The Three Lions bid to end long wait for major title since 1966 World Cup faces stern test from Mancini’s men as Italy look to emerge victorious after defeats in their last two Euro finals
England fans are looking forward to a first major tournament final in 55 years as their team prepares to face Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley on Sunday.
Three years on from their defeat by Croatia in the World Cup semi-final, Gareth Southgate’s men overcame Denmark 2-1 in extra time at a rocking Wembley on Wednesday to reach their first European Championship final.
Italy were also pushed beyond 90 minutes by Spain in their semi-final on Tuesday, but won on penalties to keep their bid for a first Euro title since 1968 alive.
England stand just one game away from ending their long and painful trophy drought, which dates all the way back to the 1966 World Cup.
England have suffered semi-final heartbreak at major tournaments four times since 1966 and those agonising defeats have been etched in the psyche of English football.
But Southgate has overseen the emergence of a vibrant young team unconcerned by the failings of their predecessors.
Italy are on a 33-match unbeaten run, reviving their reputation on the global stage after an embarrassing failure to even reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
For Italy, Sunday’s match will be the culmination of a remarkable turnaround in the team’s fortunes since Roberto Mancini took over as coach following the doomed qualifying campaign for the World Cup.
Mancini was appointed Italy coach in 2018, charged with the task of reviving the fortunes of a side that had failed to qualify for that year’s World Cup.
He has succeeded in some style, with Italy currently on a national record unbeaten run that stretched to 33 games with Tuesday’s penalty shoot-out win over Spain in the semi-finals.
Midfielder Marco Verratti said the Azzurri were “climbing back to where they belong” ahead of Sunday’s final, also at England’s home ground after the pan-European tournament.
It will be their Euro third final since 1968 having lost to France in 2000, when Zoff was the coach, and to Spain in 2012.
One thing that both Italy and England have in common are historically poor records in penalty shoot-outs. But England have won their last two, while Italy, who knocked England out of Euro 2012 on spot-kicks, edged past Spain, with Gigi Donnarumma making the decisive save from Alvaro Morata.
ITALY
Group A results
11/06: Turkey 0-3 Italy (Rome)
16/06: Italy 3-0 Switzerland (Rome)
20/06: Italy 1-0 Wales (Rome)
Round of 16
26/06: Italy 2-1 Austria (aet) (London)
Quarter-final
02/07: Belgium 1-2 Italy (Munich)
Semi-final
06/07: Italy 1-1 Spain (aet, Italy win 4-2 on pens) (London)
Top scorers
Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne, Manuel Locatelli, Matteo Pessina (2 goals)
Qualifying
Group J record: P10 W10 D0 L0 F37 A4
Qualifying top scorer: Andrea Belotti (5)
Pedigree
UEFA EURO best: winners (1968)
UEFA EURO semis: W3 L1 (1968, 2000, 2012; 1988)
UEFA EURO finals: W1 L2 (1968; 2000, 2012)
UEFA EURO 2016: quarter-finals, lost 6-5 to Germany on penalties after 1-1 draw
Coach: Roberto Mancini
One of the best forward players of his generation, though never that lucky with the Azzurri, Mancini is eager to sparkle as an international coach after winning club trophies in Italy, England and Turkey, and has made a pretty good start.
Key player: Jorginho
In the Italy camp they call him Radio Jorginho because he is constantly talking during games, always directing his team-mates. If you are looking for spectacular tricks or stunning goals, you should look somewhere else, but Jorginho is the real brains behind this Azzurri team, an indispensable orchestra conductor — and, as his decisive kick in the semi-final shoot-out win against Spain showed, he’s not bad from the penalty spot either.
One to watch: Nicolò Barella
The box-to-box midfielder holds the key to Mancini’s formation. Sardinian-born and now a key part of Inter’s Serie A-winning side, the 24-year-old really is the full package, bringing tackling, technique, lots of energy and dangerous, well-timed runs into the opposition box.
Did you know?
In the course of this tournament, Italy have broken their records for a longest winning streak (13) and unbeaten run (currently 33).
