Jesus Navas confirmed he will retire from international duty following Spain's Euro 2024 final showdown with England on Sunday.

The 38-year-old, who will bring the curtain down on an international career spanning 15 years, is the last remaining member of La Roja's 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship-winning sides.

Navas has appeared three times for Spain during this tournament, captaining the side in their final Group B game against Albania, while deputising for the suspended Dani Carvajal at right-back in the semi-final win over France.

The Sevilla wing-back, who will call time on his professional career later this year, admitted he has played through the pain barrier in recent years.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's final, Navas highlighted similarities between Spain's current crop and the side that won three successive major international honours from 2008 to 2012.

Although, he only lifted the lid on his international future following a conversation with skipper Alvaro Morata. 

"[Morata] told me that it was time for me to speak since it is my last game with Spain!" he told reporters during the pre-match press conference.

"I have been having a problem with my hip for four or five years, but playing for my country is everything for me.

"I just want to leave everything on the pitch. You have to die for every moment here, for your team and your country. It is the biggest thing, and I am so proud of that.

"Afterwards, everything hurts, but it is about giving it all you have on the day, to be the same person with the same kind of humility.

"I am excited about everything that I have done in football and in the national team. Being here as a 38-year-old is unique and incredible.

"In those years of success, we were a team both on and off the pitch. That was noticeable when we played, and it is the same here."

Lamine Yamal has become the youngest-ever player to appear in a major tournament semi-final, aged only 16 years and 362 days old at Euro 2024.

Yamal started Spain's last-four clash against France in Munich on Tuesday.

The Barcelona winger surpasses the record held by Pele, who was 17 years and 244 days old when he represented Brazil in the 1958 World Cup, also against France.

The teenager had already made history at the tournament when he started La Roja's opener against Croatia on June 15, as he became the youngest-ever player to feature at the European Championships (16 years, 338 days).

Yamal has been impressive at the tournament so far, managing three assists, with no Spanish player ever registering more in a single edition of the competition.

His 14 chances created so far are also the most by a teenager at a major tournament on record (since 1966 for the World Cup, 1980 for the Euros).

At the other end of the spectrum, Jesus Navas (38y 231d) became the oldest-ever outfield player to appear in a semi-final at a major international tournament by replacing Dani Carvajal at right-back.

Pau Cubarsi, Marcos Llorente and Aleix Garcia have been cut from Luis de la Fuente Castillo's Spain squad for Euro 2024.

De la Fuente named a 29-man party last month, with a youthful look to it, as Spain aim to regain European glory in Germany.

Cubarsi started Spain's friendly win over Andorra, setting up Ayoze Perez, who is a surprise inclusion in the final squad, for his debut goal.

Despite impressing in his breakout season in LaLiga, there is no place for the 17-year-old as De la Fuente opts for a more experienced group of centre-backs in Robin Le Normand, Nacho, Aymeric Laporte and Dani Vivian.

Llorente also misses out, with Cubarsi's fellow Barcelona youngster, Fermin Lopez, keeping his place after impressing with an assist in his first international appearance on Wednesday.

Garcia is the other midfielder not to make the cut despite drawing attention with Girona as they finished third in LaLiga, scoring three goals and adding six assists in the league in 2023-24.

Spain will begin their Euro 2024 campaign against Croatia in Group B on June 15, before playing Italy and Albania in their other group matches. 

Final Spain squad: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad), David Raya (Arsenal), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Aymeric Laporte (Al-Nassr), Nacho (Real Madrid), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Rodrigo (Manchester City), Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Pedri (Barcelona), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Fermin Lopez (Barcelona), Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid), Joselu (Real Madrid), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ayoze Perez (Real Betis), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).

Jesus Navas is looking forward to "the most beautiful derby in Spain" between Sevilla and Real Betis as he looks to put their Champions League exit behind them.

Julen Lopetegui's side lost 5-4 on aggregate to Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 after drawing 2-2 in the second leg in Germany.

The result was the latest setback for Sevilla, whose season is threatening to unravel after appearing so promising just weeks ago.

After losing once in 19 matches in all competitions from December 8 to February 13, Sevilla have only won once in their past six games.

Following a 3-2 loss to Dortmund in the first leg, they suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Barcelona in LaLiga and then allowed a 2-0 aggregate advantage to slip away against the Catalans in the Copa del Rey semi-final, losing 3-0 after extra time at Camp Nou on March 3.

A 2-1 defeat at Elche last week means Sevilla are now six points behind the top three in the table, albeit with a game in hand, and another loss against Betis would allow their fierce rivals to close to within just three points.

Navas hopes to bring some much-needed joy to Sevilla fans as they aim to keep their top-four hopes firmly in their own hands.

"The Gran Derbi is experienced with a lot of passion by the two sets of fans," Navas said via LaLiga.

"There is great excitement in the days beforehand, with all the desire to be able to win so that the fans are happy.

"It is so special because of the excitement and the desire to get the victory. You experience it to the fullest and with all the passion in the world.

"It's the most beautiful derby in Spain because of the excitement around it. When you get the win, the fans enjoy it to the fullest."

Betis defender Marc Bartra also acknowledges the importance of the fixture in a city where emotions run deep for the respective sides.

"It's a question of passion. On both sides, I think there's incredible passion," said the centre-back.

"It's the same city, the same houses, with the same families... in the city, you either support Real Betis or Sevilla. And that makes it extremely passionate. It's really, really great to experience it from within.

"My best memory is from the first one I played, no doubt about it. It was my first Gran Derbi, and I scored my first goal for Real Betis.

"It was a spectacular moment, in front of the Gol Sur, with an assist from Joaquin. It was a memorable day, which I will remember forever."

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