The stage is set at the iconic Wembley stadium, home of the England national football team as they welcome Italy in the Euro 2020 finals. It’s been 53 years since the Italians won a EURO title while the Three Lions are looking to be crowned European champions for the first time ever. In their journey leading up to the final, it can be argued that the Italians have had the tougher draws, having faced the likes of Spain and Belgium so far while England have defeated Ukraine and Denmark in their previous two fixtures.
England are currently on a high and the nation has truly rallied behind their players, rooted in the firm belief that football is finally coming home. Gareth Southgate’s squad have looked defensively solid so far and also lethal in attack, having enjoyed their biggest Euro final tournament victory with a 4-0 win over Ukraine. If there was ever a time for the Three Lions to win a major piece of silverware, it’s now as England have never lost a final of a major tournament in Wembley with 11 wins and four draws. Only three teams have ever won the Euro’s on home soil, France (1984), Spain (1964) and Italy (1968) and England will hope to be the fourth.
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Italy on the other hand have never lost to England at a major tournament, winning thrice and drawing once. They won 1-0 in Euro 1980, 2-1 at the 1990 and 2014 World Cups and drew 0-0 in Euro 2012. Roberto Mancini’s men have looked rock solid so far, winning all three matches of Group A without conceding a single goal and are unbeaten in 33 matches in all competitions, scoring 86 goals and conceding only 10. A staggering record to say the least. Having won 28 games and five draws in their 33 match run so far, breaking a national record that lasted since the 1930’s. It’s fair to say that we definitely have a game on our hands!
Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane look to have found their scoring boots for England, with Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire also displaying their fine form. For the Italians, Federico Chiesa scored his second successive goal at the Wembley Stadium against Spain and is one of five Italy players who have scored two goals at Euro 2020 along with Matteo Pessina, Manuel Locatelli, Lorenzo Insigne and Ciro Immobile. Another ridiculous record set by Italy is that goalkeeper Donnarumma has never conceded more than one goal in any of his last 32 games for Italy, keeping 19 clean sheets.
In conclusion, it promises to be a blockbuster clash between two European heavyweights with very little between them. The Euro 2020 final is a fixture that promises to deliver a blockbuster event in a tournament that has delighted fans across Europe and the world with goals galore, shocking upsets and most importantly, the fans back in the stadiums.
