Euro 2020 final will come down to a moment of individual brilliance

Soccer may be a team sport, but it’s the ability of individual stars that makes the difference. The Euro final could come down to a moment of brilliance. 

Major finals in soccer can often be dull affairs. The reasons are many. Defensive tactics, a fear of losing and great players canceling themselves out are just a few.

The Euro 2020 final that will be played Sunday between England and Italy has all the qualities of a great game. A crowd of 66,000 (not the entire capacity of 90,000 because of pandemic restrictions) will be inside Wembley Stadium in London and millions more around the world watching on TV are expecting just that.

These Euros have been exceptionally dramatic. A final worthy of that would be what everyone wants.

Another common thread of a high-stakes championship game is the ability of one player to rise to the occasion and resolve the match. Italy, known for its teamwork, has many players who can do just that. Some of the players the Azzurri can rely on are midfielder Jorginho and striker Federico Chiesa.

Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Jorginho all capable of deciding Euro 2020 final

Jorginho scored the winning penalty kick in the semifinals against Spain, resolved in a shootout after the game had ended 1-1. Chiesa, for his part, had put Italy ahead. He had started the tournament on the bench but became a starter after tallying the winning goal in a 2-1 extra-time victory against Austria in the Round of 16.

England, meanwhile, also has a talent-laden lineup, but one player stands out most. Striker and team captain Harry Kane hopes to go down in English history and lift the trophy before a home crowd. The last time that happened was at the 1966 World Cup, the only major championship ever won by the Three Lions.

“It’ll be a tough game. Italy are a great side. They’ve got a great history of winning major tournaments as well,” Kane said in an interview posted Saturday on UEFA.com. “They’ve got great experience in the team, they’ve got great individuals, but collectively they have a real togetherness. It’s going to be a tough battle, but you know we’ve got more than enough in our team to win.”

Kane was the one who resolved the semifinal against Denmark. After he missed a penalty kick in extra time, Kane was able to score off his own rebound. In the process of redemption, Kane lead his team to the final. Another England striker to keep an eye on is Raheem Sterling. He has a knack for goals, but Italy’s backline is always tough to beat.

“England are clearly not just Kane because they have amazing players on both wings,” Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini told reporters, “and their substitutes could all be in the starting 11 of a team that wins this competition.”

As in any final, the goalkeepers will be key. Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma is the latest in a long line of Italian shot-stoppers who have catapulted to international fame. He hopes to join the likes of Dino Zoff and Gianluigi Buffon to have won a title for Italy. Zoff and Buffon won the World Cup in 1982 and 2006, respectively.

Donnarumma’s opposite number, Jordan Pickford, has been one of the best for England at this European Championship. He conceded just one goal (against Denmark in the semis) after putting together five consecutive shootouts. Pickford has the numbers more than Donnarumma and that’s something England can rally around.

Then again, the match could end in a draw and in need of penalty kicks to determine the winner. In that case, the goalkeepers will be key. Only one player can make the big save or score the winning kick in the shootout. It’s no surprise that the whole thing may come down to a piece of individual brilliance.