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On the bill: Italy-England, a long history
Gary Lineker said after England’s defeat in the 1990 World Cup semi-finals: “Football is a game where 22 guys run after a ball, and in the end Germany wins. “ With the English success against the Mannschaft in the round of 16 of the Euro, the adage has somewhat lost its veracity. But it could apply to Italy, a selection that has not been successful at the Three Lions for fifty years.
The Transalpines waited until 1973 to win against the English in Turin (3-2), ending a series of eight games without a win. Bis repeated a few months later, with another friendly success, this time at Wembley (1-0).
The year 1980 marks their first pass in official tournament, during the Euro in Italy. Squadra Azzurra won 1-0. Ten years later, the two countries meet for the first time in the World Cup. Here again, Italy plays at home in the group stage, and wins by the smallest of margins (2-1).
In the quarter-finals of Euro 2012, the Nazionale won after a penalty shootout marked by Andrea Pirlo’s panenka. Then again at the 2014 World Cup in the group stage (2-1). In 27 confrontations against the English, the Italians lead the dance with 10 wins, 9 draws and 8 losses. Above all, the Three Lions have never beaten the Azzurri in the final phase of a major tournament.
Italy-England, Sunday 11 June, at 9 p.m., on M6 and BeIN Sports (and live on Lemonde.fr)
Euro star: Harry Maguire
If England have conceded only one goal since the start of the Euro – a free kick from the Danish Mikkel Damsgaard in the semi-finals – Harry Maguire is no stranger to it. With an ankle injury at the start of the competition, the center-back has played every game for his side since the victory over the Czech Republic on Matchday 3 of the group stage. And he stands out as a captain of the team alongside John Stones, his accomplice in central defense. What was not won in advance.
His transfer from Leicester to Manchester United in 2019 (for a fee of € 87million) has hung a heavy label of the world’s most expensive defender on his back. Since then, the native of Sheffield has found himself under fire from critics at the slightest underperformance.
Often mocked for his physique, Maguire made the front page of the tabloids a year ago following his involvement in a late night brawl in Mykonos, Greece. He had been sentenced to twenty-one months suspended prison sentence by local justice for “assault on state officials”, “bodily harm”, “verbal insults” and “attempted corruption”.
Meanwhile: heat on the Italian delegation
A journalist and two technicians from the transalpine public television, the RAI, who followed the Nazionale to the Euro, tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, reports the local press. As a result, the Italian federation has decided to take precautions by closing the doors of its training center in Coverciano (Florence, Tuscany). The press conference scheduled for Friday was also canceled and ultimately took place via videoconference. The Italian delegation is flying to London this Saturday morning.
“ The Euro burst across Europe? I don’t think we’ll do it again ”
In an interview with BBC Sport, the president of UEFA (the governing body of European football) took stock of this particular European Championship, which was held in eleven European cities. Aleksander Ceferin admits that this format was not the most convenient for the movement of players and supporters, recalling that it was the idea of Michel Platini, one of his predecessors. “It’s a format that was decided before my arrival [en poste] (…) and I don’t think we’ll do it again. (…) It’s not fair to the fans, who had to be in Rome one day and Baku the following days ”, agrees the Slovenian.
A corner of blue sky: Louis Van Gaal’s tackle
Out of the race since June 28 and the defeat in the eighth against Switzerland, the France team continues to be talked about. In an interview with The team published on July 9, the former Dutch coach Louis Van Gaal – tipped for a possible return to the head of the Netherlands – did not mince his words on the failure of the Blues: ” Look at Croatia and Switzerland. They were led 1-3 and they fought to the end. That’s what I like. The best team should always win, not the best individuals. (…) This also applies to France or Portugal: for me they are not teams but an addition of individuals. “
While the number of Covid-19 cases is on the rise in Great Britain, 60,000 people are expected in the stands at Wembley Stadium on Sunday evening for the Euro final. By mutual agreement between the British authorities and the Italian football federation, 1,000 supporters from Italy were authorized this week to attend the final in a very strict logistical framework.
At the microphone of Times Radio, the British Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, recalls that this quota is an exception and that Italian nationals are not allowed to travel to London in view of the health restrictions in force.
