England face Italy in epic Euro final
England and Italy are counting down to tonight's Euro 2020 final (Monday 1:00am Bangladesh Standard Time), with Gareth Southgate's men seeking to end a 55-year trophy drought but the Italians aiming to spoil the Wembley party.
While Europe might be waiting for England against Italy in the Euro 2020 final, there was an even bigger match to look forward to for football fanatics in the country as an older rivalry between two more successful teams -- Brazil and Argentina -- had already taken on each other at the Copa America final in the morning.
Shifting focus back to Euro, sporting immortality beckons for England captain Harry Kane and his team-mates, who are desperate to etch their names in the record books by winning just the second major trophy in the nation's history.
Wembley, which was also the venue for England's 1966 World Cup triumph, will host around 65,000 fans for the game despite coronavirus restrictions still in place.
England began the tournament as one of several contenders to lift the trophy and have taken advantage of playing all but one of their matches at home.
Southgate's men will be willed on by the vast majority of a crowd that created a crackling atmosphere for England's second-round match against Germany and the semi-final against Denmark.
Standing in England's way are a battle-hardened Italy side who have restored the nation's pride after failing even to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
England have never beaten Italy at a major tournament, although meetings between the nations have been few and far between.
Italy triumphed in a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 in Ukraine and won 2-1 when they met in the group stage of the 2014 World Cup, although both sides ended up being eliminated in the first round.
Both teams have been transformed since then.
The Azzurri have lit up Euro 2020 ever since beating Turkey 3-0 in the opening game a month ago.
They are on a national record 33-match unbeaten run under coach Roberto Mancini, who has spent time in England both as a player and as a manager.
Italy had the backing of around 11,000 British-based fans at the semi-final and their supporters will once again be there for the final.
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