EURO 2020 | Final: England vs

EURO 2020 | Final: England vs Italy – sleeping giants awaken to destiny at Wembley

England host Italy in the UEFA EURO 2020 final on Sunday evening at Wembley with millions of their supporters believing that the trophy is finally “coming home”.

EURO 2020 | Final: England vs

England host Italy in the UEFA EURO 2020 final on Sunday evening at Wembley with millions of their supporters believing that the trophy is finally “coming home”.

The final will at home but the trophy coming home is a matter of what happens on the pitch during the 90 minutes, (potential 120 and even penalties).

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Wembley is a stadium you dream to play at growing up as a footballer. A dream turns into a nightmare for one of these sides while the other will experience sheer jubilation and joy after conquering Europe.

DECADES SPENT YEARS BUILDING TOWARDS THIS DAY

The final bits two of the greatest footballing nations in the world against one another in arguably the most prestigious continental showpiece.

These two nations have been footballing giants for as long as the game has been played. They have widely underperformed in recent years. Italy last tasted success in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and England back in 1966. Yes, you read that correctly. To this day, the fact that the English squad of the early 2000’s could not win anything with the players they had, astounds every football fan around the world.

A side boasting players like Michael Owen, David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and several more stars.

England has also, surprisingly, never won a EURO. Despite entering most tournaments as one of the favourites.

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The Azzurri have had far more success in the Euros but have faced their own rise from the ashes. After the World Cup in 2006, Italian football seemed to fall apart. In 2010 they shockingly failed to make it out of the group stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in SA.

In 2012, they were humiliated in the final of the UERO’s before failing to qualify for the 2018 event.

Since then, the Azzurri have risen to be a global force once more. Knocking out Belgium in the quarter-finals before eliminating Spain in a dramatic 3-1 penalty shootout to secure their spot in the final. England, in contrast, does not have much to boast about. They were in the semi-finals of the recent World Cup but this is not a day that English fans will want to remember!

Many English supporters were left with more than emotional scars – with a man famously tattooing “It’s coming home!” to his body before his team was sent packing by a game Croatian side.

ONE OF THE SLEEPING GIANTS SET TO AWAKEN

‘It’s coming home” has become more than just a phrase, it is a mindset and way of living as an English fan. Believing, together, that the over 50-year trophy drought will end. That this group of players will finally bring it home in front of their home crowd on Sunday Evening.

The Azzurri will be looking to spoil The Three Lions homecoming at Wembley though. Italian captain, Giorgio Chiellini believes that they can achieve their dream at the expense of an English nightmare. They are undefeated in over 30 games in a row but have been trophyless for the last 15 years.

On Sunday evening, legends will be made, with legacies cemented in football history. Both sides are filled with world-class gamechangers. It will be a match defined by inches.

Will it be coming home or going away? England can bring it home in front of a home crowd but Mancini’s men know how to grind out wins.

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One great save, fantastic finish or match winning block could decide todays winner.

Gareth Southgate takes on Roberti Mancini with both nations looking to return to the top of Europe after years of heartbreak.