Spain go into Sunday's Euro 2024 final as slight favourites over England after not only being the most attractive team to watch at the tournament but having won every match they have played.
The Spaniards have emerged as a team that can quickly adapt their strategy to their opponents without giving up their direct attacking game in favour of a results-based performance.
England will have to wrestle possession from Spain, who also have the outstanding Fabian Ruiz in midfield, a player who for many is already the player of the tournament.
With lightning wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal, who turned 17 on Saturday and is the youngest scorer at a Euros or World Cup, ripping up defences and able to score and provide assists, England's fullbacks will have their hands full.
A second successive Euro final for England and coach Gareth Southgate is no mean feat even though they had to endure weeks of criticism, especially in the group phase, for lacklustre performances and with little punching power up front.
England's defence, however, has remained solid and with the pace of John Stones and Kyle Walker, when they do get exposed, they have proved adept at scrambling recoveries.
Spain's ball possession and movement will likely give England their biggest test so far and key to Southgate's side being able to stay in shape is the incredible work of defensive midfield screen Declan Rice.
His anticipation of danger areas plus his movement, strength and determination have made him arguably England's best player in Germany as he patrols in front of the back four, firefighting wherever the danger pops up.
The rest of England's midfield also stepped up against the Netherlands in the semi-finals in terms of regaining possession, with Kobbie Mainoo, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden all showing an appetite to spoil and stifle.
After their largely misfiring group stage, with two goals in three matches, Southgate will have been reassured by what he saw against the Dutch when his big names stepped up and started creating sustained danger from out wide and through the middle.
He will encourage Jude Bellingham to run hard at the same defenders the midfielder bullied en route to becoming LaLiga player of the year, while reminding Harry Kane how much more effective he was in the semi when he did his work in and around the box rather than going deep as he often did previously.
One area of concern is England's failure to be dangerous at set piece situations. Defensively they looked vulnerable in the air against a very big Netherlands team but that is unlikely to be so much of a factor versus Spain.
"It's a massive moment for our nation," said Rice in the build-up to the final.
"You know, getting to the final back in 2021. You obviously don't think that moment could be topped. But obviously we're now back in another final back to back, which is history in itself. But now obviously aiming to do one more. And we don't want to just keep talking about as in we're getting to finals and we're happy with that.
"You know, we now want to be a country where we win. And we can continue to grow. With the young players that we have coming through for the next generations, England can be a really big force."
Prior to the tournament, Southgate indicated that failure to win the trophy would mean an end to his England tenure.
"Look, I'm not a believer in fairy tales, but I am a believer in dreams and we've had big dreams," said the former defender in the build-up to the final.
"We've felt the need and the importance of that. But then, you know, you have to make those things happen and fate and the run that we've had, the late goals, the penalties that doesn't equate to us, you know, it being our moment. We have to make it happen tomorrow. We have to perform at the level that we need to perform. So of course it would be a lovely story, but it's in our hands and our performance that is the most important thing."
Much of Southgate's legacy lies in the hands of Spain's mercurial teenager Yamal.
The youngster has been breaking records since making his professional debut for Barcelona less than 15 months ago, the latest one being the title of youngest goalscorer in Euros history, with a stunning curled long-range shot against France that helped his side reach the final.
Against England at Berlin's Olympiastadion he may have the chance to reach even higher ground if he helps his side win a record fourth European Championship title.
It would strengthen his case as the most productive young player in Europe and surely put him in the frame to be named player of the tournament.
He was close to scoring several times in Spain's first five games in Germany, but it wasn't until their sixth - the semi-final against France, that he finally made his mark with a candidate for goal of the tournament.
"We are serene, we have never lost perspective," said Spain manager Luis de la Fuente when asked about the favourites tag given to his side.
"We know the kind of analysis that people do on the outside but we think our own way.
"We know there is no favourite tomorrow, it is a very, very equal game. Favourites? We will leave that for betting houses and stuff like that.
"We know that if we don't play above the level we have shown so far, are not completely focused – we won’t be able to win tomorrow if we don’t do all of that.
"But I know my team has all of that, with maximum respect for our rival, we are very focused on trying to win tomorrow. They have their own strengths but we will try and impose our own strengths.
"I always blush because I ask too much (of them) – but I'm not asking anything special tomorrow night.
"They will give it all, I see their faces, their spirit. I will tell them to enjoy something they have earned with hard work, dedication and concentration.
"We have the right to feel really proud about what we have done because there is a big present but a huge future.
"To see the whole country so excited about the national team, whatever happens, it is a wonderful feeling."
Watch Spain v England in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app
