ENGLAND V ITALY

Richard Jolly breaks down the Euro 2020 nal and explains why the Azzurri will be crowned champions at Wembley.

Italy have been in ENGLAND V ITALY major tournament Tomorrow, 3am nals in the 1960s, (Singapore time) 1970s, 1980s, Singtel TV Ch141 & StarHub LiveNow app 1990s, 2000s, tomorrow, 2.50am 2010s and 2020s.

Managers Gareth Southgate is England’s best manager since Alf Ramsey, coach of the 1966 World Cup-winning team, and has transformed their team, their culture and their results but is the serial winner who has got Italy playing energetic football in a uid formation. He edges this one.

Goalkeeper Attack Jordan Pickford has made outstanding stops as Despite the class of he has conceded only once this tournament, and the predatory skills of , though he perhaps should have saved Mikkel there is no doubt England win this one, Damsgaard’s semi-nal free kick. But Gianluigi courtesy of Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane. Donnarumma, Italy’s semi-nal shoot-out hero, is The winger may be the player of the tournament. one of the world’s best. Advantage Italy. The striker is peaking in the knockout stages.

Defence Bench England have much better full-backs in Kyle Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Walker and Luke Shaw and Italy are without Jack Grealish. England have more attacking talents Leanardo Spinazzola. An all-Manchester back four – plus solid citizens like Kieran Trippier and Jordan has an understanding. But Italy’s battle-hardened Henderson in other positions. and centre-back duo of and Leonardo are ne options for Italy but Bonucci were brilliant against Belgium and Spain. England have genuine talent in much greater depth. So it is Italy – just. Mideld Mentality Harry Kane could become Italy have two A traditional English weakness but Southgate the second World Cup plus the master of move- has changed that as they have learnt from their Golden Boot winner to then ment, in Nicolo Barella. It past. And yet Italy may be narrowly ahead. They top-score in the European gives them more quality than feel like a tournament team. Championship, after German England’s workhorses, who Gerd Muller in 1972. will be charged with stopping Jorginho and from running the game. Again, Italy shade it.

England (4-3-3) Italy (4-3-3)

Predicted starting XI Kane and formation Immobile Why Italy can win Who will win Sterling 9 Saka Insigne 17 Chiesa Key clash They have the momentum and condence from an Italy, 1-0 in extra 10 25 10 14 The two captains are a mutual admiration society after praising each extraordinary 33-game unbeaten run. They have a time. Mancini’s men other in the past. Spain sought to negate Chiellini’s strengths as an system that allows players to pop up unchecked. have shown an old-fashioned defender by using Dani Olmo as a false nine in the They might be tactically the best team in the ability to see off semi-nal. Kane could copy him: He dropped deep to play defence-split- tournament and the best coached. some of the Rice Jorginho ting balls for Sterling and Bukayo Saka against Denmark. favourites and, Mount 4 Phillips Verratti 8 Barella after Belgium and 19 14 6 18 Spain, they may plot their way to Where the match will be won and lost Why England can win glory. Shaw Walker Emerson Lorenzo 2 The anks. It could be where the room is. Both sides will eld a more Home advantage, meticulous planning and a sense 3 2 13 attacking left-back and a more defensive right-back. There is an onus on that, one by one, they are correcting their many Maguire Stones More than Chiellini Bonucci , who has not started a league game for Chelsea this errors of the past. Everything has gone strangely 6 5 60,000 3 19 season, to replicate the contribution of the injured Spinazzola and thus smoothly, aided by Southgate’s excellent spectators expected release Insigne. He was excellent in the semi-nal. decision-making. 1 21 Pickford Donnarumma PHOTOS: EPA-EFE, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS