So it has come to this. A bizarre world where I have the luxury of sitting down and watching Di Maria give Argentina the lead against Brazil in a heavyweight finale of the Copa America (forgetting the somewhat corrupt and immoral way the tournament was allowed to change host countries multiple times and still proceed in the midst of Covid...), while also contemplating the first major tournament final in my lifetime featuring the three lions.
What a week. Two contrasting but equally enthralling semi-finals laced with drama. Hard not to focus on semi-final number two, but first Italy v Spain. For the first time really in the tournament, Italy were completely controlled by a Spanish team who rolled back the years with a supreme display of passing and possession football. A decade ago, they led the way with the false nine tactical approach. Sadly, this year's version is more of a 'we don't have any kind of nine' team, and predictably (if you've watched more of Spain than their two 5 goal salvos), they fell short in applying the finishing touch. Italy meanwhile demonstrated fantastic counter attacking speed to take the 1-0 lead. Poor Morata - no sooner had the maligned striker thrown the abuse and criticism back in the faces of everyone by bagging the equaliser, he was stepping up to take one of the least confident penalties seen at the tournament which ultimately ended their time. Kudos for Morata to have the balls to take the penalty, but can't imagine this helps his future Spain prospects. Italy escape, and on balance were the better team across the tournament, so no complaints. Chiellini gets to try and hug and back slap Harry Kane before kicking him all over Wembley.
Wednesday, England played in a high profile semi-final, were up against a tough team but expected to win. They went a goal down. Jordan Pickford in looking too far ahead to the Italy final evidently downed a quadruple espresso right before kick off. Think Gazza playing in goal. But not for the first time, Southgate flipped the switch, the team calmly regained control of the game, and even Jordan started to breath. Saka - at 19 - proved worthy of selection again with a burst of pace to set up the first goal and we were back in business. From that point on, the team were immense. Grealish came on. Grealish went off. In between, Sterling fell for a 'seen those given' type penalty. Kane - put off thinking Schmeichel was being targeted by aliens with a green laser - promptly rivalled Morata's effort, but rebutted about 50 years of hard luck tournament stories to take care of the fortunate tap in rebound. Cue delirium... reaching out, touching me....
And here we are.. Euro Final eve. Blog number I don't know, but the first one where we have to ponder an English appearance in a major final. Firstly, the most reassuring point... I think the final has the two most consistently good teams in the tournament. I can't really think of too many hard luck stories - maybe Belgium looking back and regretting the intermittent fitness of KDB. But no - the two teams in the final fully deserve to be there, which is great to see.
This will be by far our toughest game, Italy have been great. I do think they will win the midfield battle. But the overarching emotion is calmness. There's no need to debate the formation or team selection - Gareth has a plan. There's no need to sweat over failure... as the boys have already sailed the heights in getting to the final. There's no need to worry about unlucky injuries... I think we have the best bench in the tournament. No, we can actually sit back and (gulp) enjoy the game and the rollercoaster ride to see if England can produce one more accomplished performance and almost unparalleled glory. I'm sure it will be a cagey game, and maybe few chances - but show me a major final with equally matched teams that is ever a 5-4 goal fest.
Of course, I shall wake up in the morning a bundle of nervous excitement of Pickford proportions. But let's believe. Let's believe the lads can do it. Let's believe Harry Maguire slips a sedative in Jordan's espresso. Let's believe in the inverse of the Russia world cup and Harry Kane finishes the tournament in world class form instead of limply. Let's believe the Yorkshire Pirlo continues to cover every blade of the Wembley turf.
And as time winds down in the Maracana, and the best player of this game I have ever seen finally gets his major tournament win, why not believe.....
In the words of the Wembley director to stadium DJ, Tony Perry, "Let 'em have it"!
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