ENGLAND’S TIME TO SHINE
ENDING DENMARK’S DREAM MIGHT JUST BE LAUNCHPAD FOR THE THREE LIONS TO CLAIM THE PRIZE. IT FEELS LIKE THIS IS...
LKane v Chiellini is the type of clash that ought to excite every single fan
ET’S get this out of the way first. As a proud Dane, I have to say it was never a penalty on Wednesday night and it should have been overturned by VAR.
But did England deserve to win? Absolutely. They were the better team over 120 minutes. I don’t think there is any question that Kasper Schmeichel kept Denmark in the game.
I wrote in my last column that I was concerned about fatigue in the Danish team. They had to do a lot of travelling to get to and from Baku in the quarter-final and left everything on the pitch in that game against the Czech Republic.
It showed at Wembley. But that doesn’t diminish pride in these players. Not in the slightest. They have created memories to last a lifetime. Roll on the remaining World Cup qualifiers — and that September meeting with Scotland.
First, though, comes the conclusion of this often enthralling European Championship. It should be an epic, closely fought final. One that could go the distance. But I do wonder if ending the Danish dream might just be England’s launchpad towards claiming the prize. This feels like their time to shine.
There are a few reasons why. One is that they have certainly had the easiest option of all the teams in terms of the road to Wembley.
If you play six of your seven games at home, don’t have to travel much and have the backing of your fans, then you have been given a huge opportunity to do well. They should have more energy than Italy.
Also, Gareth Southgate has been building towards this. From the 2018 World Cup and into this tournament, he has grown the capability and the belief within his squad.
It’s one of the best England sides I have seen for many years. They have depth. And they are a team. A well-balanced one. They work together as a unit.
I also don’t think you can underestimate the psychological significance of clearing the semifinal hurdle that had been such a burden on generations of English players. On one level, they have already achieved.
England were under immense pressure against Denmark. And the strain increased further when they went a goal down to Mikkel Damsgaard’s superb free-kick.
I was at Wembley working for Danish television and you could almost feel the silence at that point. It was like everyone English was thinking: ‘Oh no. Here we go again.’
But their team reacted in the right way. They were led by Harry Kane, who was just outstanding. I’ll come back to his importance soon. Raheem Sterling was also hugely influential and is probably their player of the tournament. It would be bold to bet against one of them making the difference again in the final.
Of course, it was Sterling who tumbled for the decisive midweek penalty that led to Kane’s winning goal. I’m not accusing the Manchester City winger of diving. I’m not detracting from him or his performance. That wouldn’t be fair. But neither was it a penalty. Or at least it shouldn’t have been.
As I said, England completely merited the victory. Without Schmeichel standing in the way, they might have scored a couple more. But I do hope the final doesn’t hinge on a refereeing decision of that nature.
It would be far better if it was determined by a contest between the two captains. Kane v Giorgio Chiellini is the kind of heavyweight clash that should excite every football fan. It’s about experience, intelligence and quality. The outcome could be pivotal.
Kane is so crucial to England. I know that sounds blatantly obvious but he is much more than just a centre-forward.
He is so good at dropping deep to find the right pockets of space and releasing the pace around him. He did that for the first goal against Denmark.
Stopping Kane is all about communication. Does Chiellini follow him out or does Jorginho have to take over? If that communication breaks for a split-second, the ball could be in the Italian net. With Kane at its heart, this England attack can be deadly.
There is a combined age of 70 between Chiellini and centre-back partner Leonardo Bonucci. They read the game magnificently, but they need protection from the speed of England’s wide attackers. That has to come from the fullbacks and also Jorginho in front.
It was a shame that Leonardo Spinazzola got injured. For me, the Roma left-back was one of the revelations of the tournament, fantastic going forward.
His replacement, Emerson Palmieri, is a good player but he doesn’t pose the same threat. Italy now miss something on that flank and that might be important, especially given how strong England can be on their right side.
Southgate’s team know how to defend. Conceding just one goal in six games at a major tournament is a world-class record.
We can talk about who they have played and so on. But that basic figure doesn’t lie. They are very well organised.
In saying that, Italy will ask a lot of different questions. Their front three has a bit of just about everything — speed, agility, finishing. I love watching Lorenzo Insigne. He buzzes with the constant threat of producing something.
Perhaps the same could actually be said of Italy as a whole now. Roberto Mancini has created something far removed from old stereotypes about Italian football. This is a modern, progressive version of the Azzurri.
While I’ve outlined a couple of factors in England’s favour, Italy’s best platform for success may lie in midfield.
England have solidity and strength in there with Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice. But if we are talking about creativity, they are lacking something for sure.
I’m very interested to see the starting line-up and formation. Perhaps Southgate might think
about starting Jordan Henderson, with all of his experience and composure. Jorginho, Marco Verratti and Nicolo Barella are capable of dictating things through the kind of quick passing and one-twos that Phillips and Rice can’t quite replicate.
These various little sub-plots should all feed into a gripping end of a really entertaining tournament.
I don’t agree with the format and the differences in travelling. That aspect hasn’t been fair. I say that knowing Denmark have benefited from home games, too.
But there has been superb football from the last 16 onwards. Think about Spain v Croatia, Switzerland v France and Spain v Italy as just a few examples.
It has enthralled a continent that was so ready for a tournament like this after enduring everything we have in the pandemic.
The ingredients are now there for this to be a really excellent final. Let’s hope it delivers.