Euro 2020 Final: Where Are the Chinks In Italy’s Armour?
As England prepare for their major tournament final in 55 years, football fans are getting anxious ahead of Sunday’s clash against Euro giants Italy.
Disputes over who is most equipped to take home the trophy are heating up across social media, while Scotland fans have been busy snapping up Italy shirts to get behind the team taking on England. Searches for ‘Italy shirts’ spiked 94% across Scotland in under two hours of England defeating Denmark!
Ahead of the well-anticipated Euro2020 Final, B-Cure Laser who launched their low-level laser pain relief device in the UK earlier this year, crunched the numbers to see how England can get past their Italian rivals and bring football home.
So which side is the more equipped heading into the final? And, who do England need to target to give themselves an advantage against this major footballing nation?
Key findings:
– Are Southgate’s men more likely to be fresh for the occasion? His players have spent 332 fewer minutes on the pitch than the Italians through the tournament and ran nearly 43 miles (42.8) less!
– Gladiators on the pitch? Italy are the more physical outfit with more cards and fouls overall.
– The main man England need to shut out of the game comes in the form of Giovanni Di Lorenzo as the most combative Italian, with 11 fouls committed and 12 against. It seems the Napoli defender loves a challenge!
– Kalvin Phillips is growing in the tournament and is living up to the Leeds United reputation. He’s stamping his authority as the most solid England player with 10 fouls committed, but only three against.
– Cool under pressure! While England have been dispossessed more often than their rivals (ITA 53, ENG 61), they have committed fewer fouls in pursuit of regaining possession (ITA 72, ENG 58). Gareth’s men have kept a cool head throughout the tournament so far.
– If Italy have a weak link it comes in the form of Nicolo Barella. Being one of the most liable to being dispossessed – 7 times so far – and his inability to duck a challenge should make him a key focus for the Three Lions game plan. The Inter Milan star has been involved in no fewer than 14 fouls, either as the recipient or culprit.
– Will Sterling be the one to trump the Euro? Harry Kane is England’s dangerman but Raheem Sterling’s fresher legs, which have run three miles less, and his ability to skip around tackles (fewer fouls against) makes him more of a threat than England’s leading striker.
– England are the more controlled at the back. Pickford is well deserving of the Golden Glove with more saves (ENG 11, ITA 9), more clean sheets (ENG 5, ITA 3) and only one goal having made its way past him, compared to Donnarumma’s three.
Although on paper Roberto Mancini’s men are the more physical, England have coped well with keeping possession and shutting out the attacks they face, while keeping cooler than their opponents. We’ll see who lifts the trophy on Sunday evening – is it coming home or off to Rome?
