The Euro final opposes two nations with very different playing philosophy from each other.
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Latins against Anglo-Saxons, a shock of football culture for the final of the Euro Sunday at Wembley, in the temple of English football (9 p.m.). Italy and England are fighting together for the Henri-Delaunay Trophy for the first time in the history of the competition. Squadra Azzurra received a little help from fate in the semi-finals by eliminating their Spanish rival on penalties (1-1, 4-2 on tabs). The Three Lions also received a dose of success with the penalty generously awarded in overtime against Denmark in the previous round (2-1 ap).
Due to these semi-finals, it is therefore difficult to predict the favorite for the final victory.
In their London haunt, the English will nevertheless have the unwavering support of their supporters as usual since almost the start of the competition (only one away match against Ukraine in the quarter-finals).
The Italians will be pushed by their compatriots living on the spot and the thousand fans authorized to come to the final.
So the atmosphere will be hot once again in London.
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The height of the Italian renaissance
For the Squadra Azzurra, it is a final which rewards the work of goldsmith of Roberto Mancini. At the helm of the selection since the failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the Italian coach has managed to rekindle the flame of Italian team play in a short time. Still without a big star for a few years, the Nazionale won by a group that gets along and whose players work for each other. A rediscovered playing philosophy that pays off for Italy, already in the Euro final on Sunday.
Beyond the result, it is the manner that is to the credit of Squadra Azzurra.
Marco Verratti's partners play football that is fun, efficient and more attacking than ever.
With the confidence gained by a whole group, Italy has totaled 33 consecutive games without defeat including the semi-final of the Euro, the longest series in its history.
To see if this series will last a little longer on Sunday in the final.
Harry Kane, the hero the English expect
The English have only one name in their mouths at the end of the Euro: that of Harry Kane.
The captain and striker of the selection has become the hero of a whole people thanks to his decisive penalty transformed into two stages against Denmark.
Yet criticized from the start of the competition for his lack of success, the Tottenham striker put everyone in agreement in the round of 16 thanks to his angry header against Germany (2-0 victory).
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- Euro: the rebirth of Harry Kane with England
The problems now seem to be behind for the darling of English football.
With four goals, Harry Kane is one of the competition's top scorers.
His fans are no longer waiting for the striker to catch up with Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday in the final.
To truly enter the legend of the Three Lions.
The question: which of the two teams is the most physically fit?
A final as a physical challenge for both teams.
Italy and England come out of two semi-finals to conclude at least in overtime, and with additional stress for the Italians who had to go all the way to penalties.
The Three Lions, however, had the advantage of playing virtually all of their home games, except their easy victory over Ukraine in the quarterfinals (4-0) in ... Rome, Italy.
After a first round also at home, the Squadra Azzurra she walked between London and Munich during the knockout phase, with two overtime to the key. It remains to be seen which of the two groups will manage to recover physically before another burst of energy at Wembley.