England match up bad news for Mancini's band of brothers

It was such a low moment for Italian football when the national team did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup - the football they were playing was miserable and people were disaffected with the national team.

To rebound from that to a team that's got to the final of Euro 2020 and is trying to play attractive, possession football has captured the imagination of the public. It has felt timely in Italy with what happened during the coronavirus pandemic.

I was pretty bullish on this team and there were some good indicators in their performances.

First of all in European qualifying they won ten out of ten which is something they had never done before. They have also advanced to the last four of the Nations League.

I had quite a solid feeling this Italy team would be really good and I'm not shocked to see them in the final at all.

Unfortunately one of Italy's standout performers at this tournament - Leonardo Spinazzola - will not play in the final.

He is someone who has performed well in Serie A but has been a breakout player at Euro 2020 with his pace and ability to get forward from a back four but still track back.

Federico Chiesa is another who has caught the eye - he has scored two important goals against Austria and Spain - and proven what a lot of people at Juventus have started to learn about him.

Chiesa is a player for the big occasions, one of those who seems to not feel nerves in key moments.

The semi-final with Spain was a fascinating game but perhaps the first time I thought Roberto Mancini was outdone at this tournament.

The decision by Luis Enrique to start with the false nine and put pressure on the midfield three was something Mancini didn't really answer.

That made me wonder whether or not Mancini has a 'Plan B' but he has nonetheless done such a fundamentally essential job of keeping the focus all through this tournament on the collective and fostering a spirit where his players are having fun together.

He initially called up a large group of players and the spirit of inclusiveness has been important from the get-go.

Mancini has built a group of players who have started to feel like they are part of a club side rather than the national team.

Even though Italy had that semi-final with Spain when they were checked and shown they don't have any right to monopolise the ball, they tried to score a second goal even after they had the first.

The Euro 2020 final will feature two teams who are going to try to win the game rather than try not to lose it.

I don't think Italy match up great against England - Giorgio Chiellini is much less comfortable dealing with fast forwards like Raheem Sterling, who will be a problem for Italy.

The loss of Spinazzola has not been covered - Emerson doesn't have the pace or the same understanding with Lorenzo Insigne - and England have got pace in their team with Kyle Walker important in this game for that reason.

I expect we will get two teams playing ambitious football and I think England will win it.

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