After beating Denmark in the semi-finals, England have booked their spot in Sunday’s Euro 2020 final against Italy.
Gareth Southgate’s side fell behind to a stunning Mikkel Damsgaard free-kick, but they turned it around to reach their first major final since the 1966 World Cup.
They come up against an Italy side in supreme form, with their penalties victory over Spain on Tuesday extending their staggering record to 33 games unbeaten.
The match will once again be played at Wembley Stadium in front of an expected 60,000 fans, which England fans will hope gives their team the advantage once more.
However, though beating the likes of Germany and a stubborn Denmark, this will be England’s toughest test to date.
With the grand finale of the European Championships now just a few days away, Sportsmail takes you through everything you need to know.
England progressed to the Euro 2020 final with a hard-fought victory over Denmark
Harry Kane (centre) scored an extra-time winner to give England an historic 2-1 victory
When is Italy vs England?
Italy and England will conclude this summer’s tournament in an epic final on Sunday, July 11.
The match will start at 8pm BST and will be played at London’s Wembley Stadium, which will hold an expected 60,000 fans.
It marks an end to a stunning month-long tournament, which started in Rome and was played across 11 different cities to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the European Championships.
How to watch the match
The final of the European Championships will be broadcast for free on both BBC and ITV, with coverage starting at 7pm on both channels.
UK viewers will be able to stream the match online for free via both BBC iPlayer and the ITV Hub.
Sportsmail will also be running a live blog, so you can keep up-to-date with us.
How did Italy qualify for the final?
Italy comfortably topped Group A to qualify for the knockouts with three wins from three
Jorginho (centre) scored the winning penalty as Italy beat Spain to reach the Euro 2020 final
Italy were one of two teams, alongside England, who didn’t concede a goal throughout the group stages, where they breezed to top spot in Group A.
It was Azzuri who got the tournament underway on June 11 in Rome, as they waltzed past a hapless Turkey in an impressive opening display.
Then came another routine 3-0 victory, this time against Switzerland. At the time, many noted Italy’s impressive performance but were skeptical about the quality of their opponents. However, Switzerland qualified from the group and knocked pre-tournament favourites France out in the last-16, before losing in a penalty shootout to Spain in the quarter-finals.
Italy took on Austria for a place in the quarter-finals, where they needed extra-time after drawing 0-0 in the initial 90 minutes.
Goals from Federico Chiesa – who has had a fine tournament – and Matteo Pessina gave the Italian an unassailable 2-0 lead, before Austria pulled back what proved to be a consolation goal with six minutes to play.
Then came Italy’s toughest test to date, and they passed the challenge with flying colours in beating Belgium 2-1, conceding only due to a controversial penalty awarded on the stroke of half-time.
Italy were once again taken to extra-time in the semi-finals, which eventually went to penalties after Alvaro Morata cancelled out Chiesa’s opener.
There, Jorginho slotted in the winning spot-kick after Morata missed his effort, as Mancini’s side booked a final date at Wembley.
- June 11: Turkey 0-3 Italy
- June 16: Italy 3-0 Switzerland
- June 20: Italy 1-0 Wales
- June 26: Italy 2-1 Austria
- July 2: Belgium 1-2 Italy
- July 6: Italy 1-1 Spain (4-2 pens)
How did England qualify for the final?
England were one of two teams, alongside Italy, who didn’t concede a goal in the group stages
England qualified for the knockouts without ever really getting out of second gear, with 1-0 wins over Croatia and the Czech Republic sandwiching a 0-0 draw against historic rivals Scotland.
There were some initial thoughts that England could have been served best by finishing second in Group D, but after beating Germany 2-0 in the round of 16 the draw really opened up for the Three Lions.
The quarter-final was England’s most routine victory of the tournament to date, with an in-form Kane leading Southgate’s side to a comfortable 4-0 victory.
Then came the semi-final, where England came from behind to beat Denmark and reach the final.
- June 13: England 1-0 Croatia
- June 18: England 0-0 Scotland
- June 22: Czech Republic 0-1 England
- June 29: England 2-0 Germany
- July 3: Ukraine 0-4 England
- July 7: England 2-1 Denmark AET
Team news
Italy received a major blow as Leonardo Spinazzola had to be stretchered off against Belgium
Of course, we’ll know more about the team news as the final approaches.
However, what we do know is that Italy’s starring wide man Leonardo Spinazzola won’t be available, having been stretchered off in their victory over Belgium.
In reaching the final with victory over Spain, Italy’s players gathered and chanted his name, showing just the impact he has within the team.
Elsewhere, Chiesa was forced off holding his hamstring after 107 minutes of action against Spain, though it remains to be seen whether that was more precautionary than a serious injury.
As for England, the big question again will be what formation Southgate utilises.
The Three Lions boss has opted for a back-four in all-but one game, the round of 16 clash against Germany.
And against Denmark, it was Bukayo Saka who got the nod over Jadon Sancho, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.
However, with Italy’s threat up top and strength at the back themselves, Southgate may opt for a back-five once more.
Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino).
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea), Alessandro Florenzi (Paris Saint-Germain), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma), Rafael Toloi (Atalanta).
Midfielders: Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Stefano Sensi (Inter Milan), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain).
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo).
England squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Aarom Ramsdale (Sheffield United).
Defenders: Ben White (Brighton), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds), Declan Rice (West Ham).
Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).
Italy vs England: The odds
Both sides have been phenomenal en route to the final, and it comes as no suprise that the odds are close.
England are at 10/11 to lift the trophy, while Italy are at 4/5.
*Odds as per Betfair and correct at the time of publication.