Euro 2020: England against Italy... Coming home or going Rome?

England are in the Euro 2020 final to play Italy, is it coming home or going to Rome? (Photo credit: UEFA.com)

The beers are probably free today and could extend till whenever if indeed Harry Kane gets to raise aloft the coveted trophy that has proven elusive for decades, but they will have to subdue the emperors in shining armor at Wembley, before then, they will celebrate.

England reached the final of the Euro 2020 championship by the skin of their teeth and will negotiate Italy for the big one at Wembley on Sunday, will they finally emerge from the shadows of disappointments that has haunted them for so long or sink to despair before their own?

Gareth Southgate is defying gravity, jumping and thumping his fists into the bare face of the tensed air at the capital, the stake is higher than ever now and in every language you understand, you can only be happy for them but the question is: is it coming home or going to Rome?

Italy have been intimidating as well, gritty when need be and entertaining through a few of their gladiators and like father like son, Federico Chiesa’s name can be inserted anywhere here and you won’t be making a mistake.

The trio of Wales, Turkey and Switzerland fell by the swords of Lorenzo Insigne and Co, Austria labored in vain eventually fell apart after extra time, Belgium had the clout, the name and the firepower but they still bowed to the emperors, and then Spain flattered to deceive but Morata eventually happened.

For the 3Lions, it wasn’t as pretty as the Queen in the group stage, two boring 1-0 wins sandwiched a goalless draw against Scotland, they rolled back the years to finally rise above the German machines, put four past the hapless Ukrainians and then unleashed Bukayo Saka on the Danes… and right into the final.

Italy against England is upon us, Ciro Immobile upfront and maybe at some points supported or replaced by Andrea Bellotti and on the flip side, Harry Kane marshalled by the sterling Raheem Sterling and maybe the Arsenal youngster or the new lad at Old Trafford.

History is evenly balanced between the two but Italy’s 2-1 win at the 2014 World Cup was the last time a winner emerged between the two, the last two games were friendlies and they both ended in a 1-1 draw, England won 2-1 in a friendly sometime in 2012 but their last Euro meet up was a goalless draw.

We wait for the game on Sunday, until then we salivate, hope and relish the opportunity to see the Kings of the Queen against the warriors from the Roman empire in shining armor…