Europe has been gripped by football fever in the last few weeks, with the Euro 2020 tournament generating a huge amount of excitement and drama.
Now, after some massive moments in both the group phase and the knockout stages, we know the identities of the two teams that will contest the final. England and Italy have booked their place in the match at Wembley Stadium on Sunday and betting odds have provided some clues as to the mood around the game.
Major contest
The event is sure to be hotly contested, as England has been in fine form and Italy is on a remarkable unbeaten run.
However, the Euro 2020 outright odds at Betfair reveal that, at the time of writing, England are the most popular option for a winner. Fans using the site have the chance to back the outcome or lay against it and the issue has unsurprisingly generated lots of interest. The site states that around £17,000 has been matched so far. Other popular outright markets at present include the top goalscorer and the best player of the tournament.
But, while fans are certainly hyped for the final, which players could have a decisive say on how the action unfolds? Both England and Italy have some top talent, but a few specific names might have a big bearing on the outcome.
Crucial roles
From an England perspective, Raheem Sterling could certainly have a crucial role to play. As UEFA’s Euro 2020 site outlines, the Manchester City forward has scored three goals and provided one assist across the six matches so far. It is also interesting to note some of the other statistics, including his 83 percent passing accuracy.
Elsewhere, Harry Kane may have taken a little time to get in the goals, but he is now building momentum. His crucial strike in the semi-final has taken him to four goals and BBC Sport highlights how this means he is only one behind current top scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo. A couple of goals in the final could be huge for both his country and his own personal success.
From an Italian perspective, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are always a massive presence in defense. Chelsea’s Jorginho has also shown he is a man for the big moments, with his penalty technique in the semi-final even inspiring articles from the likes of Fox Sports. The website described his spot-kick style as “a work of art”.
One more game
Euro 2020 has been a truly incredible tournament packed with great stories, but it all comes down to this. One more game at Wembley will ultimately decide which country is named the champion of Europe.
Both England and Italy possess some impressive talent that could dictate the outcome, with the names mentioned above being just a few examples. Could the likes of Sterling or Jorginho write themselves into football history, or will another star step into the spotlight and achieve sporting glory? We will all have to keep an eye on Wembley Stadium on Sunday to find out.
