England are among the favourites to win Euro 2024, with Gareth Southgate’s side boasting a strong recent pedigree when it comes to major tournaments. At the 2018 World Cup, the Three Lions were able to reach the semi-final stage before losing to Croatia in extra-time, while they went one better at Euro 2020 when being beaten by Italy on penalties in the final.
The Three Lions then made the quarter final stage of the 2022 World Cup before losing to eventual finalists France, although they boast many talented players and that includes Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka. The latter is unavailable for this clash through injury although captain Harry Kane boasts a strong international pedigree.
As for Italy, Luciano Spalletti will hope to guide the Azzurri through to the finals in Germany and he will be targeting a positive result at Wembley Stadium. With the exception of Tottenham pair Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie, along with Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and Aston Villa’s Nicolo Zaniolo, the rest of the squad all play for Serie A sides.
Captain Gianluigi Donnarumma was the hero at Wembley in 2021, although there is no more Leonardo Bonucci or Giorgio Chiellini, with the overall squad looking a good deal younger these days. Perhaps a lack of goals could be an issue for an Italian side who will look towards Federico Chiesa and Domenico Berardi for inspiration on that front.