This afternoon at iconic Wembley soccer coliseum, Azzuris (The Italians) and Three Lions (England) lock horns for the crown of EUROPA 2020. It is situation dubbed as Trophy “ Stays at Home or Goes to Rome?”. It is after 55 long years England has moved to a final of a global soccer event after their only World Cup win in 1966 from the same ground. Since then they never even moved to any final. Italy on the other hand is the four times winners of World Cup and one time winner of EUROPA.

Super Sunday, 10 July 2021 has dawned with a very rare sporting festivity. Never before the finals of three major global events –COPA 2021 at Maracna, Brazil, EUROPA 2020 at Wembley, London and Wimbledon Tennis in London coincided on the same day. On head to head basis also Italians are also way ahead of the Englishmen. But history does not always dictate the trend. This final today is expected to produce a mouth-watering contest in front of 65000 football frenzied soccer fans and billions watching across the globe. It will not be a match between two evenly matched teams but also clash of strategies of Roberto Manchini and Southgate.

What Is EURO?

The 2020 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2020, or simply Euro 2020, is the sixteenth UEFA European Championship. It is the quadrennial international men’s football championship of Europe organised by Union of European Football Association (UEFA).

 The tournament, being held in 11 cities in 11 UEFA countries, was originally scheduled from 12 June to 12 July 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and rescheduled for 11 June to 11 July 2021. It retains the name UEFA Euro 2020. Portugal was the defending champions, having won the 2016 event held in France. EURO 2020 has already witnessed the fall of many top teams. Reigning Champion Portugal, World Champions France, Runners Up Croatia, FIFA top ranked Belgium, other top teams Spain, Netherlands were eliminated at different stages. The unique addition of EURO 2020 is the video assisted referee (VAR)

Road To EUROPA 2020.

19 of the 24 teams that featured in EUROPA 2020 also participated in 2016 event in France. Belgium and Italy recorded flawless qualifying campaigns. Defending EURO Champions Portugal and world Champions France qualified for the record 13^th straight EURO. Finland and North Macedonia made their debut. Scotland qualified for their first major international tournament since 1998 FIFA World Cup. The Netherlands and Denmark returned after missing in 2016. Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Wales reached successive European Championship. Greece is the only former champions in 2004 failed qualifying. Albania, Iceland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Romania missed out

Venues Of Europa 2020.

UEFA planned to host EURO 2020 in 13 original venues on 19 September 2014. But subsequently Brussels was excluded on 7 December 2017 for delays in the construction of Eurostadium. The matches that were due to be played there were shifted to Wembley, London. On 23 April 2021 for COVID 19 impacts related Bio Bubble Constraints another Venue, Aviva Stadium in Dublin also lost its allocation. The three matches were relocated t Krestovosky Stadium, Saint Petersburg and one to Wembley. London. The four matches assigned in Spain were also reassigned to La Carttuija in Seville replacing San Mames in Bilbao.

Of the eleven cities and countries, seven cities and six countries had never hosted a European Championship finals match before. Seville was not a venue when Spain hosted the 1964 European Nations' Cup, and none of Azerbaijan, Denmark, Hungary, Romania, Russia or Scotland had hosted the tournament previously. Of the eleven stadiums, only two had hosted a European Championship match before: the Stadio Olimpico (1968 and 1980) and the Johan Cruyff Arena (2000). The original Wembley stadium hosted games and the final in UEFA Euro 1996, but although it stands on the same site, this is classified as a different stadium to the current Wembley Stadium.

Venues of EUROPA 2020

Teams Of EUROPA 2020.

24 teams played in 6 groups in the preliminary round

Group A: Italy, Wales, Switzerland and Turkey.

Group B:  Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Russia

 Group C: Netherlands, Austria, Ukraine and North  

                    Macedonia

Group D: England, Croatia, Czech Republic and Scotland

Group E: Sweden, Spain, Slovakia and Poland

Group F: France, Germany, Portugal and Hungary.

The preliminary round and quarter finals witnessed many upsets with teams like France , Croatia , Portugal , Germany , Spain , Belgium exiting the scene . Italy, Spain, England and Denmark survived enduring steep contest. Italy played Spain in one semifinal while England hosted Denmark the surprise package of the tournament at Wembley in the other.

Spain VS Italy Semi Final was perhaps the best match so far seen in the tournament with lightening fast top quality football. Young Spain team dominating the proceeding finally failed to match the matured skills of the Italians. This year Italy appears to be the most consistent performing team. They are no longer an ultra defensive team that Azzuris are known for . Robert Manchini astute tactician has changed their game. Thy play with tight defense. But they are equally competent in shocking opponents with sharp counter attacks a blend of European and South American style.

England on the other hand can thank their stars for letting them into the final prevailing over very spirited Danes. The full time score was 1-1. Danes scored through an wonderfully executed free kick . They were about to surprise host England but conceded an own goal in the second half, making it 1-1. In extra time through a controversial penalty taken well by Harry Kane England won 2-1 and moved to the final of EURO 2020. It was after 55 years England even qualified for a final of a global event. Heart goes for Danes playing very spirited soccer. Their superstar Errikson collapsed from heart attack during a match in the preliminary round. The team played with resolve. There are allegations that VAR was not properly applied while determining the penalty and there was a second ball on the ground when the incident leading to the adjudication of the penalty was given. There was also an allegation that some sort of beam from somewhere was focused on the Danish Goalkeeper when the penalty was taken. He saved once but the kick was retaken.

How England and Italy Moved To Wembley?

England

Italy

Possible Playing XI For the Final : The all important final would be played a full capacity Wembley . It is going to be a historic event. If one goes by the records Italy playing England should be David VS Goliaths. In world soccer history Brazil is the only team that matches Italy in matters of history and records. Italy has won 4 world cups and one EURO. While England has won only one world cup that too at Wembley in 1966. Since then England has never even qualified for any final of any global event. They have never won EURO. But circumstances alter cases. England this year proved to have the potential to win EURO.

Possible Italian XI: (Arranged In 4-4-2 Formation)

Goal Keeper:  Donnarumma;

Defenders:   Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson;

Mid Fielders :Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Chiesa,

Forwards:   Immobile, Insigne

Possible English XI: (Arranged in 4-3-3 Formation)

Goal Keeper: Pickford

Defenders: Walker, Stones, Maguire and Shaw

Mid Fielders: Phillips, Rice and Saka

Forwards: Mount, Sterling and Kane.

Well there is lot to prove at Wembley today . It is really to be seen where EUROPA 2020 stays at home or goes to Rome.

BDST:  0735 HRS, JUL 11, 2021

SMS