Spain and England will meet in the Euro final, and the players are no strangers to each other. The most intriguing pair is undoubtedly the young Ferran Torres and Foden, who were once teammates at Manchester City. In Berlin, they will engage in their third final confrontation at the senior level, marking the first time they represent their respective national teams in a major tournament final.
Ferran Torres was born in Foios, Valencia, in February 2000. A few months later, Phil Foden came into this world in Stockport, England. Before joining forces under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Ferran and Foden had already distinguished themselves among their peers. Around 2017, England and Spain were fierce rivals in youth football, with both teams boasting top-tier talent in their age group. Thus, the rivalry between Ferran and Foden was sown during those years.
In the 2017 U17 European Championship final, Spain defeated England on penalties, with Ferran proving his mettle by winning the European title. A few months later, the two nations clashed again in the U17 World Cup final held in India. This time, Foden emerged victorious, leading his team to win the U17 World Cup and exacting revenge on Ferran, who also wore the number 7 jersey.
Back at their clubs, Foden and Ferran soon made their professional debuts, representing Manchester City and Valencia respectively, thus formally embarking on their careers. Years later, Manchester City signed Ferran, intertwining their paths once again. Interestingly, among the players from the Spanish and English youth teams that participated in the U17 European Championship and World Cup, only Ferran and Foden will step onto the Euro final pitch in Berlin. The two, who share a close friendship, will face off for the third time in pursuit of championship glory.