Gareth Southgate has made one change to his starting line-up for England’s Euro 2020 final against Italy at Wembley with Kieran Trippier selected in place of Bukayo Saka.
Saka had started in three of England’s previous four matches, including during the semi-final win over Denmark on Wednesday, but has to make do with a place on the bench.
Southgate’s decision suggests that England will revert to a 3-4-3 formation last implemented during the 2-0 win over Germany in the last 16, rather than a 4-2-3-1 which has been their most-used tactic at the tournament.
Trippier has started two of England’s matches in the competition, coming on as a substitute in two more, and will line up at right wing-back outside of Kyle Walker and behind Mason Mount, who has taken Saka’s spot on the right wing.
Jordan Pickford starts in goal, with Walker, John Stones and Harry Maguire lining up in a three-man defence, with Trippier and Luke Shaw as wing-backs.
Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips start together in central midfield for the seventh game running against an Italian trio. The inclusion of Mount gives England the option of matching Italy man-for-man in midfield if England struggle to retain possession in the opening stages.
England’s best player at the tournament, Raheem Sterling, will begin the match on the left side of the attack, with Harry Kane up front. That pair have contributed towards 70 per cent of England’s goals at Euro 2020, with Kane scoring four times and Sterling three.
Phil Foden is England’s only injury absentee after sustaining a foot injury.
Italy are unchanged from the side which beat Spain in the semi-final.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is in goal, with Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Emerson selected either side of the experienced pair of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini in defence. Leonardo Spinazzola is absent after suffering an Achilles tendon tear against Belgium in the quarters.
Chelsea’s Jorginho is in the deep-lying playmaker role in front of the back four, flanked by Nicolo Barella and Marco Verratti in central midfield. The in-form pair of Federico Chiesa and Lorenzo Insigne will offer support to centre forward Ciro Immobile.
Italy’s side is likely to look much different by the end of the game as Roberto Mancini has used his full complement of substitutes – five in normal time, six in extra-time – in every game at the tournament so far.
More from i on Euro 2020
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- Fish & chips to fashion tips: What Southgate’s tweets tell us about the England boss
- Why there have been so many own goals – from tiredness to lazy defending
- We need to talk about Jordan Pickford – the unsung hero of this England team
- How to watch every Euro 2020 match on TV and online in the UK
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3e6yVbw
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