Its been 55 years but England have finally made it to a major final, so could it really be coming home? But Italy will be no push over and Sundays final at Wembley will be on paper one of the best in recent years.
Italy vs England, 8pm GMT
Our Picks:
England Win @13/8
BTTS @11/10
Stirling To Score Anytime @3/1
Preview:
England has never made the final of a Euros tournament, falling at the semi-final stage in 1968 and 1996. The latter event was hosted in England, where the song “Football’s Coming Home” became a hit with fans optimistic that hosting the tournament could help the Three Lions to a long awaited Euro victory.
Both teams go into this final seemingly at full strength, Italy have consistently played the same team (baring injuries) whereas Southgate has swapped and changed to suit each tie.
It will be the 28th meeting between the two nations, with the most recent three years ago in London when Jamie Vardy’s opener was cancelled out by a late Lorenzo Insigne penalty.
England suffered tournament-ending losses in both the teams’ previous EURO encounters. Marco Tardelli’s late goal earned the Azzurri hosts a 1-0 win in the 1980 group stage while Italy prevailed on penalties (remember Andrea Pirlo’s Panenka!) in the 2012 quarter-finals.
But this is maybe the best England team since 1966, and been generally younger and hungrier we think they will go all the way.
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Image Credit: uefa.com