Friday Poll: Italy or England?

We’re less than 24 hours from the final of Euro 2020(ish). Italy have a chance to win their first continental championship since 1968, when it was a 4-team tournament. Following a scoreless draw, the Azzurri edged past the Soviet Union on a coin flip (1960s UEFA was something else) and, following a 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia, finally won on the replay behind goals from Gigi Riva and Pietro Anastasi, with Fiorentina’s own Giancarlo di Sisti helping hold down the midfield.

The closest England’s ever come to winning the Euros was also 1968, when they fell to Yugoslavia a hard-fought first leg before knocking off the USSR in the third-place game behind goals from Bobby Charlton and Geoff Hurst, although the reigning world champions doubtless felt disappointed to lose their chance to become the first-ever team to simultaneously hold the Jules Rimet and Henri Delaunay trophies.

A lot’s changed in the half century since, of course. Italy have stacked up silverware and England, well, haven’t. Of course, history doesn’t have any impact on this game, and its the English who come in as slight favorites in the betting houses. If nothing else, it should be a fascinating matchup, pitting Roberto Mancini’s fluid attack against Gareth Southgate’s maniacal control.

Here’s your weekend thread. Stay loose.