THE. EURO. 2020. FINAL. (2021)

ENGLAND VERSUS ITALY

LINEUPS: 

ENGLAND: PICKFORD, WALKER, STONES, MAGUIRE, TRIPPIER, PHILLIPS, RICE, SHAW, STERLING, MOUNT, KANE

ITALY: DONNARUMMA, DI LORENZO, BONUCCI, CHIELLINI, EMERSON,  BARELLA, JORGINHO, VERRATTI, CHIESA, IMMOBILE, INSIGNE

It's the EURO 2020 final! England and Italy lock horns at Wembley. England are looking to win their first title in 55 years, but they have to face their toughest opponent yet. Italy know that they won't have the support of the fans, as the final is located in London, so they will have to be razor focused tonight.

KICKOFF: ITALY 0–0 ENGLAND

Italy kick off the EURO 2020 Final! England quickly take back possession, and it seems that they want to be on the front foot to start this game. Harry Maguire miscued a pass to Jordan Pickford, giving Italy the first corner kick of the night. England just need to calm their nerves right now.

The corner kick is cleared away. Luke Shaw finds Kane in a pocket of space in midfield… Kane releases Kieran Trippier on the right wing with a good pass…who crosses it into the box for Luke Shaw, AND BURIES IT!!! GGGGOOOOAAAAALL!! England strike first in the final! England exploited the one weakness in the Italian defense. Leonardo Spinazzola (Italy's starting left back) was injured, meaning that Emerson, a weaker option, had to start. Emerson didn’t pick up on Trippier’s run, a costly error.

Kyle Walker FINDS TRIPPIER WITH A THROUGH BALL, AND HE FIZZES IT IN…!!! But Giorgio Chiellini is there to block it. England are continuing to pile on the pressure, and this normally rock-solid Italian defense is really showing some cracks. England right now are much more organized than their opponents. 

Harry Kane has dropped very deep into midfield, and is playing as more of a CAM when the team transitions from defense. Right now it's working extremely well, as England now have more players in midfield than Italy. This really seems to be disrupting the Italian midfield, who have more on their plate now. Jorginho needs to find a way around the England midfield, who are finding ways to cut out his passes. Italy needs to impose themselves more.

Italy seems to have woken up after their shocking start. Their front 3 are making more penetrative runs, and England have taken their foot off the pedal, at least for now. The Three Lions seem happy to sit back, and are looking to hit the Italians on the counter attack. Italy are closing England down much faster than before, and their attacks have more purpose.

Here comes Italy….Lorenzo Insigne takes the shot…! Though it travels wide of the post, the warning signs are there for England: Italy are starting to boss the midfield. Leading up to Insigne’s attempt on goal, the Azzurri are slotting the ball around so smoothly that Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips can merely watch. Italy’s passing is quick, and each Italian player knows where to go to receive it, like a 6th sense. 

Italy are really asserting themselves in the game right now. They are having success playing through the middle, thanks to Jorginho who is showing why he is Italy’s midfield fulcrum. Because Rice and Phillips are the only two English midfielders, even if they are playing well, they are still at a numerical disadvantage. If Jorginho can get past the pressure of the English front three, that attack can become much deadlier. 

Here comes Federico Chiesa… gets past two defenders, AND TAKES THE SHOT ON…! Agonizingly wide….Chiesa shows again that he could be the difference in this game. He’s explosive, unpredictable, and best (or worst) of all, if you try to go one-on-one against him, he’ll skill his way past you, the embarrassment is comparable to letting him pull  your pants down. While Italy don’t have an out-and-out #9 like England have with Kane, they have multiple goal threats, something I would argue is better.

England are starting to bite back again, after being in a low block for most of this half. Shaw and Trippier are combining expertly with Kane and others, and when both fullbacks push up, the formation is more of a 3-4-3, from what originally was a 5-2-3. England is finding pockets of space behind the Italian fullbacks, with the likes of Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling exploiting the areas. The first half is almost over, but if England can still find those gaps in the Italian defense even after the break—well, let's just say it won't be good for Italy.

HALF TIME: ITALY 0–1 ENGLAND 

England get the second half underway! 

Italy is on the attack again! Chiesa dribbles into the box before FIZZING A SHOT IN, AND INSIGNE TAKES THE SHOT!!! BLOCKED! Jordan Pickford makes an excellent stop at his near post, from point blank range. It was an even better run from Insigne, who did well to not be noticed by the English defense. Also good news for Italy, Ciro Immobole has now been substituted for Domenico Berardi, who is much more incalculable than the former. Italy is really knocking on the door now… 

It's the hour mark, and both teams are still looking threatening. Italy still needs a goal, and England wants to solidify their lead. The game has become much more open, both England and Italy willing to push their players high up the field when they have the ball. It's not end-to-end football, but still entertaining. Chiesa puts in ANOTHER CROSS…!! Headed away by Maguire for a corner. Can the Three Lions be breached?