Why Italy will win
*Italy can do it all
The Azzurri play attacking possession-based football with three technically skilled midfielders — typically Marco Verratti, Jorginho (the real brain of the team) and Nicolò Barella — constantly moving the ball quickly. Their three forwards combine well and can always score great goals, as Federico Chiesa demonstrated against Austria and Spain, and Lorenzo Insigne against Belgium, to mention just a couple.
However, when required the Azzurri have also proved that they can form a solid blockade to protect goalkeeper Donnarumma, with veteran centre-backs Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci transforming into gladiators, capable of disposing of every ball that comes near the Azzurri box. The perfect combination of youth and experience.
*The strength of the group
From day one, every single player in the squad has stressed how united this group is. The players seem to enjoy every minute together and this is reflected on the pitch; each player is ready to help their team-mates, and those starting on the bench are always ready to contribute.
On the other hand...
Losing Leonardo Spinazzola was a terrible blow for Mancini. The left-back had been one of the tournament’s surprise packages; he was twice named Star of the Match. His incredible energy will be much missed by Italy, although Emerson looked a more than reliable replacement in the semi-final against Spain.
PREDICTED LINE-UP
Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Chiesa, Immobile, Insigne
ENGLAND
Group D results
13/06: England 1-0 Croatia (London)
18/06: England 0-0 Scotland (London)
22/06: Czech Republic 0-1 England (London)
Round of 16
29/06: England 2-0 Germany (London)
Quarter-final
03/07: Ukraine 0-4 England (Rome)
Semi-final
07/07: England 2-1 Denmark (aet) (London)
Top scorer
Harry Kane (4 goals)
Qualifying
Group A record: P8 W7 D0 L1 F37 A6
Qualifying top scorer: Harry Kane (12)
Pedigree
UEFA EURO best: third place (1968)
UEFA EURO semis: W0 L2 (1968, 1996)
UEFA EURO finals: N/A
UEFA EURO 2016: round of 16, lost 2-1 to Iceland
Coach: Gareth Southgate
His four major tournaments as a player included EURO '96, and a famous semi-final penalty miss against Germany. As manager he has changed the mood around England, leading the team to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and now the final of EURO 2020, beating Germany on the way, no less.
Key player: Harry Kane
England’s captain and talismanic 38-goal striker has rediscovered his scoring touch at the perfect moment in this EURO — and now stands level with Gary Lineker as the nation’s highest tournament goalscorer (with ten goals).
One to watch: Bukayo Sako
Had only four caps entering June, but the 19-year-old has been a revelation, forcing his way into Southgate’s side with his efforts on the training pitch. His penetrating run led to the winner against the Czechs on his first EURO outing while against Denmark, his speedy surges kept the dangerous Joakim Mæhle on the back foot.
Did you know?
England have lost just two of 28 Wembley home games under Southgate — against Spain and Denmark (in the UEFA Nations League).
Why England will win
*Forwards on a roll
England have not one but two world-class forwards exuding menace. Raheem Sterling’s excellence has been a constant since day one and brought England’s first three goals of this tourney. Now Harry Kane has joined the party too. His mojo restored by his late header against Germany, he looked the Kane of old with two more goals in Rome.
Both men were at it again against Denmark: Sterling troubled the Danes with his running all night long, and had an involvement in both goals, while Kane produced probably his best display of the tournament, capped by his winning strike.
*Defensive resilience
England survived the group stage without conceding a goal for the first time since 1966. They then became first team since Italy at the 1990 World Cup to achieve five successive clean sheets from the start of a World Cup or Euro. And though Jordan Pickford conceded on Wednesday, he has made big saves when called on in this Euro, such as those from Germany’s Timo Werner and Kai Havertz.
In front of him, Kyle Walker and John Stones celebrate defensive actions as if they were goals while Harry Maguire’s return has added aerial power as well as authority. Add the work of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips as the defensive midfielders in front of them and the overall result is a team who have permitted their opponent just 13 shots on target in six matches.
On the other hand…
When put under pressure against Denmark, England struggled to keep the ball. Now they face a team who will put them under pressure all over the pitch. Can they handle the challenge?
PREDICTED LINE-UP
Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Saka, Mount, Sterling; Kane