Kinshasa, July 10th, 2021 (CPA).- Italy will face England on Sunday July 11th at 9:00 p.m. in Wembley, England, in the UEFA (European Union Football Association) Euro 2020 final.
Challenges
Defeated in 2000 by France and swept away in 2012 by Spain, Italy will try to regain the trophy 53 years after their only triumph at EURO. The penalty shoot-out against Spain ended a 13-game winning streak but Italy remain on a 33-game unbeaten streak, the UEFA website said.
Like Roberto Mancini’s against La Roja, Gareth Southgate’s players qualified beyond regulation time against Denmark. For England, at home, it’s a first final in this competition. The Three Lions have not held up a major trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
Probable compounds
Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Chiesa, Motionless, Badge; absent: Spinazzola (Achilles tendon). England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Saka, Mount, Sterling; Kane.
Statements
Roberto Mancini, Italy coach: “We have been working in this direction for many years so we are very happy and I can only thank the players for what they have done so far. We haven’t won anything yet; Sunday will have to be won to consider this EURO a success. England will have a whole stadium behind them. It will be up to us to put them under pressure. A final is a little different from the other matches, we will have to play with concentration but also with joy because, you can only win a final if you step onto the pitch to have fun. «
Giorgio Chiellini, Italy captain: “This EURO has been very emotional, from the first game against Turkey until now. This is a dream that we have been striving for for several years, a dream that our coach slowly put into our minds until it started to come true. He told us to have the idea of winning the EURO in mind. We thought he was crazy but, over the last few years, he has created a team that is now on the verge of doing just that. «
England manager Gareth Southgate: “We have to be happy to be in the final, but there is still a big hurdle to overcome. Italy are a very good team, I have been thinking that for two years. They are in an incredible dynamic, have warriors in defense, who have known everything. It’s a great game that we are looking forward to”. ACP/