Read more about Euro 2020 final: Where Italy and England can win or lose on Business Standard. It’s being billed as the best team of the tournament against, in effect, the host nation.The European Championship final between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium on Sunday has all the makings of a tight and tense title match.Here’s where the
It’s being billed as the best team of the tournament against, in effect, the host nation. The European Championship final between and at Wembley Stadium on Sunday has all the makings of a tight and tense title match. Here’s where the game could be won and lost: MIDFIELD DISPARITY Midfield is the department where undoubtedly has the edge in terms of quality and experience. Marco Verratti is one of the few genuinely world-class midfielders at the tournament, Jorginho is a newly crowned Champions League winner and is the conductor of play in front of the defense, while Nicolo Barella at age 24, the youngest of the trio has been a revelation coming off a title-winning season at Inter Milan. While England’s hard-working, central-midfield pairing of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips gives the team a solid base, they should be overmatched. «The games against Spain (in the semifinals) and will be very different,» Verratti said. «The midfield is a key section. We can perhaps make the difference there and must dictate the pace of the game.» Expect Mason Mount, England’s attacking midfielder, to play a little deeper to help out Rice and Phillips, or even potentially a change of system. BENCH DEPTH This is probably England’s biggest strength. Get this: The full backs from Chelsea’s Champions League-winning team, Reece James and Ben Chilwell, have played one game between them at Euro 2020.
