WE’VE waited 55 years for football to come home — and it’s going to be here for years when it does.
I’ve said all along that this is our time, that England will win the Euros, that we’ll never have a better chance to lift a trophy.
⚽ Follow ALL of the latest news and updates from Euro 2020 with our live blog
And when we do — because I am more confident than ever about beating Italy tonight — don’t think this is the end of the journey. Far from it . . . this might only be the start.
Winning the tournament would — make that will! — be great but there’s no way this is a one-off.
This lot really CAN be the golden generation. England really CAN be a major force in the Euros and World Cups for a long time.
Germany have done it in the past, there was a time when France dominated, and Spain — with the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta — as well.
Look at the number of kids in this England group and there’s no reason why this should not be their time, why it shouldn’t be the start of something massive.
The likes of Bukayo Saka, who was a surprise choice to even be in the squad, Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho — in football terms they are still babies.
Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Mason Mount, Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling… these lads will be around for ages.
There’s Reece James waiting in the wings, there’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mason Greenwood who both had to sit out the Euros.
⚽ ENGLAND vs ITALY EURO 2020 FINAL BETTING SPECIAL ⚽
The future couldn’t be brighter.
First things first, though, let’s get tonight’s final won before we start celebrating anything else. And as confident as I am, it’s not going to be a picnic.
We have the best players, for sure but, putting emotions aside, England are going to have to play better than they did against Denmark.
Italy will pass, pass, pass and try to play through us.
We’ll have more possession and they will try to hit us on the counter.
You have to respect their record. They are on a long unbeaten run and Roberto Mancini has done as good a job with them as Gareth Southgate with England.
They’ll look to open us up with quick breaks when we turn the ball over, so concentration levels can’t drop for a second.
But defensively we have been rock solid and there’s nothing that makes me think it will be any different tonight.
I can’t really see Gareth changing much to be honest, unless he brings in Foden or Sancho for Saka. But certainly nothing else.
And while Italy’s Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini are two incredible centre-backs, real warriors, our pace can definitely cause them huge problems.
Neither will want to see Sterling and Saka running the pockets and getting at them. They gave the Danish defence a nightmare and their movement can do the same against Italy.
And if it’s tight — which I fully expect — and it comes down to who’s got the strongest bench, then England win that one hands-down.
We’ve already seen how much damage Grealish can cause when he comes on against tired legs and you can imagine the same happening against Italy.
I must admit it was a really bold and brave move by Southgate to take him off again when he wanted to see it out against Denmark.
If that had gone belly-up he’d have been slaughtered, and he knew it. But if he was going to put Keiran Trippier on, Jack was the obvious one to make way.
Harry Kane was never coming off, Foden had only just come on and their defenders couldn’t get near Raheem.
Funnily enough I nearly backed Harry to be top scorer when there was all that talk about whether he should even play or not, because I knew he’d come good before long.
Now he’s only one goal behind the leading pair and it wouldn’t surprise me if he ended up as No 1 at the Euros, just like he did at the World Cup.
Being at Wembley is a massive advantage for England as well and I’ll be in the crowd cheering them on tonight. A mate has invited me and I can’t wait.
Wednesday was such a great result, a great night for the whole country.
There’s a feelgood factor everywhere you go and everyone’s talking about football for the right reasons again.
Fingers crossed they’ll be doing the same again after this — and I’m 100 per cent confident about that.
Come on England!
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
