ENGLAND take on Italy in the Euro 2020 final after sneaking past Denmark 2-1 in extra-time on Wednesday night.
But if history is anything to go by, the Three Lions will need a miracle to finally break their 55-year major tournament drought.
Gareth Southgate’s squad have won all but one of their games this summer – the 0-0 group stage draw against Scotland.
England have beaten Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Ukraine and Denmark to reach the final.
But they take on a well-drilled Italy squad who have won EVERY match this tournament – including their penalty shootout win over Spain in the semi-final.
And despite England having home advantage, the Italians could be considered favourites to lift the trophy come Sunday evening.
After all, their record against the Three Lions is spectacular – particularly in major tournament showdowns.
In fact, England have won just EIGHT of their 27 meetings with Italy and are yet to record a victory in World Cup of European Championship games.
Italy have won 11 times against the Three Lions, most-recently in the 2-1 group stage win at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
In major tournaments, England have won none, drawn won and lost THREE of their four meetings.
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Marco Tardelli scored the only goal to decide the 1980 European Championships eliminator which saw Ron Greenwood’s England knocked out of their first major finals in ten years.
While some would question how competitive the next clash in a major tournament was, England then lost 2-1 to Italy at the 1990 World Cup third-placed play-off.
A rare mistake by veteran keeper Peter Shilton, in his 125th and final game for his country, allowed Roberto Baggio to score.
England’s new star David Platt did equalise but Toto Schillachi scored his sixth goal of the tournament to snatch a 2-1 win for the hosts.
It would be another 22 years before the The Three Lions also lost again to the Azzurri in a major tournament, this time in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals on penalties.
Ashley Cole and Ashley Young were the unfortunate villains this time as England came undone in a shootout again.
And the most recent big loss was that 2-1 defeat in Brazil in 2014, when two Mario Balotelli strikes paved the way for a disastrous campaign that saw England crash out in the group stage.
The two nations have shared the spoils in their last two meetings – both friendlies, in 2015 and 2018.
England last beat the 2006 World Cup winners in August 2012 – less than two months after their Euros heartbreak – in a 2-1 friendly win.
Nearly nine years on, Southgate will hope another tactical masterclass can lead England to their most famous win since 1966.
And all of those previous defeats will immediately be forgotten…
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
