The most awaited appointment is about to begin.
It is the dream of all sportsmen, it is the dream of two peoples like the English and the Italians, who stopped to watch their team reach a historic final that will rekindle the passion after so many years of defeats and disappointments.
Italy, as always, has taken refuge in superstition by pushing the President of the Italian Republic to participate in this magnificent spectacle.
It's been a memorable journey to the Euro 2020 final for Italy, who now take on England
History recalls that when Sandro Pertini followed the national team in 1982 and when Giorgio Napolitano followed Italy to Germany in 2006, the Azzurri lifted the World Cup to the sky: one more reason to want and obtain Sergio Mattarella's presence at Wembley this Sunday.
According to newspaper 'Repubblica' the state flight has already been booked and Mattarella is ready to sing the anthem of Mameli in the stands with many millions of Italians who will be seated on the sofa in front of the television.
The decision was confirmed after the verification of some health issues given the spread of the Delta variant in the United Kingdom, which had put the elderly Sicilian President's trip at risk.
Italian fans are hoping their team can win the Euros for the second time - the last was in 1968
Former president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, present at the final of the European Championships in France on July 2, 2000, touched the most delicate task.
Losing the match against David Trezeguet's team, he decided to reach the locker rooms of the Rotterdam stadium to console the players and alleviate the disappointment of defeat and then, once back in Italy, appoint them Knights of the Republic.
STRENGTH OF ITALY: KING KONG CHIELLINI AND DONNARUMMA
The victory against Spain did not leave the feeling that Italy was lucky but it reinforced the belief that the team is capable of suffering and winning despite the many difficulties.
Today, the belief in Italy is that the national team can beat the favourites of this competition with a spirit of adaptation and with the great strength of the defence.
Leonardo Bonucci defined Italy as 'a group of resilient players', capable of resisting everyone without ever losing strength and clarity.
Giorgio Chiellini gets to grips with Spain midfielder Sergio Busquets in the semi-final
Italy has a very strong formation, especially in defence: Gianluigi Donnarumma is undoubtedly the best goalkeeper in the world right now and Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Giorgio Chiellini, Bonucci and Emerson Palmieri are four difficult rocks to overcome.
England will find in their way the worst possible opponent in a big match and will have to fight against a very resistant wall that is difficult to break through even with the strength of Harry Kane.
If Italian defensive pivot Chiellini manages to block Kane, Italy will have a 51 per cent chance of winning the game before the end of the regular 90 minutes.
The fear that the big match could continue into extra time exists and would be a risk especially for Italy considering the fatigue accumulated by the players in this period, against Austria and Spain, under the scorching heat in which all the cities of Europe have experienced.
Chiellini is a true leader in the Italian team but there are concerns over his fitness levels
The general physical condition is barely sufficient and the fear of a physical collapse exists as evidenced by the 'light' workouts to which the team has undergone in recent days.
The defensive performance of the Azzurri is a guarantee of success during the big international matches and England will have to use a lot of energy to score.
Chiellini in Italy is revered as a pagan God and all his team-mates know that his physical preparation these days will be essential to guarantee the victory of Euro 2020.
The greatest fear of the medical staff of the national team is that Chiellini may suffer fatigue in the calf just before the big match or during the big match: his muscle fragility is one of the main reasons for Mancini's sleepless nights - he hopes his captain is in excellent physical shape to counter Kane.
Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma makes the crucial penalty save against Spain in the semi
The Tottenham striker dreams of winning by scoring a goal, he wants to triumph with his national team by rightfully entering the history of England and to do so he must be able to win the close duel with 'King Kong' Chiellini.
Among the certainties of Italy there is also Donnarumma. The PSG goalkeeper was instrumental in Italy also on penalties as well as in the 120 minutes against Spain.
A guarantee of performance, an incredible physical and psychological strength. An increasingly reliable goalkeeper also internationally who will have the task of hypnotising Kane and Sterling.
ITALY'S WEAK POINTS
The weak point of Italy is the lack of a real great centre-forward who can be considered dangerous in front of John Stones and Harry Maguire.
Ciro Immobile has so far been heavily criticised and has been missing in two very important matches, against Spain and against Belgium.
He was the worst on the field and suffered from stress the tension of these weeks showing a cold sore.
Ciro Immobile has suffered heavy criticism for his performances in the Italian forward line
In this European Championship Immobile was a real disappointment and perhaps Andrea Belotti deserves a special occasion in the final but in Roberto Mancini's mind there is the desire to motivate Immobile in order to transform him into the hero of Wembley.
During the press conference after the victory against Belgium Roberto Mancini used prophetic words: 'Immobile does not have to worry, usually the players who are criticised a lot then are the ones who decide the tournament'.
ITALY HAS NIGHTMARES FOR KANE AND STERLING
The strength of England is in the defensive line and for this there will be a great confrontation between Bonucci and Chiellini and the Maguire/Stones tandem.
A duel between the Italian experience and the strength of the young English defenders, both Under 30.
In Italy there is a lot of fear and respect also towards Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling: they are the two most feared forwards by the Italian defence.
There are fears in Italy that Raheem Sterling (left) and Harry Kane will cause them problems
Bonucci and Chiellini will have to live the perfect match to neutralise the two centre-forwards of the English national team.
The captain of the national team is undergoing a particular physical preparation to reach 100 per cent of his physical abilities in view of Sunday's big match against England.
He will mainly deal with Harry Kane; it will be a challenge between two players with the same physique who will be able to finally try their hand at a great international competition with the jersey of their national teams after having experienced numerous Champions League matches in the challenges between Juventus and Tottenham.
Leonardo Bonucci will be the man tasked with keeping England's attackers at bay in the final
Bonucci will be Giorgio Chiellini's main ally in the defensive grip that will have the task of caging Kane and it will be right-back Di Lorenzo who will have to watch out for Sterling.
The Manchester City striker will start several times from the right and then concentrate on shooting in the penalty area.
SOUTHGATE AS MANCINI: TWINS OF DIFFERENT MOTHERS WITH THE SAME HUMAN QUALITIES BUT THERE IS THE PICKFORD PROBLEM
Gareth Southgate is highly regarded in Italy for his elegance and his British style.
As stated exclusively for Sportsmail by Fabio Capello, the two coaches are very similar for their ability to motivate the group
