England

So, after three group games and four knockout stage matches, it all comes down to this. Either Italy or England will emerge victorious in the final of EURO 2020 and be crowned champions of Europe. It is a fitting final with both these two sides having impressed from their first group fixture all the way to this point. Italy have not fallen behind at any stage so far in the tournament, combining experienced defensive steel with an extravagant attack. After conceding their first goal of the tournament so far in the semi-final before coming back to ultimately win after extra time, England once again proved to the naysayers why making it this far hasn’t been an accident, with the loud Wembley crowd no doubt a huge factor once again. As you would expect in a final of this magnitude, nerves will be a huge factor for both. Each side have been brilliant defensively all tournament and the same is expected again here, with both Roberto Mancini and Gareth Southgate instructing their sides to keep possession and not commit an overload of bodies forward at the risk of being caught on the counter attack. What was impressive about England against Denmark was their fitness levels and how they maintained a high standard of performance even during extra time, whilst Italy in contrast showed signs of fatigue against Spain, which the Three Lions could very well capitalise on in the latter stages of this final. Under 2.5 goals scored is expected over 90 minutes, whilst the outcome of the final itself could hardly be any tougher to call. Ultimately however, when taking into account their firepower off the substitutes bench, the fresher legs of their younger players and the partisan home crowd at Wembley, the stars may just be aligned for England to triumph over the Azzurri and lift their first major international trophy since 1966.