One of international football’s biggest modern rivalries starts off the Euro 2024 qualifiers as England visit Italy.
A general knowledge question to start? Who are defending Euro champions? Italy!
And can you recall who they beat? England!
R
It was mayhem as the English fans nearly ended their 6 decade and more wait for a major title. But Roberto Mancini’s men were too strong and prevailed via penalties.
Now they kick off the qualification process on Thursday with Italy looking for a better start after the holders of the Euros failed to qualify for last year’s World Cup.
Italy once again came up short in their bid to appear at the World Cup after losing to North Macedonia in the playoff semi-final to watch on from home for the second time in a row.
England have a wealth of attacking options – who will start alongside Harry Kane (who needs a goal to move past Wayne Rooney as the leading all-time scorer for The Three Lions)? Will it be Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka or will Jack Grealish get the starting nod?
Marcus Rashford is out with injury alongside Mason Mount, who isn’t in the best of form with his time at Chelsea coming to an end.
Gareth Southgate has often been criticised for his defensive systems but now he has too many options in attack one feels. Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice offer a stable base to protect the back four while Jordan Henderson might get the nod over James Maddinson. The Leicester City midfielder is more attacking and could be benched with Henderson a more defensive minded player.
Italy have a tremendous record in the event; the Azzurri have won each of their last 14 qualification games and are unbeaten in 40 since going down 3-1 to France in 2006.
Italy have lost attacker Federico Chiesa, left-back Federico Dimarco and goalkeeper Ivan Provedel.
It’s hard to say who will start with a win in this contest but you’d favour the hosts. Perhaps England can eke out a draw in Naples?