EURO 2020 - The Final - Italy v England Prediction

2/1 

Bit on the high side 

England will likely be winning another tournament in our lifetime anyway, its unrealistic to think otherwise given its once every two years.  I'm 34, if I'm lucky to live to a very old age that's potentially another 30 tournaments.

Personally I'd prefer them to win the euros over the World Cup, the euros are a regional tournament after all, previously won by the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Netherlands, Denmark, Greece and Portugal.  If England win it they'll be the 11th different winner in 16 tournaments.

I don't think this will be as bad as people think.  It will be awful for the first year or so right enough, but the World Cup is coming round in 16 months and the English press wont be settling for a one off euros victory, they'll want total domination, and if they don't make at least to the final in either in 2022 or 2024, knives will be out.

A lot of people used to say this about their 2003 Rugby World Cup win, or Murray winning Wimbledon, 2012 Olympics, 2005 Ashes/2019 Cricket World Cup, but we've lived with all those.

having said that I really think Italy can win this, much more upbeat about this than I was for Germany, Ukraine, or Denmark, a lot of people here were much optimistic about those games than I was.

I fancy Italy to take it. Won’t bother me if England do it but would rather Italy do it.  Even if it’s just for the sweet Caroline nonsense.  

Have a couple of sound English mates and wouldn’t begrudge them the win to be honest. 

 

The concern I would have is that once they get a tournament win under their belts the monkey will be off the back and total domination, considering the players they have, would potentially be on the table. As I've said before even this team, through to the final and getting lauded from all angles by the UK media, have not looked like they've actually enjoyed any of the games and are visibly straining under the pressure. That first tournament win could be a real game changer for them in terms of mentality and it's a big enough worry when you consider the players they have coming through at the moment.

 

Having said all that we've been pretty spoiled over the last few decades with their consistent underachievement/bottling so this is probably due at this stage.