New Delhi: The final of UEFA EURO 2020 at Wembley brings together Italy, seeking to add to their sole European title after 53 years, and England, who are aiming to be crowned European champions for the first time.
Italy have twice lost in the final since triumphing in Rome in 1968, while England have made it through a EURO semi-final for the first time after losing in the last four in 1968 in Italy and as hosts in 1996.
Both sides needed extra time to win their UEFA EURO 2020 semi-finals, which were also played at Wembley. Italy eventually saw off three-time winners Spain on penalties after a 1-1 draw, while England edged out Denmark 2-1 after extra time.
Only three teams have ever won the UEFA European Championship on home soil i.e Spain (1964), Italy (1968) and France (1984). Portugal (2004) and France (2016) both reached the final only to lose.
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 27
England wins: 8
Draws: 8
Italy wins: 11
Previous meetings
Italy vs England
• The teams have faced each other 27 times, the Azzurri winning 11 to England’s eight, with eight draws.
• Italy failed to win any of the sides’ first eight meetings; England have managed a solitary win in the last seven.
• England suffered tournament-ending losses in both the teams’ previous EURO encounters. Marco Tardelli’s late goal earned the Azzurri hosts a 1-0 win in the 1980 group stage while Italy prevailed on penalties (remember Andrea Pirlo’s Panenka!) in the 2012 quarter-finals.
• Italy have never lost to England at a major finals, with 2-1 FIFA World Cup victories in 1990 (third-place play-off) and 2014 (group stage) on top of those EURO triumphs.
Form guide (most recent first)
Italy: DWWWWW
England: WWWWDW