Euro 2020 final: Italy versus England preview
We bring you a thorough preview of the UEFA euro 2020 final between England and Italy. After weeks of exciting matches we are left with England and Italy to battle for the top honour of European football competition.
England
| # | Team | Pl | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| 2 | Croatia | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Czech Republic | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | Scotland | 3 | -4 | 1 |
England has grown from strength to strength in the competition, little tipped them to get to the final.
All the pre-tournament favorites have gone home with just England and Italy remaining.
England were drawn in group D, a group that included Croatia, Czech Republic and Scotland.
They qualified top of the group with 7 points along with Croatia and Czech Republic with 4 points each.
England won their first game against Croatia by a Raheem Sterling goal 1 – 0.
They went on to play a goalless draw with Scotland, before beating Czech Republic 1 – 0 in the last game of the group.
The three lions were drawn against their arch rival Germany in the round of 16 their greatest challenge yet, and they stepped up their performance beating them 2 – 0 via late goals from Raheem Sterling (75), and Harry Kane (86).
They went on to beat Andriy Shevchenko’s Ukraine in the quarter finals producing a scintillating performance with a 4 – 0 win, before beating Denmark in the semi-finals after extra time. With the game at 1 – 1 after the regulation time England were awarded a controversial penalty at extra time after Raheem Sterling was brought down in the Denmark box, Harry Kane stepped up and score smashing home the loose ball, after Kasper Schmeichel had save the initial penalty.
Star player
Raheem Sterling has been England’s best player in the tournament if not the best overall. He scored the three lion’s sole goal in their opening game win against Croatia he went on to score the only goal in their last group game against Czech Republic in a 1 – 0 win. He scored the opening goal in their 2 – 0 round of 16 win over Germany,
He provided the assist for captain Harry Kane for their opening goal in the 4 – 0 quarter-final win over Ukraine, also involved in England’s two goals against Denmark in the semi-final pressuring Denmark captain Simon Kjaer to score an own goal from Bukayo Saka cut back, before winning the penalty that sent England to the final of a Major competition final in 55 years.
Italy
| # | Team | Pl | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 3 | 7 | 9 |
| 2 | Wales | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Switzerland | 3 | -1 | 4 |
| 4 | Turkey | 3 | -7 | 0 |
Italy came to the Euros with an impressive unbeaten record which has continued in the competition, although they were never considered favorites to win euro 2020, they won all 10 games of their qualifier match.
Continuing with that impressive performance they won all three of their group A games, a group that included Wales, Switzerland, and Turkey. Scoring 7 goals conceding none, they needed extra time to beat Austria in the round of 16 after playing goalless in regulation time winning 2 – 1 with goals from Chiesa and Pessina.
The Azzurri’s went on to beat one of the pre tournament favorites Belgium in the quarter-final winning 2 – 1 on the night with goals from Nicollo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne. They were tested and had to dig deep to beat Spain in the semi-finals after penalties with the game ending 1 – 1 after extra time.
Star player
Italy ride to the Euro 2020 final has been something of a collective team work rather than an individual brilliant. The team work has shown from the back to the attack, they have the most experienced defence in the tournament in Bonucci and Chiellini supported in midfield by power house Jorginho and Verratti, Lorenzo Insigne has been the stand out player in attack.
