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#3 Mason Mount vs Jorginho
In my opinion, the whole game comes down to this. At Euro 2020, no team has played like Italy from back to front, with Jorginho dominating proceedings in the center of the park with a string of phenomenal performances. He is brilliant on the half-turn and is one of Roberto Mancini's most trusted players - I sometimes get the feeling that he doesn't get the credit he deserves.
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England don't have a player like him. I'd even go as far as saying that if he was English, he'd start for us! Mason Mount should get tight with Jorginho and look to stifle him in midfield, as Mancini knows most of Italy's football goes through him. That said, if Mount manages to unsettle him, Jorginho won't be able to live with it and could surrender position in important areas for England to counter.
Italy have played some brilliant football at Euro 2020 - the goal they scored against Spain was a work of art. Gianluigi Donnarumma caught the ball inside the box and Italy had the ball in the back of the net through Federico Chiesa a few seconds after he released it. The midfield battle will be an interesting one, but the personal duel between Mount and Jorginho is an intriguing subplot, as they know each other very well due to the time they've spent together at Chelsea.
#2 Luke Shaw vs Federico Chiesa
Luke Shaw has been outstanding for England at Euro 2020, but he hasn't been tasked with marking a player as exciting as Federico Chiesa, who is lightning quick and is also blessed with good movement on and off the ball. Shaw has come up against quality attackers over the course of the tournament, but this is a different test for him.
Italy have developed a knack for finding little pockets of space between the full-backs and central defenders. If Shaw were to come up against Chiesa and get dragged out of position, Ciro Immobile would be isolated down the channel against Harry Maguire and John Stones.
Chiesa was about to get substituted before breaking the deadlock against Spain and will once again be a massive threat against England. Shaw and the rest of the English backline have conceded just once so far at Euro 2020, but they'll have to be on their toes to defend a well-coached Italian attack in the final.
#1 Ciro Immobile vs Harry Maguire and John Stones
There are several other battles across the pitch that I could've gone for, but Ciro Immobile is someone who worries me. He's a willing runner and is full of energy, so he'll look to cause Harry Maguire and John Stones a handful of problems at the back. If I'm being honest, he's a much better center forward than I thought and has shown at Euro 2020 that he will keep on going regardless of the situation.
Immobile isn't beating Kyle Walker in a foot race, so he'll look to find pockets of space down the channel. Chiesa coming up against Shaw could free up room for him and if that were to be the case, he could really come alive on the grandest stage for Italy.
I think there will be a lot of goals in this game. I know both teams have been solid defensively at Euro 2020, but there is so much pace and movement going forward, so I think we could well witness a high-scoring affair. A lot of football has been played recently, with both semifinal ties also going into extra time. Bench strength could well become a defining factor, with both sides blessed with quality players across the park who can make big contributions as substitutes.
So who'll come out on top in an intriguing tactical battle at the Wembley Stadium to win Euro 2020? Will Gareth Southgate take England to the promised land, or will Italy continue their renaissance under Roberto Mancini by being crowned European Champions? Only time will tell.
Also Read: Jim Beglin column - 5 players who have surprised everyone with their performances at Euro 2020
