Euro 2020 is rapidly approaching its endgame and football fans across Europe will be hoping that the final can live up to the four weeks that preceded it.
There have been stunning strikes, spectacular individual performances, a record number of own goals, huge upsets and after almost an entire season without them, fans in stadiums.
The tournament was postponed by 12 months due to the pandemic, but it has proven to be worth the wait with all 24 teams contributing towards a memorable spectacle.
England have certainly played their part by reaching the semi-final stage for the second major tournament running after also doing so at the 2018 World Cup. With the remaining matches of the competition all taking place at Wembley, confidence is growing that Gareth Southgate and his squad can “bring football home”.
Spain were the first team to book their place in the semi-final after overcoming 10-man Switzerland on penalties before Italy joined them in the final four with a win over a heavily-fancied Belgium side.
Denmark’s remarkable run continued against the Czech Republic in the quarters with England completing the quartet after a convincing win against Ukraine.
Here are all the key details you need to know ahead of the final.
When is the Euro 2020 final?
Date: Sunday 11 July
Kick-off time: 8pm
Venue: Wembley Stadium
How to watch on TV: The game will be shown on both BBC and ITV
Live stream: BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub
Who could be involved?
Should England progress beyond Denmark, they will play either Spain or Italy in the final.
Spain
Spain started in uninspiring fashion, drawing against Sweden and Poland in their opening two games, before emerging as the tournament’s great entertainers. They thrashed Slovakia 5-0 in their final group game, outscored Croatia in a 5-3 thriller in the last 16 and then knocked out Switzerland on penalties in the quarter-finals.
This current Spain squad is far removed from the 2008 and 2012 vintage which won back-to-back European Championships, but they have plenty of exciting, up-and-coming prospects within their ranks. Barcelona’s 18-year-old playmaker Pedri has starred, while Manchester City winger Ferran Torres has grown in stature as the tournament has progressed.
Luis Enrique’s side have been wildly unpredictable so far, which makes them a dangerous proposition for any opponent.
Italy
Italy set the tone for their tournament with a dominant 3-0 win over Turkey in the opening match of the competition and have not looked back since. Roberto Mancini’s side are the only team in the competition with a 100 per cent winning record, albeit only beating Austria in the last 16 after extra time.
Although there are fewer high-profile stars in the current Italy set up than in previous years, the squad is packed full of established and promising talent, primarily sourced from Serie A. Lorenzo Insigne has sparkled in attack, Nicolo Barella has brought industry and hard running in midfield and the long-established pair of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci have provided leadership at the back.
A campaign packed full of high points suffered a rare setback against Belgium, though, when the outstanding Leonardo Spinazzola was ruled out of the remainder of it after rupturing his Achilles tendon.
More from i on Euro 2020
- 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
- What the Premier League could learn from Euro 2020’s controversy-free referees
- The football nomad who became a hero for his role in saving Eriksen’s life
- How to watch every Euro 2020 match on TV and online in the UK
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3wjoEyD
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