Danny Murphy was at Wembley to see Italy beat Spain on penalties to book a place in the final of Euro 2020 against England.
Now they turn their attention to Sunday's all-important that could change alter the path of English football.
Here Murphy looks at what Gareth Southgate’s England men can expect, and the key duels...
Danny Murphy looks at what Gareth Southgate’s England men can expect, and the key duels
Italy set up 4-3-3, just like England. If both sides stick to their usual gameplan, it means Sunday's final could be settled by who wins their individual battles rather than a tactical battle being key.
Watching the Italy-Spain semi-final, I’m of the opinion that England are better suited to facing the Italians. The way they play is more what our players face in the Premier League every week, they pick their moments when to press high and go high tempo, and when to sit back.
The Spanish side are a possession team, technically superior, and the way they would have tried to tire England out by keeping the ball would have required an enormous amount of patience, and fitness, from Gareth Southgate’s team.
Italy are a very good side of course but England will feel more comfortable facing them, it’s a more familiar style. They will play a lot of balls over the top for their runners Federico Chiesa and Ciro Immobile to get in.
Sunday's final could be settled by who wins their individual battles rather than a tactical battle
The most important match-up on the pitch might be between two team-mates, Jorginho and Mason Mount, who have just won the Champions League together at Chelsea.
You can never rule out Southgate springing a selection surprise but it’s likely Mount will be given the job of stopping Jorginho dictating play, which Spain did really well on Tuesday night which is why they dominated the game and can consider themselves unlucky to go out.
The most important match-up on the pitch might be between Jorginho and Mason Mount
Jorginho has had wonderful season from Chelsea and is one of the cleverest footballers at the Euros. It is a big responsibility to whichever England player is entrusted to try and stop him because if he is allowed to dictate in his own style, Italy will control the game.
Spain had a plan for Dani Olmo to combat Jorginho when the Italian was deep and Pedri would look after him if he went further forward. With Koke doing a man-to-man job on Marco Verratti, Italy were nothing like as effective as they’d been earlier in the tournament.
I think Kalvin Phillips could be asked to snuff out Verratti who is a wonderful player when he gets into his stride and Mount will restrict Jorginho while retaining his own attacking play. Sometimes it’s harder for a player to be marked by someone who knows their game so well, and I bet Jorginho was praying to face Denmark in the final rather than have to come up against Mount.
The England star must stop Jorginho from dictating play for Italy during the Euro 2020 final
Elsewhere, the battle between Harry Kane and the two Italian old boys Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci is huge and how they cope when Kane drops deep to get on the ball because they want to get tight, Dani Olmo caused them problems in the semi-final with his movement.
As important is the left-back Emerson who has had to come in for Leonardo Spinazzola, arguably Italy’s
