Hello everyone and welcome to this live blog for Sunday’s Euro 2020 final between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium. The Three Lions have home advantage, but there is no clear favourite heading into this game, with both sides having been formidable throughout the competition. We’ll be covering the action from London in this live blog, as we see whether the trophy is coming home or heading to Rome.
Italy vs England LIVE SCORE: 0-1
This is the start of our Italy vs England live blog, where we’ll have updates throughout the build-up and during the Euro 2020 final itself. The most recent entries are the ones nearest the top.
Minute 48: No penalty for Sterling this time!
England want a penalty as Raheem Sterling hits the deck, but there’s no penalty awarded. It’s quite similar to the fall against Denmark as the forward goes down in the middle of a defensive sandwich. Kuipers, though, waves play on.
Minute 47: Barella into the book
It’s not a great start to the second 45 minutes for Italy, as Barella is shown a yellow card for a foul on Harry Kane. The striker has been excellent throughout at dropping deep to link up with his teammates.
Minute 46: It’s the second half of the Euro 2020 final
If they can maintain their lead, England are 45 minutes away from becoming champions of Europe. Here we go, then, for the second half of the Euro 2020 final.
Half time: England lead thanks to Shaw’s early goal
It was the perfect start to this Euro 2020 final for England, as Luke Shaw scored in just the second minute. Italy haven’t been able to break England down since then, so it’s still 1-0 at the half time break.
Minute 45+2: Stones denies Immobile!
Italy create a late chance, with the ball falling perfectly for Immobile. But, John Stones is there to block the effort, before Pickford can grasp a tame follow-up attempt from Verratti.
Minute 45: Four minutes of stoppage time
We still have four more minutes of this first half to go, with four minutes of stoppage time announced. It’s mostly from the injury suffered by Jorginho.
Minute 44: Kuipers gives nothing
Both sides are calling for freekicks as the half draws to a close, but Kuipers is giving nothing. Not for handball shouts. Not for cries of foul. He even waves at Rice to get up as the England player protests from the floor.
Minute 41: England stand firm
Italy have a dangerous freekick, but England manage to clear their lines and then hold the Azzurri at arm’s length from the second ball. Southgate‘s side look like they’ll make it to half time with the lead.
Minute 35: Just wide from Chiesa!
This is the closest Italy have come. Chiesa goes on a solo run and launches a low shot from distance, but it flashes just past Jordan Pickford‘s post.
Minute 34: Mount almost finds Sterling
Raheem Sterling was centimetres away from having a one-on-one chance against Donnarumma. After combining with Mount, the Chelsea player so very nearly feeds the ball back through to the Manchester City forward.
Minute 30: Just one shot on target and it was the goal
Half an hour in, we’ve only had one shot on target from these two sides and it was Shaw‘s very early goal. England aren’t attacking as much, while Italy can’t find a way through the home side’s back line.
Minute 24: Problems for Jorginho
There are more problems for Italy as Jorginho has picked up an injury. He goes off for some treatment, but returns to the pitch. It looks like he’s going to try to shake it off.
Minute 20: England look comfortable
Italy are pushing for that equaliser, but England are defending every ball forward well. They’re also so precise in their passing, launching counter attacks and keeping the ball away from the Italians.
Minute 12: Yet another attack through England’s right
Once again, Italy have conceded a chance down their left side and England‘s right. It really seems they’re missing the presence of Leonardo Spinazzola. They need to cover that space.
Minute 8: Another dangerous Trippier cross
England put together another attack down the right, with Trippier getting on the ball inside the Italian penalty area. This time, though, Chiellini is able to block and Italy clear the danger away.
Minute 2: ENGLAND GO AHEAD ALREADY!!!
England take a very early lead in this Euro 2020 final, launching a counter attack from an Italian corner. It’s Kieran Trippier who crosses, for England‘s opposite wing-back Luke Shaw to volley home past Donnarumma.
Minute 1: Kick off in the Euro 2020 final!
Here we go then! In the rainy conditions, Italy vs England kicks off. It’s the Euro 2020 final. Let’s see who replaces Portugal to become the champions of Europe.
20:55 CEST: National anthems time
It’s time for the national anthems, with Italy up first. As always, it’s sung passionately by the Italian players and fans alike. ‘God Save The Queen’ follows, belted out by the home crowd. Up next, it’s the football!
20:50 CEST: Eder brings out the trophy
The man who scored the winning goal in Euro 2016, Eder, has brought the trophy out at Wembley. It’s decorated in English colours on one side and Italian ribbons on the other. Let’s see who lifts it after the game.
