Final Euro 2020: Football Is Coming Home Or Football Is Coming (to) Rome?

Italian Fans (Twitter @euro2020)

JAKARTA - When England's players woke up Thursday morning to return to their training camp in the remote countryside of St George's Park, they would still be feeling the lingering remnants of the celebration after their Euro 2020 semi-final win over Denmark at Wembley.

But while trash across the country is cleaned up after a series of parties that last until dawn, Britain will face its own bigger reality test.

Despite all that outpouring of joy, the euphoria that hummed Football's Coming Home, and the hyperbole including one pundit's call for a national holiday, England has yet to win anything.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England = EURO finalists for first time ever! 🥳#EURO2020 | #ENG pic.twitter.com/89sba7kHrb

— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 7, 2021

In fact, the only thing about coming home for the time being is England will return to Wembley for another game Sunday in the final against Italy.

"This morning everyone enjoyed it. But now we have to face one of the most experienced teams in world football in Italy, it will be more difficult than last night", said former England winger and now BBC radio analyst Chris Waddle, Friday.

Roberto Mancini's side is unbeaten in 33 matches and reached the final after winning on penalties against Spain.

Two lions 🦁🦁#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/OMrQK2ZrTg

— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 7, 2021

This is only England's second appearance in a major tournament final, but for Italy, it is the tenth major tournament final.

To pundits, former players who couldn't reach a career Euro or World Cup final, and long-suffering England fans, the joy was evident at the end of a 55-year wait.

But one of the jargons that England manager Gareth Southgate has used most often in this tournament is for his team to "make a history of their own" and not carry the burden of the past.

That approach has worked so far after England has avoided the traps of so many other campaigns, beating longtime foes Germany in the last 16 and not at all nervous even as they fell behind to Denmark and then into extra time.

Italian warriors

In the midst of the high celebrations that Wednesday, Southgate re-injected focus.

"The final has to be won. We have to regroup, prepare well, and recover because tonight was very emotionally and physically draining. Italy experienced it too. They have an extra day to recover", he said.

"Italy is a very good team, I have considered that in the last few years. They have put in a great performance, they have defenders at the back who have gone through everything", he said.

🇮🇹🆚🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🥳#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/DnuyiieJt2

— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 7, 2021

But more than the coach's cliché "take every game as it is", Southgate is aware of the full extent of emotion in this tournament.

"We have three impressive matches at the moment. We have said that we want to give memories to our nation", continued the coach.

And while it may take a little while to sink in, the lasting memories of this tournament for England are not determined by beating Germany or scoring four goals in eliminating Ukraine or beating Denmark, but the result of Sunday's final.

Italy knows all about it: they lost their last two appearances at Euro 2000 and 2012 but sandwiched between them was their success in winning the 2006 World Cup.

Every Italian fan can remember Marcello Lippi's successful line-up at the World Cup in Germany, but few will remember the player who lost in the Euro final.

🇮🇹 Italy fans watch on in Rome...#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/mYVa8yRcYJ

— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 6, 2021

The 60.000 spectators on Sunday will be as British as when this team won its only major tournament title, the 1966 World Cup. The names on the England team that won the World Cup will never be forgotten.

But, never put aside the ambitions of Gli Azzurri who don't want to lose by echoing the phrase Football's Coming (to) Rome. The Three Lions' excessive euphoria could even be a stumbling block.