Italy is the biggest possible test we could have, says Southgate
GARETH Southgate is ready for England’s “biggest possible test” in Sunday’s date with destiny against Italy in the European Championship final.
The nation will be at a standstill as the Three Lions attempt to finally add to the World Cup triumph of 1966.
England’s first European Championship final is the reward for years of progress and a month to cherish in these challenging, divided times.
After topping Group D, finally beating old foes Germany and swatting aside Ukraine, Harry Kane saw off Denmark 2-1 in extra time to finally end their semi-final hoodoo.
But now comes England’s greatest challenge of Euro 2020 as Rob
erto Mancini’s Azzurri arrive at Wembley looking to spoil the party.
“I think Denmark have only lost four matches out of 30-odd,” said England boss Southgate. “Italy’s record is even better than that.
“They’ve been a top team for the last couple of years. We followed their progress closely. We know the way they play.
“They play with great energy, they play with great style. They’re, as always, difficult to score goals against so without doubt they deserve to be in the final. They’ve beaten two top teams to get there in Belgium and Spain.
“It’s the biggest possible test we could have. We’ve a day less to recover but we have got to prepare
from now and of course it’s wonderful to have that opportunity to take them on.”
Italy are unbeaten in 33 matches in all competitions - quite the response to missing out on qualification for the 2018 World Cup.
England reached the semi-finals in Russia, just as they did at the following year’s Nations League finals, and are now a better, more rounded side.
Such experiences meant they were not overawed when Mikkel Damsgaard opened the scoring with a superb free-kick - the first goal conceded by the Three Lions at Euro 2020 - and had the options to see the game out.
“What we said to them before the game is that they’ve found ways to win matches over the last three or four years in whatever circumstances it’s taken,” Southgate said after a game when Simon Kjaer’s own goal cancelled out Damsgaard’s stunner. “Whether leading from the front, whether that’s been having to come from behind, whether that’s taken extra time, penalties, they’ve found those solutions.
“We wanted them to have the confidence in that and so I felt very dominant in that period, the last half-an-hour of normal time.
“And of course the extra time I think we had a bit more legs, a bit more energy. Denmark made a lot of changes early on in the game and weren’t able to change later.
“But the strength of our bench has been an asset, there’s no question about that.”