After a month-long exciting, action-packed journey involving 24 teams across 50 matches, filled with shock moments and surprise results, it all comes down to this, the endgame, the grand finale of all, as Italy get set to take on England for the glory of being named the champions of the UEFA Euro 2020.

Roberto Mancini’s side booked their place in the showpiece event after coming up trumps in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout against Spain, while England needed 120 minutes of their own to send Denmark packing 2-1 in the semi-finals.

The Italians have been in this competition 10 times and have reached the final on four occasions, including this year’s tournament. They’ve lost in two finals, once against France in 2000 and again against Spain more recently in 2012. They won their only Euro title back in 1968.

Amid all the talk of them playing a majority of their games at home, to the bizarre UEFA’s favouritism conspiracy theory, there is no taking away that England have been a top team and are deserving of their spot in the finals.

The last time England and Italy met in a major tournament was at the UEFA Euro 2012 quarter-final when the Azzurri eliminated the Three Lions on penalties. Their most recent meeting came in a friendly setting in 2018 that ended in a 1-1 draw. 

Head to Head

The final of Euro 2020 will be the 28th encounter between Italy and England in all competitions, with the Azzurri winning 11 times to the Three Lions’ eight.

Possible Lineup

Italy : Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson; Jorginho, Barella, Verratti; Chiesa, Immobile, Insigne

England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Saka, Mount, Sterling; Kane