England to bring it home? Chris Sutton’s Euro 2024 final prediction

Berlin, 20:00 BST

Gareth Southgate has done well to get England to the final, and he deserves a lot of praise.

I actually thought their semi-final win over the Netherlands was England’s best display so far. They really impressed me in the first half, when they took control of the game.

It was still a far-from-perfect performance, but Southgate’s substitutions came off with Cole Palmer playing in Ollie Watkins for the winner.

Harry Kane is the tournament’s joint-leading scorer now with three goals but he is not really one who runs in behind.

Watkins is a bit more dynamic and offers a different kind of threat.

There is a criticism of England at this tournament that they haven’t stretched opposition backlines enough. You always need people making movements in behind, and Watkins gives them that.

Kane is different in that he is a central striker and you have to create opportunities for him. In and around the box, he is devastating, but the onus then has been on Bukayo Saka or Jude Bellingham to run in behind.

That has not happened very often, and it means England have been predictable to play against.

Having said all of that, I think it is a massive plus for Southgate that he has these different types of players who can affect games in different ways.

I look at their depth up front very much as a positive, rather than a stick to hit Kane with. I don’t think Watkins will start the final, I am pretty sure of that, but there is still always that option of bringing him on.

It is the same with Palmer too. I have been banging on all tournament about him deserving a starting place, which he hasn’t had yet, but he has still been coming on and affecting games.