📈 EURO 2024 Power Rankings: England rise ahead of final test | OneFootball

There is just one more game left of EURO 2024 with Spain and England facing off after this week’s final four.

How, though, did we rank the semi-finalists?

4. Netherlands (👎 Last time: 3)

In the end, Netherlands left EURO 2024 not in a blaze of glory but a whimper.

Ronald Koeman and Virgil van Dijk may lament the refereeing on show in Dortmund but the hard truth is that the Oranje just weren’t good enough in their semi-final with England.

Admittedly, the Three Lions’ equalising penalty was contentious to say the least, but throughout the 90 minutes the Dutch offered very little bar their early goal.

Xavi Simons’ strike was one of only two on target for Netherlands as they huffed and puffed hoping for extra time.

It never came and now they’re heading home.

3. France (👍Last time: 4)

With nine minutes gone in Tuesday’s semi-final with Spain, it looked like things might finally have clicked for France.

Les Blues had struggled up to that point at EURO 2024, failing to score a goal in open play despite boasting the world’s best forward.

But as Randal Kolo Muani headed in past Unai Simon, it seemed for all the world as if Didier Deschamps’ side would show their tournament nous and make things count when it really mattered.

Spain though, had other ideas and with two quick-fire first half goals ended hopes of French glory.

Despite making it to the last four, it’s been an incredibly underwhelming tournament for Kylian Mbappé and co.

Only the first half against Austria could, arguably, be considered any good with Mbappé’s broken nose a turning point for their entire campaign.

If you’re relying so heavily on one world class player though, perhaps the game plan wasn’t any good to begin with?

2. England (👍 Last time: 5)

It took six games, but in the first half of their semi-final against Netherlands, England were finally looking like a functioning football team.

Coach Gareth Southgate had come in for all sorts of criticism up to that point with cups of beer being thrown and abuse hurled after the group stages.

But with the move to a 3-4-2-1, the Three Lions seem to have finally found a system that can get the best out of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden, all whilst finding some width in attack.

Bukayo Saka was, once again, excellent as right wing-back whilst Kobbie Mainoo has added plenty of thrust from the centre of the park.

Clearly there are still issues to be sorted before Sunday’s final, with Harry Kane barely even half-fit and Kieran Trippier stymying any England attacks that go down the left-hand side.

England though, are in the final but must catch Spain on a bad day if they are to ultimately triumph.

1. Spain (No change)

Spain continue to be the best team left in the competition, as they have been since their opening game in Berlin a month ago.

If EURO 2024 was a boxing bout the referee would have stopped it by now, but La Roja must now win one more game back in the German capital.

Luis De La Fuente’s side head to the Olympiastadion off the back of a stunning win over France in the semi-final, in which teenager Lamine Yamal truly introduced himself to the world.

The 16-year-old scored one of the goals of the tournament as Spain edged past Les Bleus in what was a brilliantly professional win.

Yamal grabbed the headlines but with Dani Olmo’s grace in the final third, Fabian Ruiz’s industry and Rodri’s mastery of the midfield, Spain have a perfectly balanced side that can beat just about anybody.

It would, in truth, be a travesty if Spain didn’t win the final but the Football Gods have a funny way of working sometime.