England go into Sunday’s Euro 2020 final against Italy without the need to make any changes from the team that got past Denmark in the semi-finals. The suggestion so far is that they will stick with the same line-up that got the Three Lions through to their first major tournament final since the 1966 World Cup.
Italy, too, have no new concerns, but of course, will be without Leonardo Spinazzola, who missed the win over Spain after rupturing his Achilles tendon in their quarter-final.
Here is the latest Italy and England team news ahead of the final.
Italy v England: Euro 2020 Final Team News
Foden a Doubt
The only slight concern for Gareth Southgate’s side could be Phil Foden, who missed the team’s final training session with a foot injury. Foden did not start against Denmark, nor was he tipped to start the final against Italy. However, he has provided bundles of energy in his cameo during the knockout stages and could be a miss for England depending on how the game pans out.
Ahead of the game, Southgate said: “He’s got a fairly minor foot injury. “But it’s just whether it’s going to be one that clears up in time for him to be able to take part in the game, so we’ll have to assess that again later.”
Unchanged?
Southgate has many options in front of him, but the safest bet appears to be to stick with the side that beat Denmark, including the formation.
This would mean a back four of Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw in front of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice would retain their midfield places, with Mason Mount sitting in front of them. However, depending on the Italy line-up and the state of the game, Mount could either drop and form a more traditional midfield three or push up and be a part of the attacking trio.
Raheem Sterling would then start of the left with Bukayo Saka on the right and captain Harry Kane through the middle.
If Southgate did feel the need to change, though, he could revert to the five-man defence he used against Germany, which would see one of the midfield places sacrificed for Kieran Trippier to come in a right-wingback, pushing the rest of the defence over a place.
Italy, meanwhile, will not have Spinazzola at their disposal after rupturing his Achilles in the quarter-final win over Belgium. Emerson Palmieri replaced him in the victory over Spain but boss Roberto Mancini will need to make a decision on whether to go with that again.
Otherwise, it looks like it will be an unchanged Italian side too, as they look to extend this remarkable unbeaten run that has been going since 2018.
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