Italy vs England UEFA EURO 2020 final preview:
After two epic semi-finals, London now hosts a decider which, for the first time in EURO history, will feature England. Since their 1966 FIFA World Cup triumph at the previous Wembley Stadium, England have lost in the semi-finals of five major tournaments: EURO '68 and '96, the 1990 and 2018 World Cups, and the 2019 UEFA Nations League. However, they have hurdled Germany, Ukraine and, in extra time on Wednesday night, Denmark to earn their chance to end – to paraphrase a popular song – 55 years of hurt.
Italy's sole EURO title came as hosts back in 1968. They also lost the finals of 2000 and 2012, although since first becoming continental champions they have won two of their four World Cups. The Azzurri beat Spain on penalties on Tuesday and if that, technically, halted their 13-game winning streak (and record of 15 EURO victories in a row, qualifying included), they still remain unbeaten in 33. A remarkable turnaround for a team who, while England reached the 2018 World Cup semis, did not even qualify for Russia. However, sitting out a preceding World Cup did not stop Czechoslovakia in 1976, Denmark in 1992 or Greece in 2004 claiming the European crown.
Predicted line-ups
Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Chiesa, Immobile, Insigne
Out: Spinazzola (Achilles)
England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Saka, Mount, Sterling; Kane
Doubtful: Foden (minor knock)
Reporters' views
Paolo Menicucci, Italy reporter: It may not have been the best Italy performance in the semi-final against Spain but there is one aspect that really impressed me. The Azzurri seem to play with no kind of pressure. Even when the game went to penalties, there were plenty of smiles and laughs, something we are used to seeing while watching them training at Coverciano.
They probably know they have already achieved something special in regaining the love of an entire country and plenty of respect at international level. This is the best spirit in which to face England at Wembley. Now all they need is the icing on the cake.
Simon Hart, England reporter: England have already made history by reaching their first EURO final. Gareth Southgate's men have gained momentum and conviction by logging a number of milestones marked by one common denominator: 1966. After all, not since that World Cup triumph under Alf Ramsey had England got through a group phase without conceding, or eliminated Germany, or scored four times in a knockout game. Or, of course, reached a final.
A team defined by their togetherness are now just one step from emulating the boys of '66. Italy's pressing game will present a challenge, but this side have risen to every other challenge so far. With the Wembley crowd behind them, they will believe this is their moment.
View from the camps
Roberto Mancini, Italy coach: "We have been working towards this for many years so we are very happy and I can only thank the players for what they have done so far. We have won nothing yet; we will have to win on Sunday to consider it a success. England will have an entire stadium behind them. It will be on us to put them under pressure. A final is a bit different from other games – we will have to play with focus but also with joy because you can only win a final if you take the field to have fun."
Giorgio Chiellini, Italy captain: "We'll need to have a strong heart and a clear head. There will be moments when we need to brave and others when we need to be flexible. You can't go into a game thinking you'll be in control for the full 90 minutes. It's a final and we'll need to take care of the details in order to win it. Games like these may not come along again for me in my playing career – it's special to be part of it. We're aware of just how important this game is. Light-heartedness and a little bit of madness have got us this far and we'll need them tomorrow if we're to win this cup."
Gareth Southgate, England manager: "The reality of any team is that we never get these 26 players together again. It just doesn't work that way. They've left a great legacy, whatever happens, but now it's about the colour of the medal, and you get very few opportunities in your life to do something like this. So we have to seize that moment and give ourselves the best chance of winning. Probably, [at the 2018 World Cup] in Russia, we were feeling a little bit differently about getting to the semi-final and what we really believed was possible, whereas now we know that we'll still be unfulfilled if we get to Monday and haven't won the tournament."
Harry Kane, England forward: "We have a great belief in the team. We have great strength in the squad but a lot can happen in a final and we need to make sure we're on the right side of it. We've been knocking down barriers along the way but we started this tournament with an aim to win it and we've now got the opportunity. To see the fans on the street like they have been and to see the reception we've had as we've pulled into the hotel and as we left St George's Park, it just shows us how big an occasion it is."
Form guide (most recent first)
Italy: DWWWWW
England: WWWWDW