Insigne puts in a cross from the corner, FLICKED ONTO VERRATTI WHO HEADS IT OFF THE BAR, BUT  IT’S POKED HOME BY LEONARDO BONUCCI!!!! GGGGGOOOOAAAALLLL!!! The 34-year-old scores just his 8th goal for the Azzurri, but what a time to do so! It was real scramble in the box, so the England defenders couldn’t keep track of who they were supposed to mark. 1–1!

Italy seem even more motivated, after their goal, to close down any loose balls, and to win back possession if they give it up. It's so suffocating that England are finding it hard to even get out of their own half. However, Italy can be careless when they are challenging for the ball, and should be receiving more yellow cards for their clumsy tackles, if it weren’t for the ref being pretty lenient. In fact, Kane was chopped down by Jorginho who made no attempt at the ball at one point, but the ref decided there was nothing in it. 

Bonucci pings the ball over the defense to DOMENICO BERARDI, WHO VOLLIES HIS SHOT…!!! Over the bar. The forward did well to get in behind the defense, but he couldn't keep his effort down and below the bar. Berardi has been a great substitution so far. England have to be on their toes at all times. 

England needs to hold on. They’re trying to intercept those quick passes, but are too slow, and get dragged out of position, which the Italians capitalize on. Most notably, Chiesa is a nightmare for Walker to mark, as he is wreaking havoc on the wing, popping out of nowhere to cut inside and deliver a ball or take the shot.

Chiesa dispossesses Bukayo Saka… HE DRIBBLES PAST WALKER, but is shouldered off the ball in the end. Chiesa is on the ground now, writhing in pain. Medics surround him, there looks to be something wrong with his ankle. Chiesa is coming off the field, replaced by Federico Bernardeschi. A huge sucker punch; Chiesa’s been critical in stretching the Three Lions’ backline.

FULL TIME: ITALY 1–1 ENGLAND

We head to extra time!

EXTRA TIME (KICKOFF): ITALY 1–1 ENGLAND

Jordan Henderson receives the ball from a poor Italy giveaway, and PLAYS IT TO STERLING WHO’S ON GOAL…! CHIELLINI TO THE RESCUE! The 36-year-old did ever so well to close Sterling down, and got his foot in the way before the Manchester City man put a cross in the box. No matter how dominant the Azzurri are in midfield, they need to keep in mind that England have much faster players and could be lethal on the counterattack.

Jack Grealish has been subbed onto the field. It’s a head scratcher that he hasn’t gotten more minutes in the final, considering what he brings to the table. He’s the English version of Chiesa—a fast, versatile winger with a bag of tricks up his sleeve. What can he do in the limited time Gareth Southgate has given him?

EXTRA TIME (HALF TIME): ITALY 1–1 ENGLAND

Bonucci finds Andrea Belotti with a lateral pass that goes right down the middle of England. Maguire has to foul Belotti in order to stop further damage. England still haven’t found a way to stop Italy’s ball playing center halfs, and now they have a dangerous free kick to deal with. Bernardeshi takes the kick…! But it's straight into the hands of Pickford. 

Sterling plays a one-two with Henderson on the edge of the box, AND STERLING HAS GOTTEN PAST  CHIELLINI…!! BUT AGAIN THE 36-YEAR-OLD RECOVERS AND MAKES THE TACKLE! England are finally showing their talons, and the Italians can stop playing cards. Sterling’s vision pries open the gaps, and Henderson, as distributor, is a great sub for Rice. But it happens too late: the final whistle blows! The game will be decided by a penalty shootout!

EXTRA TIME (FULL TIME): ITALY 1–1 ENGLAND

PENALTY KICKS: ITALY 0–0 ENGLAND

• Berardi steps up and slots his penalty into the lower left corner! (1–0)

• Kane scores! Donnarumma guesses the right way, but it’s too powerful. (1–1)

• Belotti MISSES! It’s a poor penalty, and Pickford guesses right. (1–1)

• Maguire slots it into the top corner! A great goal, and England are ahead! (1–2)

• Bonucci clips the ball over Pickford—a composed finish! Italy are still in this! (2–2)

• RASHFORD HITS THE POST! He didn’t seem confident, and it's all level again! (2–2)

• Bernardeschi steps up and coolly slots his effort down the middle! (3–2)

• SANCHO’S EFFORT IS SAVED!  Italy can win the final if they score next! (3–2)

• PICKFORD DENIES JORGINHO!! The goalkeeper palms the effort onto the post! England still needs to convert the last penalty, or Italy wins! (3–2)

• SAKA’S SHOT IS AGAIN SAVED BY DONNARUMMA!!! 

END OF PENALTY KICKS: ITALY 3–2 ENGLAND

Italy WIN the EUROS! England’s 55 years of hurt will go on, and while they might still have a great team coming into the 2022 World Cup, will they ever have a better chance to win? The Three Lions played 6 out of their 7 games at home, but somehow they still bottled it. As for Italy, its coming Rome! The Azzurri are the deserved winners, and add yet another piece silverware into their trophy cabinet. 

Thank you so much for following my blog this past season, it really means a lot. I’ll see you soon!