England

This is it. Italy and England in the final courtesy of 120 minutes of drama in the semi-finals, both looking to spearhead a dominant period in European competition and both with the weight of a nation on their shoulders. Expectation is high, failure is not an option, winning is the only way to win the hearts of the fans and respite from the insatiable media. The sublime skill and confidence of the Italians will outshine anything that England can offer early on. It will be men against boys. If you thought Raheem Sterling went down cheaply, this will be a masterclass from the Azzuri. They will frustrate and bait the crowd with every free-kick, and the panic will spread through the England defence whenever Ciro Immobile gets on the ball in a one-versus-four situation. As nervous as they are in defence, the miraculous pace of Kyle Walker will be their saviour, mopping up behind the busy John Stones and Harry Maquire and preventing more unpredictable distribution from their short-armed goalkeeper. With an hour gone and no goals, Italy knocking on the door and the home fans just shouting incoherently in confusion, a breakaway by Sterling will draw players to him. He will slip the ball to Kane, who shoots first time from well outside the box and the ball floats in over the despairing dive of Donnarumma; a goal that Papiss Cisse would be proud of. The burst of emotion throughout Wembley, London and England will be orgasmic. England have 28 minutes to hang on. Jack Grealish is told to put his tracksuit back on. What we endure for the remainder of the game is a procession. Italy attacking slowly and methodically, England committing no one to attack and relying on the solitary figure of Harry Kane to relieve pressure with short bursts. Free kicks for Italy are launched into the area as time runs out, Federico Chiesa shooting wide from ten yards as the ball falls at his feet, sinking to his knees in disbelief as Jordan Pickford pretends not to be able to find a ball behind the advertising hoardings. The arms go up, Gareth Southgate and Roberto Mancini embrace as Wembley descends into madness around them. The fans cannot get any more worked up, there are faintings, clothes are off, there is lots of crying, smashing of seats, fighting and hugging. Robbie Williams’ Angels blasts around the stadium. England have won the Euros. It’s incredible. The best team didn’t win. You heard it here first.