Euro 2024: Final Re-Run Set to Create more Wembley Drama

England vs Italy

It’s more than two years since the European Champions were crowned at Wembley.

On a night gripped with emotion, tension and drama, and one which went the full distance, Italy broke English hearts at a raucous Wembley.

Now they meet again at the same venue on Tuesday with a place at the next European Championship at stake.

No wonder Euro 2024 qualifying highlights are expected.

Talking Points

Since that night in July 2021, there’s been quite a sea change – for the Azzurri at least.

Amazingly, they failed to qualify for last year’s World Cup and, just two months ago, manager Roberto Mancini caused a shock when he quit as international team boss.

Napoli’s title-winning coach, Luciano Spalletti, was supposedly taking a 12-month sabbatical from the game but couldn’t resist the call and has now overseen two wins and a draw.

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The latest came on Saturday night as the Italians cruised past the minnows of Malta to keep alive their European Championship qualifying hopes and their bid to topple England and win Group C.

Giacoma Bonaventura scored his first international goal for the dominant hosts, before Domenico Berardi struck twice.

Davide Frattesi then tucked an effort inside the post for the fourth in injury time.

That moved Italy level on 10 points with third-placed Ukraine, three behind group leaders England with three games each remaining.

Victory for England on Tuesday will see the Three Lions win the group, although even defeat for Italy doesn’t spell the end of their hopes.

The top two sides go directly into the tournament in Germany, while if Italy finish outside those places, they are at least guaranteed a play-off thanks to winning their Nations League group.

If Italy win with a two-goal cushion at Wembley, they will have a superior head-to-head record with England.

A victory by one clear goal would put them completely level with England.

As you can see, it’s all to play for in London.

History

Italy are now preparing for their upcoming Euro 2024 match against England — Italy celebrate after winning the Euro 2020

The teams have faced each other 30 times, the Azzurri winning 13 to England’s eight, with nine draws.

Italy failed to win any of their first eight meetings; England have managed just two victories in the last 11.

England have actually suffered tournament-ending losses in all three of their encounters in European Championships. As well as the 2021 final, Marco Tardelli’s late goal earned the Azzurri a 1-0 win in the 1980 group stage, while Italy prevailed on penalties (remember Andrea Pirlo’s Panenka!) in the quarter-finals of Euro 2012.

Italy have never lost to England at a major finals with 2-1 World Cup victories in 1990 (third-place play-off) and 2014 (group stage) on top of those Euro triumphs.

Their most recent meeting in March was a memorable one for Gareth Southgate’s side.,

Declan Rice opened the scoring from close range 13 minutes in after captain Harry Kane’s shot was blocked.

There was a feeling that that could be Kane’s night as he chased the goal he needed to become his country’s all-time record scorer and so it proved a minute before the break.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo blocked the ball with his hand and up stepped Kane to write his name into the history books when he beat Gianluigi Donnarumma from the penalty spot.

It was the Spurs man’s 54th international goal, overtaking previous record holder Wayne Rooney, and it was fitting that such a special striker claimed the winner as England opened their qualifying campaign with a first victory in Italy since 1961.

Italy lacked the required quality against more experienced opponent, even though debutant Mateo Retegui reduced the arrears just 11 minutes after the restart and England held on for a 2-1 victory.