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Paul Thomson

Italy v England: Euro 2020 final predictions and player of the tournament picks

The month-long feast of football is almost at an end and just two more teams remain in the battle for the Henri Delauney trophy.

Scotland, sadly, have long since departed but the pain and disappointment of another group stage exit still lingers.

We couldn't feel much worse, could we?

Well, for many Scots the thought of England lifting the trophy would only compound our pain - and that's a very real prospect as Gareth Southgate's men face Robert Mancini's Italy at Wembley in tonight's final.

Whoever claims the prize will make a bit of history, as Italy are looking to end a 53-year wait to get their hands on the silverware again, having won it for the first and only time in 1968, while England have never won it (you may have heard they won the World Cup, though...).

(Getty Images)

The world will be watching and there is even a Lanarkshire connection to the showpiece, with former Hamilton Accies and Clyde striker Graeme Jones on the England coaching team.

Check out the Lanarkshire Live Sport team's predictions for the big match and our picks for player of the tournament, as the curtain gets set to fall on another memorable edition of the Euros.

EUAN ROBERTSON

(Getty Images)

Italy 1 England 1 (Italy 5-4 on penalties)

The knockout stages of the Euros have been enthralling and it’s set to be a brilliant final between the best two teams in the tournament.

Historically, Italy have been synonymous with defensive stability but it’s been England that have kept five clean sheets in the tournament.

They haven’t conceded from open play as Mikael Damsgaard scored a stunning free-kick for Denmark in the semi-finals.

Gareth Southgate has an embarrassment of riches in attacking positions and he’s been criticised for leaving some talented players on the bench, but it’s worked.

They’ve been excellent defensively while Raheem Sterling has been in great form, Harry Kane has improved and Southgate is able to change the game with his attacking options off the bench.

Italy have two legendary warriors in defence in Giorgio Chellini and Leonardo Bonnuci, but it’s their midfield trio that could win them the final.

Jorginho, Marco Veratti and Nicolo Barella are outstanding technically and their ability to retain possession contrasts with England’s destructive duo of Rice and Phillips.

Leonardo Spinazzola enjoyed a brilliant tournament and his replacement at left-back, Emerson, isn’t at the same level and could be targeted by Jadon Sancho or Bukayo Saka.

Overall, it will be a fiercely-contested game but the Italian’s mentality and sheer desire to win could be the decisive factor.

ANDY McGILVRAY

Italy 3 England 1

Could the unthinkable happen?

Yes, the Euros seem to be balanced very much in England's favour this year, what with all but one of their seven games being staged at Wembley and having a much simpler passage to the final than Italy.

However, Italy have been the form team, for me, for the entire tournament.

They were written off before anybody kicked a ball and I think that took the pressure off of them, so they just went out and played their own game, which in the main has been devastatingly effective.

Harry Kane scores a penalty against Denmark (Getty Images)

That sets up a clash of two teams who are properly on form, but I suspect the Italians will have a bit too much of an edge and players who are just that little bit better.

England will give it a right good go, of course, and good luck to them (sincerely), but I reckon Italy will win this with a bit to spare.

PAUL THOMSON

Italy 1 England 1 (Italy to win on penalties)

Not the final most folk this side of the border wanted and, in truth, it's not the best two teams in the tournament contesting it - the semi between Italy and Spain was the real final, right? - but it should be an absorbing finale at Wembley.

England will have the crowd behind them, but the Italians shade it when it comes to talent and sheer bloody-mindedness.

With Chiellini orchestrating the formidable backline and Lorenzo Insigne and Nicola Barella providing the flair, the Italians will be so hard to beat. If anyone is going to keep Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane's chances to a premium, it's the Azzurri.

Harry Kane celebrates scoring the winning goal against Denmark (Getty Images)

I think the Italians will open the scoring but England will eventually, by hook or by crook, find a way to breach their resilience to force a thrilling finish.

It's going to be tight, but I feel Football's Coming Rome.

It wouldn't be a major tournament without an England penalty shootout and I think this will be the day for it - and Italy will just edge it.

PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT

ER - Kyle Walker

It’s often attacking players who win individual awards but Walker’s performances deserve recognition.

England have conceded the least amount of goals, have the most clean sheets (5), have faced the lowest number of shots on target per 90 (2.17) and have the lowest expected goals against (3.19).

AM - Giorgio Chiellini

He has displayed passion, flair - and his wind-ups have been hilarious (just don't ask Jordi Alba).

It's been an outstanding tournament for the veteran defender.

PT - Nicolo Barella

If not for injury, Spinazzola would have been my pick. But Barella has also been flawless for Mancini's men.

He netted the winner in the quarter-final against Belgium to boot and, for me, the Inter Milan midfielder has been a revelation.

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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