁 Si entrenamos así, 𝗡𝗔𝗗𝗔 𝗡𝗢𝗦 𝗣𝗨𝗘𝗗𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗥.#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/WSqQ8AZOZl

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) July 11, 2024

The reports of Alvaro Morata picking up his second yellow card of the tournament in the 2-1 extra-time win over hosts Germany in the quarter-finals proved false but, Spain were handed an injury scare over Morata. When a security guard slipped and crashed into his knee during the post-match celebrations, it seemed like he had sustained an injury.

But, De La Fuente said that Morata would be fit and would start the game. Unai Simon has been a wall at the goal and Laporte has also performed consistently throughout the tournament. Olmo is one of the best players in the tournament and he will start with Rodri and Ruiz in the midfield.

💥 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱.. ¡¡𝗙𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧!!@AlvaroMorata y Lamine Yamal se retan en un 1⃣🆚1⃣ en dos miniporterías.

¡¡𝗠𝗨𝗖𝗛𝗔 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗗 𝗘𝗡 𝗠𝗨𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗖𝗢 𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗢!!

No te voy a decir quién gana, mírate el vídeo 😉#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/LKGf9piMcO

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) July 11, 2024

Williams and Yamal who will turn 17 before the final will start in the wing. Yamal became the youngest scorer in the history of the Euros when he scored a sensational goal outside the box against France in the semi-final. He will try to carry on his performance in the final too.

England

Southgate is relying on a 3-4-2-1 system for England and is expected to do the same against Spain in the Final. Luke Shaw is fit and will try everything to start ahead of Kieran Trippier in the Final. After coming off the bench in the last two games and replacing Trippier at half-time in Dortmund, the Manchester United defender has looked very good.

ONE MORE. 😤 pic.twitter.com/Zp0dGR4L6x

— England (@England) July 11, 2024

Watkins scored the winner in the semi-final and would like to start ahead of Harry Kane but it will most likely not happen. Kane has been a disappointment for much of the tournament despite scoring three goals. He hasn't played his best game so Southgate should think twice before starting him on Monday.

Our captain has become the player with most goals in the knockout stage of men’s EURO history.@HKane has also equalled the record of @alanshearer as the #ThreeLions' all-time leading goalscorer in the competition. pic.twitter.com/9I2UB9opeL

— England (@England) July 11, 2024

Manchester United's young talent Kobbie Mainoo is giving nightmares to every opposition midfielder right now. Rodri has already faced Mainoo a couple of times and he knows what the 19-year-old can do. Foden also hasn't impressed the fans but is a big player and is expected to step up. Saka and Rice are having a good tournament and they would like to carry on those performances in the Final. 

Possible XIs

Spain's possible starting lineup:

Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Olmo, Rodri, Ruiz: Yamal, Morata, Williams

England's possible starting lineup:

Pickford; Walker, Guehi, Stones, Trippier; Bellingham, Mainoo, Rice; Foden, Kane, Saka

Spain vs England: Fantasy XI Prediction

Unai Simon; Dani Carvajal, Aymeric Laporte, John Stones, Cucurella; Kobbie Mainoo, Rodri, Jude Bellingham; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Bukayo Saka