Former England striker Gary Lineker has hailed the national team's achievement of reaching the Euro 2024 final, stating that they are on the verge of making history. England secured their place in the final by defeating the Netherlands 2-1 in Dortmund on Wednesday night. This marks the first time the men's team has reached a final outside of England, with their previous finals being held at Wembley Stadium in 1966 and 2021. Meanwhile, the women's team secured victory in the 2022 Euro on home soil.

Lineker, who will be hosting BBC One's coverage of the final on Sunday, emphasized the significance of this accomplishment for English football. He reflected on the disappointment of the 2021 Euro final defeat to Italy at Wembley and noted the importance of this opportunity to secure a major trophy abroad. England's only major silverware to date is their World Cup win in 1966, while Spain boasts three European Championships under their belt.

The former England international expressed his admiration for the team's resilience and "never-say-die attitude," which has seen them grind out results even when not at their best. Throughout the tournament, England has displayed a knack for scoring crucial goals in the latter stages of matches, with Ollie Watkins' 90th-minute winner against the Netherlands being their fourth such goal of the tournament.

While Spain remains the favorites heading into the final, Lineker highlighted England's individual talent and their gradual improvement throughout the tournament. He commended their ability to rectify their slow start and find their rhythm in the knockout stages. However, he refrained from entertaining the notion that "football is coming home," calling it a superstitious phrase due to its association with past disappointments.

With Spain garnering praise as an exceptional team in Euro 2024, England will have to put in a monumental effort to secure victory on Sunday. The match promises to be challenging, but if England emerges triumphant, they will have achieved a historic first by winning a major tournament outside of their home country.

Football fans can catch all the action of the Euro 2024 final live on BBC iPlayer. As Lineker rightly pointed out, England now has the chance to "finish the job" and etch their names in footballing history.