UEFA Euro 2020: Key things to know about the England v Italy 2021 final including how to watch
The final of the men's European Championships, which has been held in cities across the continent, takes place on Sunday 11th July 2021. Here's what you need to know about the Euros showpiece.
Football
On Sunday, either Italy or England will be crowned UEFA Euro 2020 champions, after a Wembley final which completes the biggest and most logistically complex European continental men's football championships ever.
It'll be a battle of coaches Mancini and Southgate in the London showpiece, as English attacking stars Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling go up against a fearsome Italian defensive unit including Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci.
There will be another amazing atmosphere inside the stadium, with a near-capacity crowd expected to be in attendance.
Can Italy claim their second title in the event? Will it be 'coming home' for the English, who have never won the Euros previously? Who are the key players? And how can you watch it all? Read on for more.
How did England and Italy make it to the Euro 2020 Final in 2021?
Italy beat Spain on penalties in the semis (4-2, after the game ended 1-1) to book their place in the London final. That was after a quarter-final win over Belgium (2-1), having seen off Austria (2-1) in the round of 16, and notched up group stage victories over Wales (1-0), Switzerland (3-0), and Turkey (3-0) to finish top with a perfect record.
England came through an tense semi-final with Denmark (2-1, after extra time), also at their home stadium Wembley, having previously seen off Ukraine (4-0) and Germany (2-0) in the knockout stages, and qualified from a group that included wins over Czech Republic (1-0) and Croatia (1-0), and a goalless draw with neighbours Scotland. The English have only conceded one goal in the Euros so far, and are trying to claim their first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
Who are the key England players to watch against Italy at the Euro 2020 Final in 2021?
When talking about this England team, it's hard to look past strike partners Sterling and Kane. They've each scored crucial goals throughout these Euros, with captain Kane netting four times on the way to the final, just one behind top scorer Ronaldo. Sterling has three so far, plus an assist.
Coach Gareth Southgate has ensured his front pairing get regular service from a dynamic midfield including Luke Shaw on the left side, attacking defender Kyle Walker on the right, and a host of forward-minded midfielders including Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish, and Phil Foden, who will all be vying for spots in the starting XI for Sunday's final.
They're backed up by a defensive unit that has conceded just once and is an attacking threat at corners from the likes of Harry Maguire and John Stones.
Which Italian stars are the ones to watch for the Euros final with the English
Italy's 33-game unbeaten run leading up to the final is built on solid defence. Olympian Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci showed against Spain that they can handle the threat of multiple attacking options, which will also be expected from England.
Coach Roberto Mancini will be hopeful Ciro Immobile can return to the kind of form that netted him two goals in the opening two games, but with wingers Federico Chiesa and Lorenzo Insigne excelling and also netting twice, the Azzuri will pose threats from all angles.
How to watch the Euro 2020 final on 11th July 2021 live on television and online streaming
The whole of the European Championships are being made available to watch live via organisers UEFA, and you can watch games live via. their official broadcast partners wherever you are in the world. Many offer games for live streaming online.
The full list of broadcasters is available on the official tournament website, here.