20:35 CEST: Bjorn Kuipers is the referee
It’s Bjorn Kuipers who will be the referee for this Euro 2020 final. This is his first time refereeing the European Championship final and he is excited. “I was very emotional when I heard that I’d been given this final,” he told UEFA.com. “I hoped to get the chance to referee a Euro final, and I’ve worked hard with my team to achieve this. It’s really a milestone, a dream, an unbelievable moment and a big honour.”
20:25 CEST: Chiellini is in the house
Giorgio Chiellini looks entirely cool and collected ahead of this huge Euro 2020 final, where he’ll hope to captain the Azzurri to glory. As he arrived at Wembley, the centre-back was seen greeting Harry Maguire and calling him “big man”, before doing a little dance.
20:10 CEST: It’s Italy in blue and England in white
There have been some strange kit colour combos at this tournament, but it’s fully traditional today. Italy will play in their classic blue and England will be wearing the white shirt they’ve donned all tournament.
20:00 CEST: Predictions time for the Euro 2020 final!
We have just one hour to go until the start of the Euro 2020 final, so let’s have some predictions. Who is going to lift the trophy? Italy or England? Have your say in this poll.
19:45 CEST: The Italy vs England line-ups are out!
We have the official team news for the Euro 2020 final. The reports about England deploying a back three were indeed correct, as Gareth Southgate sets his side up as follows: Pickford; Trippier, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Mount, Sterling; Kane. Italy, meanwhile, start with: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson; Jorginho, Barella, Verratti; Chiesa, Insigne; Immobile.
19:40 CEST: Statement from Wembley on the fan trouble
A spokesperson from Wembley has made a short statement about the images of fans breaking through security barriers. “We are dealing with an incident that occurred at the outer security perimeter area of the stadium, with support from police,” the statement started. “Safety measures were quickly activated in the relevant areas and there were no security breaches of people without tickets getting inside the stadium.”
19:30 CEST: Trouble at Wembley
There are multiple reports coming out of London that explain some England fans have breached security at Wembley, breaking into the stadium without a ticket. The atmosphere is said to be very tense as Wembley security try to resolve the situation. If this delays the kick off time at all, we’ll let you know right here on this Euro 2020 final live blog.
19:15 CEST: A warm send-off for the England team
England‘s players are on their way to Wembley for this Euro 2020 final. Several fans greeted the players as they left for the stadium, with the national team’s official Twitter account sending a message of gratitude to those supporters.
18:55 CEST: The guest list for the Euro 2020
There will be many VIPs at Wembley for this Euro 2020 final, including England footballing legends such as David Beckham and Wayne Rooney. Politicians will be there too, as well as Kate Moss and Tom Cruise.
18:40 CEST: Trippier in for Saka?
There are reports coming out of England that claim Gareth Southgate will revert to a back three system, with Kieran Trippier coming in to replace Bukayo Saka. Let’s see if this is true, or if this “leak” is actually a bluff.
18:20 CEST: Fans are gathering outside the stadium
MARCA’s Miguel Angel Lara is on the ground in London and sends in this report from outside Wembley. There are thousands of fans on the streets of the English capital in the build-up to this Euro 2020 final.
17:50 CEST: Rain for the big game
Rain is expected for this clash between Italy and England. This, though, is being seen as a good omen by English fans as these are the same weather conditions as the 1966 World Cup final, when England won their only major international trophy to date.
17:00 CEST: A trip to Las Vegas if England win
If England win Euro 2020, some of the players are planning to fly to Las Vegas to celebrate. According to The Sun, the likes of Mason Mount, Declan Rice and Ben Chilwell would be part of this group. That would certainly be some way to celebrate the title.
16:00 CEST: Have England had an advantage?
Much of the pre-match talk has focused on England’s comfortable schedule, having played all but one of their games away from home. Gareth Southgate’s side have had to travel 2,880 kilometres throughout the entire month, while Italy have travelled 3,296 kilometres, but with a few stops along the way, with flights from Rome to London to play Austria, then to Munich to face Belgium and then back to London to take on Spain in the semi-final.
Do you think the travelling, or lack of it, will prove decisive for the Three Lions?
15:40 CEST: Where to watch the Euro 2020 final
Italy vs England will be screened live on BBC and ITV for viewers in the UK, while fans in the USA can watch all the Euro 2020 action on ESPN. If you are watching the match in Italy, the game will be shown on RAI and Sky Italia. In Spain, it will be shown on Mediaset.
15:30 CEST: Italy vs England probable line-ups
Italy’s probable XI: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Emerson, Bonucci, Chiellini, Jorginho, Verratti, Barella, Chiesa, Immobile, Insigne
England’s probable XI: Pickford, Trippier, Walker, Maguire, Stones, Shaw, Rice, Phillips, Mount, Sterling, Kane
