EURO 2020 – Blockbuster grand finale
AFTER a month of exciting international football courtesy of Euro 2020, the stage is set for one team to go all the way and take the trophy home.
The famed England’s Wembley Stadium will witness the blockbuster final that will be played between two of the best teams in Europe- Italy and England.
It will be a great game since it features two of the tournament’s best teams. For England, it is a shot at winning a trophy for the first-time since the 1966 World Cup.
For Italy, it’s a chance at redemption after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. For all their pedigree and tradition, Italy has won the Euro Cup once in 1968.
England has never won the European Championship and will be contesting their first final in the tournament’s history.
A revitalised Italy came into the tournament on the back of 10 wins out of 10 in the qualifying rounds and stretched the winning run further by winning all six of their games at Euro.
Italy convincingly defeated world number one side Belgium 2-1 in the quarterfinal before a challenging night against Spain in the semifinal tested them to the limits.
It didn’t, however, halt their progress as they prevailed over the La Roja on penalties after a 120-minute stalemate and booked their place in the final.
Coach Roberto Mancini has been hailed as one of the best coaches at the tournament and is on the verge of creating history if he takes Italy to European glory for the first time since 1968.
However, it won’t be an easy task as England has one of the most talented squads in the tournament and was among the favourites since the beginning.
Gareth Southgate successfully realised the team’s potential and took them all the way to the final.
It took a hearty win against Germany in the round of 16, followed by a 4-0 bashing of Ukraine in the quarterfinal and a consuming semifinal tie against Denmark that needed an extra-time Harry Kane winner.
England fans dearly wait for the trophy to finally come to what they consider to be the home of football.
It is predicted to be an intense tactical battle as both teams and their coaching staffs have had ample amount of time to analyse and prepare for the opponent.
The Azzurri will be without one of their key players, Leonardo Spinazzola, who got injured in the quarterfinal.
Alessandro Florenzi remains out with the injury that he suffered in the group stage. For Italy, the game changer could be Federico Chiesa.
The 23-year-old winger scored Italy’s only goal against Spain in the semifinal.
He is a great source of energy for the Italian attack that likes to keep more of the ball and find spaces between the lines with quick one-twos and through balls.
Chiesa is a natural winger who likes to dribble his way past defenders, cut in and find shooting spaces or find the final pass to set his teammates up.
He will be a big threat to Jordan Pickford’s goal that has only seen the ball go in just once in the tournament so far with his speed, skill, and finishing.
He has already scored two crucial goals for the Azzurri in this tournament.
On the other hand, England’s captain and star marksman, Harry Kane, carries the biggest threat for the Three Lions whenever he’s on the pitch with his unmatched overall ability.
Kane drifts in and around the box to get into dangerous shooting positions or draw defenders for his teammates to exploit.
His tall physique will be a challenge for even Bonucci and Chiellini to cope with, and the Tottenham man has immense strength that allows him to shield the ball with his back towards the goal and set his quick teammates up.
Like England, Italy too has had a great defensive record and Kane will have to be at his best to get past the tall frame of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The England captain has got on the score sheet four times in the tournament, and Southgate will be hoping for more in the final.
Finally, Italy and England have been the most entertaining sides in the tournament in all aspects of the game.
They have displayed some of the best attacking football and also shown great composure in defending close leads when needed.
Both the teams stand at the cusp of success and the final will be decided on tactical duels between the two managers.
England is at a slight advantage with the final being played at their home stadium and they might finally bring it home this time. Football’s either coming home or going to Rome.