Italy

England Scores Fastest Goal In European Championship Final History

The consensus among many was that Gareth Southgate had been too cautious with his starting lineup against Italy on Sunday in the Euro 2020 final. The England manager made one change from the semifinal, bringing in Kieran Trippier and adopting a back-five while winger Bukayo Saka dropped to the bench.

Steve McManaman called it a mistake on ESPN during the pregame show. It took all of one minute and 57 seconds to see that McManaman had been mistaken.

Both Seeking To Complete Revivals, Italy And England Eye Euro 2020 Crown

LONDON — For all the differences in style and approach, there is a remarkable symmetry to the journeys taken by England and Italy towards Sunday's Euro 2020 final.

Both nations found themselves at historic low points with fans despairing at their decline and then discovered men who could bring change and quickly lead them on a path to success.

For England, that nadir was elimination from Euro 2016 in the last 16 at the hands of Iceland while Italy's despair came two years later when the four-times world champions failed to even qualify for the World Cup in Russia.

England Finally Back In Major Final, UEFA President Says Euro 2020 Format Was ‘Not Fair’

Days before a highly anticipated England-Italy final, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin admitted the Euro 2020 format was unfair and said he wouldn’t do it again in the future.

Obviously. How else would England have reached a major final for the first time since 1966? (Kidding, maybe.)

I Said Italy Were Favorites 3 Weeks Ago And Was Laughed At; Now It’s My Turn To Laugh Back

After watching Italy’s performance against Switzerland on June 16 I was sold. The Azzuri were going to win Euro 2020. This team was firing on all cylinders and looked one step ahead of all the other 23 teams in the tournament. Three weeks later this team is in the final.

Nerve-Shredding Shootout Between Italy And Spain Won By The Impossibly Cool Jorginho

Álvaro Morata’s Euro 2020 campaign then: Spain draws 0-0 with Sweden. Villain. Morata scores early against Poland. Hero. Morata misses a sitter against Poland and Spain draws again. Villain. Morata scores the extra-time winner against Croatia. Hero. Morata only lasts 54 minutes against Switzerland and is benched against Italy. Villain. Morata comes off the bench and scores the equalizer against Italy. Hero. Morata misses the decisive penalty kick in the shootout. Villain. 

UEFA Invites Christian Eriksen, His Partner And Six Medics Who Saved Him To Final

COPENHAGEN - European football governing body UEFA has invited Denmark international Christian Eriksen and the paramedics who helped save his life during an on-field cardiac arrest to attend the Euro 2020 final at Wembley on Sunday.

The brilliant Danish midfielder was resuscitated in front of shocked fans and a massive global TV audience during his nation's first match of the tournament.

Euro 2020 Shows There’s No Clear Tactical Model For Success

MANCHESTER, England - Four teams head to London for the final week of Euro 2020 and as well as promising close battles, the two semifinals present a fascinating clash of football styles and tactical approaches.

While football has its ideologues, who insist that a particular approach is the right way to play the game, the “final four” are proof that there really is no single formula to success.

Kevin De Bruyne Admits He Played Italy With Torn Ligament — ‘It Was A Miracle That I Played’

MUNICH, Germany — Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne said he had played in Friday's Euro 2020 quarterfinal defeat to Italy with a tear in his ankle ligaments.

Manchester City's De Bruyne was a doubt for the game after picking up the injury in the last-16 win over Portugal but said he had been determined to play.

"For me personally it has been four or five weird weeks. But I especially want to thank the medical staff," he said.

Spinazzola Se Rompió El Talón De Aquiles, Pero Antes Salvó A Italia Con Su Glúteo

No hay dudas de que Leonardo Spinazzola ha sido una de las grandes revelaciones de Italia durante la Euro 2020. El lateral es una constante amenaza ofensiva por la banda izquierda y además hace la chamba en labores defensivas. Lo demostró en la fase de grupos y ahorita, en los cuartos de final del torneo, donde la Azzurra eliminó a Bélgica. Es más, su presencia fue salvadora y es una lástima que se pierda el resto del torneo por una rotura del talón de Aquiles.

Italy Has Retaken Its Place As The World’s Master Of The Dark Arts

Italy is back. The masters of the dark arts who won the 2006 World Cup with defense, grit and hand waving missed the 2018 World Cup, sparking a rethink of the national team. Now Roberto Mancini has Italy two wins away from another major title, with the Azzurri combining a ruthlessly efficient attacking style with Italy’s timeless defense and shithousery. 

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