It’s back-to-back finals for Argentina and England, with Argentina and Spain also aiming to set the record for most titles won in their respective competitions.
The finals are upon us. We have one more match in the European Championship and two in the Copa America this weekend:

– 🇪🇸 Spain and 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England face off in the final of the 2024 European Championship.
– 🇨🇦 Canada and 🇺🇾 Uruguay compete in the Bronze-medal match of the 2024 Copa America.
– 🇦🇷 Argentina and 🇨🇴 Colombia clash in the final of the 2024 Copa America.

SEMI FINAL IN THE 2024 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

🇪🇸 Spain ( 2 ) – ( 1 ) 🇫🇷 France
Spain and France have faced each other several times in the Euro, with their most significant clash being in the 1984 final, where France won 2-0 to claim their first-ever major title. The teams met in the group stage of the 1996 Euro, resulting in a 1-1 draw. France gained the upper hand in the 2000 Euro, winning 2-1 in the quarterfinals and eventually capturing the tournament title. Twelve years later, Spain turned the tables, defeating France 2-0 in the quarterfinals and going on to win the 2012 Euro.

They met for the semifinal of the 2024 Euro, and this time it was Spain that finished on the right end of the score, coming from behind to win by two goals to one. All the scoring was done in the opening half. Kolo Muani opened the scoring for France, taking the lead in the ninth minute with a cross from Kylian Mbappé. Spain’s equalizing goal came in the 21st minute through Lamine Yamal’s brilliant curled shot from outside the penalty box, and their game-winning goal came through Dani Olmo’s strike in the 25th minute.

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

🇳🇱 Netherlands ( 1 ) – ( 2) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England 
The last time the Euro was hosted in Germany, the Netherlands emerged victorious, marking their only major title to date. To repeat history, they had to secure a win against an English side seeking their first title in the tournament and also their first major title since winning the 1966 World Cup, their only major title to date. The Dutch failed to do so, despite taking the lead in the 7th minute through a thunderous strike from Xavi Simons. England got the equalizer in the 18th minute after a penalty was awarded for a questionable foul in the penalty box. Harry Kane converted the penalty into a goal. The score stayed at 1-1 until the first minute of the final added time (90+1’), when Kane’s substitute, Ollie Watkins, struck in clinically from an angle to give England the winning goal and a spot in the Euro final. It’s back-to-back European Championship finals for England. Can they win it this time?

England and Netherlands met in Euro 1988, where Marco Van Basten scored a hat-trick to lead the Netherlands to a 3-1 victory over England. They faced each other again in the group stage of Euro 1996, where England triumphed 4-1, with Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham each scoring two goals.

PLAYERS THAT ARE STILL ACTIVE IN THE 2024 EURO TOP SCORER RACE.

THREE goals: 🇪🇸 Dani Olmo, 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Harry Kane. TWO goals: 🇪🇸 Fabián Ruiz, 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jude Bellingham, ONE goal: 🇪🇸 Álvaro Morata, 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Bukayo Saka, 🇪🇸 Dani Carvajal, 🇪🇸 Ferran Torres, 🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal, 🇪🇸 Mikel Merino, 🇪🇸 Nico Williams, 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Ollie Watkins, and 🇪🇸 Rodri.

THE SEMI FINALS IN THE 2024 COPA AMERICA

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

🇦🇷 Argentina ( 2 ) – ( 0 ) 🇨🇦 Canada
The first semifinal fixture of the Copa America was a rematch of the opening match of the tournament, the Group A match between Argentina and Canada. Just as it finished in that opening game, Argentina ended up 2-0 winners on the day. This time around, the goals came in each half, with Julian Alvarez getting the first goal in the 22nd minute and Lionel Messi redirecting Enzo Fernandez’s shot to double the lead in the 51st minute.

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

🇺🇾 Uruguay ( 0 ) – ( 1 ) 🇨🇴 Colombia
Colombia’s only title in this competition came in 2001, while Uruguay’s last title was ten years later, in 2011. Neither team had reached the final since their respective victories, until now. Colombia head back to the Copa America final after a 1-0 win over Uruguay. Jefferson Lerma leaped onto a corner kick from James Rodriguez in the 39th minute to score the game’s only goal.
Things were made difficult for Colombia toward the end of the opening half when Daniel Munoz picked up a second yellow card for an offense that could’ve been a straight red card. Colombia played the entirety of the second half with a numerical disadvantage (10 men) but held on to their lead and even had opportunities to add to it.
In the end, they got the job done and advanced to the final to face defending champions Argentina.

PLAYERS THAT ARE STILL ACTIVE IN THE 2024 COPA AMERICA TOP SCORER RACE.

FOUR goals: 🇦🇷 Lautaro Martínez. TWO goals: 🇺🇾 Darwin Núñez, 🇨🇴 Jefferson Lerma, 🇨🇴 Jhon Córdoba, 🇦🇷 Julián Álvarez, 🇨🇴 Luis Díaz, and 🇺🇾 Maximiliano Araújo. ONE goal: 🇨🇴 Davinson Sánchez, 🇺🇾 Facundo Pellistri, 🇺🇾 Federico Valverde, 🇨🇦 Jacob Shaffelburg, 🇨🇴 James Rodríguez, 🇨🇦 Jonathan David, 🇦🇷 Lisandro Martínez, 🇦🇷 Lionel Messi, 🇺🇾 Mathías Olivera, 🇺🇾 Matías Viña, 🇨🇴 Miguel Borja, 🇨🇴 Richard Ríos, and 🇺🇾 Rodrigo Bentancur.

*🇨🇴 Daniel Muñoz has two goals to his name but is suspended for the final for picking up a red card in the semifinal.

THE FINALS

The finals of the Copa America and the European Championship are both on Sunday, leaving us with a three-day drought. Fortunately, we get the Copa America third-place playoff on Saturday. Canada and Uruguay will be contesting for the bronze medal. There isn’t a third-place playoff in the European Championship for us to know where the Netherlands and France will stand.

Saturday, July 13, 2024

🇨🇦 Canada vs. 🇺🇾 Uruguay (copa america – bronze medal playoff)
This tournament was Canada’s first, so finishing as a semifinalist and having the chance to win a bronze medal is a major achievement. However, Uruguay won’t make it easy.

Sunday, July 14, 2024

🇪🇸 Spain vs. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England (european championship final)
England is seeking their first-ever European Championship title and their first major silverware since the 1966 World Cup. They return to the Euro final after losing in the last edition (against Italy). This time, they face Spain.

Spain shares the record for most European Championship title wins with Germany (3), and a win against England would see them take the record alone.
Spain is the only nation to win the title consecutively, in 2008 and 2012. This is their fifth final, and they’ve only lost once (in 1984) against France, whom they had to beat in the semifinals of this tournament.

Sunday, July 14, 2024

🇦🇷 Argentina vs. 🇨🇴 Colombia (copa america final)
Argentina enter the final as defending champions. They share the record for most titles in the competition with Uruguay (15). A 16th title would allow them to set a new record.
This is Colombia’s third Copa America final. They lost the first final and won their second. It’s been 23 years since they last reached the final and won it. They were host nations then, beating Mexico 1-0 to win the 2001 Copa America.