Spain is preparing for the European Championship final. On Sunday, they will face England in Berlin, during the tournament's final match. The media in the country of the tournament's standout player have already stoked the flames.
Embed from Getty Images
Madrid-based AS published a major story about Cole Palmer on Saturday. Old sins appear unforgiven, as the outlet dredged up an old tale.
It recalled the final of the same tournament, for players up to 21 years old, from last summer. Coincidentally, England and Spain also faced each other in that match.
England won that time (1-0) and Cole Palmer was the match-winner. The Chelsea star behaved very exuberantly afterward, to Spain's irritation. Palmer provocatively celebrated his goal in front of the Spanish bench, leading to a heated altercation. AS contacted left-back Sergio Gómez, who was Palmer's teammate at Manchester City at the time.
"He surprised me," Gómez said about the incident. Palmer's behavior still irritates the Spaniard. "He didn't want to apologize afterward. Not even to his own teammates. I would have celebrated differently, as would my compatriots."
The attitude of the English is not unfamiliar to Gómez, the Real Sociedad defender explained. "They apparently like to hold onto that behavior. This wasn't the first time something like this happened with that country. We represent our country as best we can and have respect for our rivals. But they wanted to celebrate that way, right in front of us."
Palmer was involved in a scuffle with Álex Baena at the time. And Baena is back again now. The Villarreal winger is reportedly eager for sweet revenge, AS reports.
The story has created a buzz ahead of the upcoming European Championship final, where Spain will face England in Berlin on Sunday. The Spanish media have used the incident to stoke the flames of the rivalry, painting Palmer as a villain and fueling national pride. The anticipation for the match is palpable, with fans and players alike recalling the fiery encounter from last summer.
The Spanish team's preparation for the final includes not just physical and tactical training, but also a psychological edge, given the lingering resentment from the previous clash. The media's coverage is part of a broader strategy to rally support and build a narrative of redemption and revenge.
Meanwhile, the English camp remains focused on the task ahead. Palmer, now a star at Chelsea, is expected to play a key role in the final. His previous antics have added an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup, making him a marked man on the pitch. The pressure is on for him to deliver once again, but this time, he will have to contend with a highly motivated Spanish side looking to settle old scores.
As the countdown to the final continues, the tension between the two teams is mounting. The events of last summer are still fresh in the minds of the players, and the upcoming match promises to be a thrilling showdown, not just for the title but also for pride and honor.
