England v Italy

Twill be a war of attrition.

 

Forza Bianca!

England have never beaten Italy in a tournament apparently and recently Italy have been a bit of a bogey team for us.
Might as well hand the trophy over to them now

Except this current England squad are doing their own thing, very inclusive
and doing it rather well.

 

We have rarely played them in a tournament and due to the way qualifications work we rarely come up against them in qualifying.

Our last few games in a competitive environment were under Hodgson. We lost in the world cup where we were totally dire and went out on pens when Hodgson stuck everyone behind the ball for 120min.

Beyond that we are looking at 20+ years with the 0-0 draw which is a line in Three Lions 98 (and then one night in Rome, we had grown)

Current form from both teams since 2018 is very good and this is an Italian side that didn't even qualify for the last World Cup to find themselves in a major final.

This really could go either way, let's hope home advantage swings it.

 

I have a feeling he will find a role for Jordan Henderson in his team because of his leadership

 

Think we’ll win and a nice little cherry on top it I stuck £50 ew on us pre tournament at 9/2 and mates called me mad

 

Good luck That was seriously bold.Thought the wife was a bit mad with a pre tournament tenner at odds of 5/1.

 

Cheers. Yes the odds aren’t great for a 24 team tournament, but sometimes you’ve got to go with your gut.

 

Bjorn Kuipers to ref the game.
Hope he clamps down on the cheating and falling over in the box with no contact.

He’s got to keep an eye on the Italians as well.

 

Oh come on, as much chance of winning it as Italy. Probably more chance given its Wembley and we have been far better in the knock outs...

 

Thats fine. It was almost given as a fact by you! Id say it is very evenly matched.

 

I’m sad about this negativity regarding an England win. We’ve got as much chance as the Italians. Superb record so far. No defeats, one goal conceded, and haven’t even had to use our very strong squad so much.
Seems everyone wants us to lose! Over here, I watched the game in a pub with the majority cheering for Denmark. It’s been like that all games. People wanting England to lose. Even had some bell end coming up to us singing the Italian national anthem after the game. Just give us our moment mate! No need to piss all over our bonfire. And he was Russian! People just worried that they’ve lost their argument about our cup failures if we win. Bitter people who like nothing more than England to lose. It’s an inferiority complex.

Enjoy the game. Collectively back our team, and if we win, great. It’s deserved! If we don’t, then fair play, the team have given us all a smile this last month. You can get back to your doom and gloom after Sunday!

 

Superb post

 

I think our fans are just naturally quite pessimistic due to history, similar to City really. That said I think we’ll win. You almost sound surprised that other countries want us to lose though which is a surprise, our fans boo other national anthems and fans often when abroad go around causing mayhem. Britain and England in particular have never been particularly liked and due to our history and behaviour in general isn’t much of a surprise. Tbh it doesn’t bother me one bit what a Russian or anyone else thinks though.

 

Yet people forget that Italy were world conquerors, and the Danes weren’t darlings either! And let’s not even mention Russia…
Over here it’s not a football nation, but those who are into it, invariably follow Premiership sides. They’re just jumping on the band wagon in more ways than one. I’m watching the final at my bar. I’m pretty sure I’ll accept the Italians who come to visit, celebrating if they win. Probably even give them a handshake and congratulate them. Not because they are my customers, but because I understand what the win means to them.

 

It is. Its the same folk who have convinced themselves all tournament we had no chance - who still want to believe we wont win it. So they can sate their own egos...

 

Think the Danes were a bit far back in time, I do get your point. But I don’t know how any England fan can’t admit there’s a certain arrogance about us, it’s nothing to be bothered about just no point getting peed off with other countries when they have a go back. The fact our fans constantly sing it’s coming home then as a defense say listen to the full song, which English fan would take time out to listen to their nations theme songs when our fans can’t even respect a national anthem. If were playing in Munich and Germany booed our anthem, kept saying it’s coming home and singing about German bombers our fans would be up in arms so I’m not having it’s something inferiority complex, it’s how Britain and England are seen around the world. Then you have pundits Like Ferdinand saying it’s coming home on national TV and the Mirror printing the final Italy V England before our semi just to top it off

 

Got away with one there
Felt sorry for the Danes
If we start that game the Italians will do it back and are far far better at it than us