Final: Italy vs England

Cant wait for Makkelie to be announced for this too. Only referee who can stand against the pressure of the UK crowd.
 
It's going to be tough for England. Italy have a very clever midfield, they'll also use every trick in the book if they get their nose in front to see it out. Will have to be a colossal physical effort from Rice and Phillips to make up for the difference in quality in there, but there's no doubt if they can get the likes of Sterling and Saka facing up some of these Italian defenders they won't enjoy it either.
 
You think? Sterling and anyone but Sakho on the other flank are big problems to deal with. England are going to play proper turtle football and hit on the break - there's no hope of matching with their midfield, but it's not necessary to win the game.

Initially, I thought it's a cakewalk for Italy, but more thought suggests stretching them wide repeatedly has a good chance of reaping dividends.

Southgate is not even going to try and out-manage Mancini, but he doesn't have to.
Well ok Sterling in this form will be a massive threat and Kane too. But overall it was very disappointing tactically from England and they were lucky tonight. The Italians and Mancini are on paper another level to Denmark.
 
Think Grealish and Sancho need to start against the Italians. start this team again and we lose by 60 mins.

But for a couple of moments, Saka was awful. Philips isn’t alert enough for me either, and I actually do like him as a player, but it’s a serious part of your game to be lacking in as a DM.

Speaking as a United fan, anything over £40m for Rice is highway robbery. By no means awful, but Jesus, way overhyped.
 
Italy should win, but if we're clever, Southgate picks the right team, and we have luck on our side we're more than good enough to get the job done.

Still going to just enjoy the build up and the fact we're in it for the time being to be honest.
 
Would honestly take Utd winning the CL over england winning a international trophy.

Think we will get beaten in the final. Italy unbeaten in 33 games and bonucci and chiellini are as good as they come for CBs.
 
Jorginho and Veratti are shitting it at the thought of Rice and Phillips.

Their defenders won’t want to play against our front 3.

Spain broke them down a number of times and so will we!
 
Italy have the extra days rest and also a good bench compared to Denmark. England have got home advantage.

First goal will be crucial, England will be under huge pressure if they concede first.

Should be a very good game. Hopefully better referee than today.
 
So both semis should be on the same day?
It’s always been like this as far as I remember, but in the name of fairness yeah. But if you do that, one side of the semis get an extra day. Then again, UEFA have it set up like this to maximise TV time.
 
Need to move the ball quicker. We were way too slow today, which made it far easier for Denmark than it should have been. Italy will find that too easy to defend against.

I think Sancho should play. We need someone with more experience in Saka.

Worryingly, we ran some players into the ground with one day less rest than Italy.
 
It’s always been like this as far as I remember, but in the name of fairness yeah. But if you do that, one side of the semis get an extra day. Then again, UEFA have it set up like this to maximise TV time.
Maximise the time for everyone. What's the point of a tournament where all the matches played on same day?!

I'd suggest maybe make the early semi final far away from the final so they have to travel so get less rest in a different way
 
Maximise the time.for everyone. What's the point of a tournament where all the matches played on same day?!

I'd suggest maybe make the early semi final far away from the final so they have to travel so get less rest in a different way
Yeah maybe that would be better.
 
Scheduling seems odd that Italy get an extra days rest.
England have soared to victory throughout this tournie despite everything being done to hold them down. If football finally comes home on Sunday as it must surely do so, it'll be because of our footballing prowess but moreover because of our moral prowess. And the haters can't stand that.
 
It will be a tight game. I haven't been impressed by Italy at all so I don't think of England as underdogs
 
Italy getting an extra day's rest? Excuses are comin in early. It's not like England have essentially had a home tournament.
 
Italy should win, but if we're clever, Southgate picks the right team, and we have luck on our side we're more than good enough to get the job done.

Still going to just enjoy the build up and the fact we're in it for the time being to be honest.
This! What a moment we are living through
 
I'm in no way a neutral but if I was, I'd be all for Italy anyway. Aside from the dodgy penalty to get there, England have been far more negative than they need to be despite all the talent of Kane, Sterling, Sancho, Rashford, Grealish, Mount, Foden and Saka up front.

Going from watching Spain's midfield yesterday to the Rice/Phillips double DM pivot today was nosebleed-inducing. Ye've taken advantage of an easy run to the final (which is entirely fair) but your squad has the potential to be a lot better than this, or at least a lot better to watch.

It is a very good squad though, so you may well win it.
 
England have soared to victory throughout this tournie despite everything being done to hold them down. If football finally comes home on Sunday as it must surely do so, it'll be because of our footballing prowess but moreover because of our moral prowess. And the haters can't stand that.

Whats happened to hold England down? They’ve played a home tournament basically and cheated to beat Denmark.“
 
It will be a tight game. I haven't been impressed by Italy at all so I don't think of England as underdogs
They’ve been good, but had a scare against a poor Austrian side who had a goal taken off by VAR which was maybe two inches offside, then spent the last 25 mins vs. Belgium on their backside, then got dominated by a Spain team which everyone here said was rubbish, not to mention got off with a clear handball in the box in the last minute. Yet, all the “neutrals” are going for them because of “morals” or something.