MATCH PREVIEW | Into the Berlin skies

Everything was set, even if nobody knew it, because life doesn't always give us warnings. It would seem that José Luis Sampedro was actually referring to the players of the Spanish national team in the beginning of his novel dedicated to the Tajo's crocheters.

If that memorable river that carries us told of the adventures and misadventures of those who lived on the banks of the longest watercourse in our peninsula, the history of Spain in this European Championships has been forged alongside the source of the Danube, the river that crosses the most countries in the world (up to ten, one more than the Nile) as it winds its way to the sea.

From Donaueschingen, whose German name refers precisely to such a mighty river, the players and coaching staff said goodbye this Saturday as they have wound their way to the final of the tournament in Berlin and with the same conviction on the part of the coach that in reality everything was ready for glory with this close-knit group of players, although few knew how to envisage it before this European Championships, because life does not always give us warnings although it offers signs for those who know how to see and trust.

Click here to listen to the pre-match statements of coach Luis de la Fuente and player Jesús Navas.

So, this Sunday's final against England (21:00 Spanish peninsular time live on La1 and with comprehensive coverage across this official media) represents the end of a dizzying journey during which Spain has been adding feathers to their cap as they knock out former World Champions -England would be the fourth to fall; after Italy, Germany and France- as the mighty Danube leaves countries in its wake.

And it has all been done by the a Spanish national team blending their differences and enjoying their individual talents to put them at the full disposal of a group so united that they reach the final with the contributions even of their injured Pedri, Ayoze and also that of Gavi, the 27th player, as Luis de la Fuente described him in the preview.

The collective soul of the team will be joined by the physical performances of Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, back on the pitch after serving suspension in the semi-finals and ready with their teammates to stop the fearsome English attack of Bellingham, Foden, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane, who arrives at the meeting on the same goals as Dani Olmo and identical desire to win the European Championships and the title of top scorer.

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The English expertise in extreme situations, after coming through their elimination rounds with impossible goals in the last minute, extra time and penalty shoot-outs, will contrast with Spain's constant pressure in their opponents' half, with their comebacks and taste for combinations in what is expected to be a clash of style on the Berlin pitch. 

The mutual respect and admiration for each other invoked by captain Alvaro Morata is also expected to carry over into the stands, where thousands of Spanish and English fans will be supporting their team in an unprecedented final between two of the greatest teams in the history of the sport.

French referee François Letexier will be in charge of the match, assisted on the sidelines by his compatriots Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni.

A match brimming with pedigree, but an unprecedented tie between these sides at this late stage, England have yet to win a European Championships that eluded them three years ago at Wembley and Spain are aiming to achieve, with a coveted fourth title, what no one has ever achieved before.

Both will try to do so in the shadow of the Victory Column, the meeting place that Wim Wenders imagined for the angels who guarded human passions without being able to intervene in them from the heights of the German capital in Heaven Over Berlin.

A column close to the team hotel where the national team concludes its journey in the European Championships and topped by the goddess who represents triumph according to the criteria of the ancient world: changeable, capricious and elusive with her wings of desire always ready to fly away, but with the certainty that if she smiles at you, as she did at Spain today at the Olympic Stadium, her favour will make this team eternal.