Italy’s dangermen who pose the biggest threats to football coming home

Italy’s dangermen who pose the biggest threats to football coming home

Italy have impressed throughout Euro 2020 (Picture: Getty Images)

England will be roared on by the Wembley crowd on Sunday as they look to lift their first major trophy since 1966 and bring football home, but standing in their way is an extremely capable Italian side fully equipped to spoil the party.

Italy have been, for many people, the most impressive team of the tournament so far, breezing through the group stage and picking up some notable scalps en route to the final.

Having ousted Belgium and Spain they will be confident of upsetting their hosts and winning the European Championship for a second time.

The Italians are in London to slay the Three Lions and here are the men most likely to do just that…

Federico Chiesa

Federico Chiesa has played his way into Italy’s starting XI over the tournament (Picture: Getty Images)

The Juventus winger has only started three of Italy’s six games but he has looked superb at times and has scored two crucial goals for his country.

Chiesa opened the scoring against Austria in the last 16 and against Spain in the semis, showcasing his versatility as the two goals saw him come in from opposite wings and score with different feet.

He has only ever scored three goals for Italy, but has found his shooting boots in this tournament and will have to be watched closely as he drifts across the front three.

Jorginho

Jorginho is the chief string-puller in Italy’s midfield (Picture: Getty Images)

Premier League fans will know all about Jorginho, having racked up 141 appearances for Chelsea in just three seasons at Stamford Bridge.

He caught the eye with his trademark hopping penalty, which won the match against Spain, but it his command of the midfield that England should be worried about.

The Spaniards managed to keep Jorginho quiet, pressing intensely and leaving a man on him throughout the game, and that was a large part of why they were the better side over the 120 minutes.

Southgate may ask Mason Mount to do that job on his Chelsea teammate, or Kalvin Phillips could be tasked with staying close to the 29-year-old, either way, someone needs to try and disrupt the rhythm of the passing machine.

Emerson Palmieri

Emerson Palmieri could be an unlikely thorn in England’s side (Picture: Getty Images)

The man who can barely get a game at Chelsea last season will be looking to prove his worth against England and will offer a threat down Italy’s left flank.

Emerson has come into the side due to the serious injury Leonardo Spinazzola suffered against Belgium in the quarter-finals and had big boots to fill after the Roma man’s superb form this tournament.

In the semi-final against Spain, Italy were clearly deploying him as they did Spinazzola, and Emerson was an attacking weapon from left-back.

If England play with a right winger then they will have to be prepared to do some serious tracking back, if Southgate resorts to wing-backs, Kieran Trippier will likely be tasked with dealing with the Chelsea man.

Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci

Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are still going strong at the back for Italy (Picture: Getty Images)

It seems impossible to have one without the other, so the two rocks at the back for Italy are being lumped in together here.

With 219 caps between them, the centre-backs have more experience than a lot of international teams combined and will be using every ounce of it to try and keep Harry Kane quiet.

The England captain slipped through the German defences but the Italian veterans will be a tougher task and it will take some high quality movement to out-fox them.

They will also need to be watched closely at corners, where they pose an offensive threat in the air.

Lorenzo Insigne

Lorenzo Insigne will be a serious danger from the left wing (Picture: Getty Images)

The Napoli forward had a fine season domestically, scoring 19 Serie A goals in 35 games and he has looked dangerous at Euro 2020, scoring twice on Italy’s run to the final.

Insigne has something of a trademark move as he cuts in from the left and curls in a shot to the far corner with his right foot, with his goals against Belgium and Turkey coming in that fashion.

It will likely be Kyle Walker who is tasked with keeping England from falling into that particular trap and the right-back will need to keep Insigne on his left foot, if he can.

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