By Lettice Bromovsky

Published: 01:42 BST, 14 July 2024 | Updated: 01:44 BST, 14 July 2024

The President of the European commission has come out in support of Spain ahead of the Euro 2024 final tonight. 

Ursula von der Leyen, who is German, admitted that she wants Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions to lose so the trophy will stay on the continent.

‘In this final, my heart beats for Spain. England also has great talents and players. But in this tournament, the Spanish team has consistently shown footballing skills close to perfection.

‘I hope that Spain will make sure that this European trophy stays in a glass cabinet in our Union,’ she told the Telegraph. 

The President of the European commission has come out in support of Spain ahead of the Euro 2024 final tonight

The President of the European commission has come out in support of Spain ahead of the Euro 2024 final tonight

Ursula von der Leyen , who is German, admitted that she wants Gareth Southgate 's Three Lions to lose so the trophy will stay on the continent

Ursula von der Leyen , who is German, admitted that she wants Gareth Southgate 's Three Lions to lose so the trophy will stay on the continent

Ursula von der Leyen , who is German, admitted that she wants Gareth Southgate ‘s Three Lions to lose so the trophy will stay on the continent

Southgate has steered his side to a second consecutive Euros final against Spain on Sunday

In particular, mother of seven Ms von der Leyen heaped praise on 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who plays for Barcelona, describing him as ‘simply incredible’. 

However, she overlooked that fact that England midfielder Jude Bellingham plays for Real Madrid and striker Harry Kane plays for Bayern Munich.

It is not entirely unexpected for Mrs von der Leyen to support Spain, as it is traditional for the EU executive to claim the national sporting victories of its members as triumphs for the EU. 

The German Embassy in London, however, waded into the topic and joked on social media their support for England: ‘Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the G̶e̶r̶m̶a̶n̶s̶ English always win.

‘All the best for the final on Sunday, England! #EURO2024.’

The team will play in Berlin, to an estimated TV audience of 25 million fans, as Southgate gave his inspirational message ahead of the game: ‘I don’t believe in fairytales but I am a believer in dreams and we have big dreams but you have to make those things happen.

‘The run we have had, late goals, penalties but that doesn’t equate to us making it happen. We have to perform.

‘When you try to create dreams you need a vision to go with that. That lights a small fire. We know what it would mean (to win).’

The Three Lions boss told his players to achieve their dreams by winning a first major trophy

The Three Lions boss told his players to achieve their dreams by winning a first major trophy

The Three Lions boss told his players to achieve their dreams by winning a first major trophy

Prince William celebrates England's equaliser against Switzerland last Saturday. The royal will be in the stands cheering on in Berlin for Sunday's final

Prince William celebrates England's equaliser against Switzerland last Saturday. The royal will be in the stands cheering on in Berlin for Sunday's final

Prince William celebrates England’s equaliser against Switzerland last Saturday. The royal will be in the stands cheering on in Berlin for Sunday’s final

The Prince of Wales had his head in his hands after Swiss striker Breel Embolo put the Swiss ahead last Saturday

The Prince of Wales had his head in his hands after Swiss striker Breel Embolo put the Swiss ahead last Saturday

The Prince of Wales had his head in his hands after Swiss striker Breel Embolo put the Swiss ahead last Saturday

Prince William last night urged Gareth Southgate’s England team to end 58 years of footballing hurt, declaring: ‘We believe’.

In a rousing message ahead of tonight’s momentous Euro 2024 clash against Spain, the Prince of Wales captured the mood of an expectant nation as he exhorted the squad to make ‘just one last push to finish the job!’

His rallying cry came as an estimated TV audience of 25 million nervously prepared to watch tonight’s match in living rooms and pubs across the country, while 50,000 England fans flooded into Berlin.

Southgate is expected to be knighted if the Three Lions triumph tonight in their first-ever major final on foreign soil.

:
EU president Ursula von der Leyen comes out in support of Spain ahead of the Euro 2024 final and admits she wants Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions to LOSE so the trophy will stay on the continent

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk