Sunday, December 22, 2024

UEFA announce late rule change ahead of Euro 2024 final and it could benefit one England player

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  • England face Spain in the final of Euro 2024 in Berlin on Sunday evening
  • Harry Kane and Dani Olmo are two of three players atop the goalscoring charts 
  • LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: What moment changed the Euros for England?

UEFA have announced a last-minute rule change that could have implications for two players involved in Sunday’s Euro 2024 final.

England booked their spot in the final with a dramatic late win over the Netherlands on Wednesday night, while Spain brushed aside France 24 hours prior.

The semi-finals saw Dani Olmo and Harry Kane add to their respective tallies with both now atop the goalscoring charts with three a piece.

However, the two men aren’t alone with Cody Gakpo, Jamal Musiala, Ivan Schranz and Georges Mikautadze having also netted three goals at the tournament.

And UEFA have now changed what happens when multiple players are tied on the same amount of goals come the end of the tournament.

England will face Spain in the final of the European Championship on Sunday evening

Previously the award would be given to the one who notched the most assists, a system that saw Cristiano Ronaldo take it home in 2016.

However, UEFA have now confirmed that the prize will be shared among the players should no one manage to go clear in the standings.

Olmo has the most assists of the six players on three goals and so this will be good news for Kane.

The Three Lions captain’s penalty against Netherlands means he has now scored more knockout stage goals in major tournaments than any other European player in history.

Harry Kane is set to share the Golden Boot with five other players as things stand

Harry Kane is set to share the Golden Boot with five other players as things stand

He went clear of Kylian Mbappe, Gerd Muller, Antoine Griezmann and Miroslav Klose, who have eight each.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s final, Kane said: ‘I’d like to have scored more goals. But the tournament has been a low-scoring one for different reasons.

‘The pitches are part of that reason. Teams are more organised and, from a manager’s point of view, they are more structured and they make it difficult for the favourites or better teams to exploit.

‘You know that you’re never as bad as you think — and you’re never as good as you think on your good days.’   

Dani Olmo is tied with Kane on goals and has more assists than the England captain

Dani Olmo is tied with Kane on goals and has more assists than the England captain

Olmo, meanwhile, says records and individual prizes are of no concern to Spain.

‘We are only thinking about the final, not records, not the future,’ he said.

‘We are 90 minutes away from winning this three years after not reaching the final. We play to win.’ 

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