Italy vs England: Euro 2020 final expected to go to extra time

England face Italy at Wembley on Sunday in the final of this summer’s European Championship and the match has all the ingredients of a classic. 

While battles between European heavyweights have been fairly common at Euro 2020, this particular fixture will see both teams a mere victory away from carving their legacy into the annals of footballing folklore.

Italy are undefeated in their last 33 matches, winning 12 of their last 14 and winning to nil in 11 of their last 14 matches. They are playing with plenty of confidence.

The Azzurri are on an unprecedented unbeaten streak at the moment and are the only team to have won all their matches at Euro 2020.

Italy won this prize in 1968 and have won the World Cup four times.

The Azzurri began Euro 2020 with a 3-0 win against Turkey. They beat Switzerland 3-0 and beat Wales 1-0 in their final group game.

Italy beat Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-finals. Italy went all the way against Spain in the semi-finals.

England are undefeated in their last 12 matches. They have won 10 of those and kept 10 clean sheets.

Gareth Southgate’s side started Euro 2020 with a 1-0 win against Croatia.

The Three Lions beat Germany 2-0 in the Round of 16 and Ukraine 4-0.

The Three Lions beat Denmark 2-1 in the semi-final thanks to an extra-time winner by Harry Kane, and are on the brink of a first European crown and a first major honour since the 1966 World Cup.

Italy vs England Predictions:

• Italy are undefeated in their last 33 matches (all competitions).
• Italy have won 12 of their last 14 matches (all competitions).
• Italy have won to nil in 11 of their last 14 matches (all competitions).
• Italy have won by 2+ goals in 10 of their last 14 matches (all competitions).
• Italy are undefeated in 12 of their last 14 matches against England (all competitions).
• Italy have drawn 3 of their last 5 matches against England (all competitions).
• England are undefeated in their last 12 matches (all competitions).
• England have won 10 of their last 12 matches (all competitions).
• England have kept 10 clean sheets in their last 12 matches (all competitions).

Sunday’s Euro 2020 final marks the 28th meeting between Italy and England in all competitions, with the Azzurri boasting 11 wins compared to eight for the Three Lions.

These two sides have each scored in five of six games at this tournament.

Sterling has scored 15 goals in his last 22 England games.

Italy have an 11-8 advantage against England with 8 draws in 27 matches.

They last met in a friendly in 2018 that ended in a 1-1 draw.

Italy beat England 1-0 at Euro 1980, 2-1 at the 1990 World Cup, on penalties at Euro 2012 and 2-1 at the 2014 World Cup.

Both Italy and England have been exceptional at UEFA Euro 2020 and have a fairly even claim to the trophy at the moment. England have an air of clarity and assurance about them and their robust approach to the game under Gareth Southgate could prove effective in front of a raucous Wembley crowd.

Roberto Mancini’s Italy, on the other hand, seem to have the effervescence of the great Azzurri sides of yore. The likes of Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne can singlehandedly turn games on their head and could make a difference against England this weekend.

Italy and England face their toughest tests of the tournament. We think the Euro 2020 final is headed to extra time at Wembley.

Our prediction: Italy win @ 2.00