While England fans believe that football is finally coming home and Gareth Southgate is the man destined to end a 55-year drought without a big trophy, it is a matter of a real cup final that must be endured first.
All this confidence, hovering and optimism that the three lions experience on the way into the Euro 2020 agreement, yes, Italy also enjoys – and then some.
Roberto Mancini’s side immediately announced themselves as the new favorites with a series of astonishing screens in the group stage, and they have lived up to the newly discovered expectations and secured their place in the tournament final for the first time in almost a decade.
Italy have sent out some top-quality opponents to reach this point, and many are convinced that after another 90 minutes at Wembley, they will lift their first trophy since 2006. However, they are not invincible, despite all the 33- The game Undefeated Driving will try to tell you.
So, what are Italy’s strengths and weaknesses that England should undo and exploit on Sunday night?
Insigne kan glittra / Claudio Villa / Getty Images
You can not ignore the danger that Italy’s wide players have had in this summer tournament. Lorenzo Insigne appeared from the beginning and scored in the initial slaughter in Turkey and then belted a curler beyond Thibaut Courtois to sink Belgium.
On the other flank, Federico Chiesa has come up with two huge goals for Azzurri, who first break the deadlock in a tense round of 16 against Austria and then edge Italy forward in the possible penalty shootout victory over Spain.
These guys are the source of Mancini’s magic, so England’s fullbacks have to play the game of their lives to keep them quiet in the final.
Synchronized / Inside Photo / Getty Images
We can not get enough of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini. These two have been around the block forever with Juventus, and they have also provided the brick wall that protects Gianluigi Buffon and now Gianluigi Donnarumma for about a decade.
The duo are so synchronized that they even go on holiday together, and that understanding and friendship translate into their antiques in the field as well. Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in the world, but Bonucci and Chiellini will not be intimidated – they have seen everything before.
Lots of Knowledge / Christof Stache – Pool / Getty Images
Game management, AKA s ** thousand, is something that Italy has rarely found lacking. They did not have to dip in their bag of dark art in the group stage, but they dipped deep during the 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarterfinals.
From Ciro Immobile’s theater seconds before Nicolo Barella gave the Azzurri the lead to Donnarumma’s two minute phantom hand injury during the dying seconds of the game, this group of players knows what a result looks like.
Whatever you do, England, do not catch up on Sunday – it’s an uphill from there.
A key cog in midfield / Claudio Villa / Getty Images
That’s right, we live in a world where Jorginho is tipped to win the Ballon d’Or. No matter how outrageous or sincerely appreciated these conversations are, there is no smoke without fire.
The Chelsea man is the star of this Italian midfield, putting in the mile, breaking the game and letting go of the death of his opponents. He is extremely reliable and immune to injury, which makes him the key to Mancini’s plans ahead of Marco Verratti and Nicolo Barella.
Stop Jorginho, you can only stop Italy.
A hard man to beat / Visionhaus / Getty Images
If you somehow avoid the relentless Jorginho, the escape bouncers Bonucci and Chiellini, is there a more terrifying opportunity than carrying goals and meeting Donnarumma?
The young goalkeeper has been very important for Italy this summer and made important saves against Belgium and Spain to secure Azzurri’s place in the final. When it comes to the last lines of defense, there are few better in the world than Gigi.
Emerson is not up to the standard of Spinazzola / FRANK AUGSTEIN / Getty Images
This is without a doubt the most suspicious area on the Italian side. With Leonardo Spinazzola out for the foreseeable, Italy must rely on Emerson Palmieri, a man who has barely kicked a ball in two years.
On the other hand, Giovanni Di Lorenzo has delivered some hit and miss screens, especially with the back handed to him by the Belgian prodigy Jeremy Doku.
Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka have to lick their lips at the prospect of getting behind these two not-so-defensive defenders.
You can get this defense on / Matt Dunham – Pool / Getty Images
In addition to the lack of quality in the hill area, there is also a real lack of pace at the heart of the defense. Bonucci and Chiellini are masters at positioning themselves in the right areas, but catch them unprotected and force them to chase back, and it’s like running through a treacle.
Alvaro Morata’s goal against Italy should be the blueprint for England to follow if they want to beat the visitors – pull them out of position, complete a quick exchange and point behind. They are not impenetrable.
Not up to standard / Claudio Villa / Getty Images
Italy’s starting lineup is generally a force to be reckoned with, but behind the superstars there are very few upgrades available. More importantly, the lack of great match experiences on their bench is seriously alarming.
That naivete showed itself against Spain, when the arrival of Domenico Berardi, Manuel Locatelli, Matteo Pessina and Rafael Toloi from the substitutes’ bench only exacerbated Italy’s danger and left Azzurri’s Eurodreams hanging by a thread.
They are good, exciting players, but they are not the men who guide you through choppy seas – they are not Jordan Henderson, for example.
Less convincing / Claudio Villa / Getty Images
Yes, Italy absolutely crushed it in the group stage, but take the knockout rounds in isolation, and there is very little to fear. Mancini’s men blew away the worst team in the tournament, Turkey, and easily sent Switzerland into their first two matches, both with a 3-0 result line.
But after the pedestrian’s victory over Wales, perceptions have dropped. Italy worked in the 2-1 victory against Austria and if Marko Arnautovic’s nod had been awarded, they would really have been tested.
The win over Belgium was impressive, even though they held on in the last minutes, but they enjoyed a lot of wealth that crept past Spain on penalties. This group of players looks a bit boring.
Subbed off / Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images
When a team creates less and lets in more chances, they must boast of a reliable center-forward who can take away the opportunities that get in his way. That man is not Ciro Immobile.
The Lazio star has been more of an obstacle than helping his team-mates in the knockout rounds, and he was hooked by Mancini against Spain, only to be replaced by a non-midfielder. Faith diminishes in Immobile to deliver on the big stage, and if he misses an early chance against England, it’s just to see the confidence flow out of his body.
Andrea Belotti is waiting in the wings.
