Italy vs England: Preview and Prediction

Sunday 11th July 2021

Italy vs England: Preview and Prediction

European Championships Final 2020
Sunday 11th July 2021
Kick off at 8pm BST
Venue: Wembley Stadium

Match Preview:

The Euro 2020 final will take place between Italy and England and it should be quite a game. The two best teams in the competition will meet on Sunday in what should be an historic and hopefully memorable final, with both teams strengths being in defence with lightning quick counter attacks.

England will be at home though they are the designated away side. But there will be a near full capacity at Wembley Stadium for this monumental day in English football where England will be playing their first final in a major competition since 1966. It’s been 55 years of hurt and the fans are screaming that football is coming home, cheekily the Italian fans are responding that football is coming to Rome. It’s all in good fun but there will be serious business to be had on Sunday evening.

England have never won the European Championships in its 60 year history and haven’t even reached a final before. However any follower has seen steady progress from the nation following their semi-final run in the World Cup 3 years ago in Russia. Under Gareth Southgate he has affected the team on the pitch and also mentally in a positive way, so much so that anyone who has watched England through the years would find the way this team are playing almost alien. Solid in defence and everytime they come forward they look like scoring. It says everything about England that a player such as Phil Foden has been reduced to a bit part player at this tournament but Southgate cannot be criticised up until now as he has been perfect as this England team look set to make history.

In the semi-final England overcame Denmark 2-1. The worry England had going into the game was how would they react if they conceded first? Well they answered that with ensured confidence. They remained calm, they attacked and put incredible pressure on the Danish, it was a great performance. Of course Raheem Sterling’s penalty was questionable to some but Denmark were shattered after the hour mark and only one team looked capable of winning.

Italy have been fantastic and must be respected. Here is a team that have knocked out the 2008 and 2012 winners of this competition in Spain and also beaten the FIFA number 1 ranked team in Belgium. The blow for Italy is obviously the long term injury to play maker Leonardo Spinazzola but in attack Chiesa and Ciro Immobile will be a constant threat. The Italians up front have shown a killer instinct and in midfield they can work the ball very quickly.

Defence? Is there any nation better in the world than Italy at the art of it? Arguably England have matched the Italians and bettered them at times in this tournament and let’s not forget Spain’s well worked goal cutting straight through the middle of the Italian’s. But overall Italy looked assured as ever. For the record Italy have only won the European Championships once which was back in 1968 but they have made the final in 2000 and also 2012.

 

Team News: 

Italy: Alessandro Florenzi has recovered from injury but could start from the bench. Other than Leonardo Spinazzola, there are no new injury worries and the Italians should line up the same they did in their semi-final.

England: The Three Lions have no injury worries, and are expected to line up with the same team that beat Denmark.

 

Italy vs England Head to Head:

The last time the teams played each other was in a 2018 friendly with that game ending 1-1.

It’s been 4 games since England last beat Italy going back to 2012 in a 2-1 friendly win.

England have beaten Italy just two times since 1978.

England have never beaten Italy at a major tournament.

There is a 70% chance to see under 2.5 goals.

Match up: Games: 27, Italy wins 11, England wins 8, Draws 8

 

Italy vs England Prediction:

History is against England but this England are playing like no other with the exception of course of the 1966 side before them. As a spectacle this might not be an amazing match to witness if you don’t support either nation, both are strong in defence and there could be cancelling out periods during the game. However if you are Italian or English every single second of this game will count and will be nailbiting and fairly intense.

Italy have the mentally of winning the big matches in their DNA, England have failed on many occasions but just taking that step to an actual final is a huge one for England. You get the feeling with this England team that even if they are not playing well or are a goal behind that they won’t implode like other teams before them, that is a huge thing to have in your set up. So Italy can very much win this game but we will back the home side to get a historic victory.

 

Italy vs England Betting Tips:

To lift the trophy (England) at 1.80

Anytime goalscorer: Raheem Sterling at 4.00

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