Prediction and odds for the game: Italy (2/1) vs England (13/8)

We are backing the draw at odds of 2/1

When: Sunday, 11th July 2021, Kick-off 20:00

Where: Wembley

On Sunday night, Italy and England go head-to-head at Wembley in the final of Euro 2020, as both look to be crowned as champions of Europe.

Italy

The Azzurri have certainly found a new swagger in the three-year tenure of former Manchester City head coach Roberto Mancini. Not only have they remained solid at the back, but they have also produced some brilliant attacking displays during Euro 2020. The highlight of their campaign came in a 2-1 win over the worlds highest-ranked team Belgium. They also eliminated Spain in the semi-finals to book their place in the competition’s final.

Italy performance during the tournament may not have come as much of a surprise, as they have been outstanding in the last few years in the international game. The fact that they have not lost any of their last 33 international games illustrates just how tough to beat.

The veteran defensive pair Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini have also played a crucial part in their success at the European Championships. The Azzurri’s typically solid defence has slipped of late, as they have conceded in their last three matches in Euro 2020. However, the fact that Mancini’s team had kept 11 straight clean sheets previously shows how difficult they are to break down as a unit.

England

Similarly, to their opponents there is a great belief amongst everybody connected with the Three Lions that they can emerge from Sunday’s final as European champions. Gareth Southgate’s team have seen off the challenge of Germany, Ukraine and last time out Denmark to set up this date with the Azzurri.

England needed extra time to record a deserved 2-1 win over the latter, with Harry Kane scoring the winning goal to send Wembley and the nation into delirium. The goal came from a rebound after Kasper Schmeichel had saved a controversial penalty kick. However soft the decision was for the challenge on Raheem Sterling leading to the penalty kick, Kane could point to an incident in the second half that arguably could have resulted in a spot-kick.

The win over Denmark means that England are undefeated in their last 11 international matches, having recorded nine wins in normal time. One key to their progression to the final has been England’s solid defence, as Southgate’s team has conceded just once in their six matches at Euro 2020. They have also conceded just twice in 12 international matches.

One negative for the team playing on home soil is their recent record against Italy, as they have won just one of their previous seven meetings with the Azzurri.

Conclusion

This is a game where it is hard to separate the two teams in the betting. Both have enjoyed superb tournaments. We believe this will be a tightly contested game. The most likely result seems to be a draw and it could go all the way to penalty kicks. Therefore, it is unlikely to be a high-scoring game, as both teams are strong in defence and the game is likely to be a cagey affair. That is why we are backing under 2.5 goals scored.

Prediction: We are backing the draw at odds of 2/1 and/or under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 8/15. (All odds are taken from Bet365)

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