GARETH SOUTHGATE has urged England to forget the past throughout this tournament — and he would do well to keep up that message for the final.
Because if history counts for anything, Southgate’s young Three Lions are truly up against it when they meet Roberto Mancini’s resurgent Italy.
Follow ALL of the latest news and updates from Euro 2020 with our live blog
The country that brought us so many memories from Italia 90 — including the iconic Nessun Dorma — have been in NINE finals at major tournaments, compared to just one for our boys in 1966.
From winning the 1934 World Cup as hosts to Marco Tardelli’s wonderful, iconic celebration when he scored against West Germany in 1982 — all the way through to European Championship agony against Spain in 2012 — the Italians have seen it all.
Centre-back Leonardo Bonucci played in that 4-0 final defeat to the Spanish and will be looking to pick up his first winner’s medal at the age of 34.
Here, TOM BARCLAY looks back on all those clashes, in which Italy have a worryingly impressive record.
But let’s all hope we’re singing Sweet Caroline and Three Lions on Sunday night — and not listening to Luciano Pavarotti’s emotional aria that was played before the opening game of the tournament in Rome.
WORLD CUP FINAL 1934
Italy 2 Czechoslovakia 1 (AET)
HOSTS Italy made the most of home advantage as they went all the way in this 16-team, straight knockout World Cup.
They battered the USA 7-1 in the first round, came through a bruising replay with Spain in the quarter-finals and edged Austria out of the semis.
Legendary manager Vittorio Pozzo saw his side come from behind to beat Czechoslovakia in the final, thanks to an extra-time strike from future Azzurri boss Angelo Schiavio.
The triumph was marred by accusations of corrupt referring though, with fascist dictator Benito Mussolini alleged to have met with officials prior to his nation’s games.
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED
WORLD CUP FINAL 1938
Italy 4 Hungary 2
BOSS Pozzo successfully defended his 1934 title in the last major football tournament before the Second World War broke out.
Austria qualified but then withdrew due to the country’s annexation with Nazi Germany while Spain were not involved due to the Spanish Civil War.
After victories over Norway and hosts France, Italy won the first of what would prove to be many memorable clashes against Brazil, who had cockily rested star man Leonidas, certain they would make the final.
But Pozzo, who had studied in Manchester around the turn of the century, masterminded a 2-1 victory before beating Hungary in the Paris-based final — to become the first boss to win two World Cup crowns.
EURO CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL 1968
Italy 1 Yugoslavia 1 (AET). Replay: Italy 2 Yugoslavia 0
THIS was only the third European Championship finals ever and it comprised just FOUR teams.
Hosts Italy, the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and reigning World Cup champions England competed across three host cities.
The Soviets were brutally knocked out by Ferruccio Valcareggi’s Azzurri on a COIN TOSS following a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes.
In the final against Three Lions-slayers Yugoslavia, it was also a draw after extra-time.
But this time the match was replayed.
It was all over in half an hour, though, as early goals from Luigi Riva and Pietro Anastasi sealed victory in Rome.
WORLD CUP FINAL 1970
Brazil 4 Italy 1
POSSIBLY the greatest World Cup goal of all time was scored in the final of this tournament — and Italy were heavily involved.
Sadly for the Azzurri, it came against them as Carlos Alberto finished off the ultimate team move to seal a thumping victory for Brazil.
Similar to Gareth Southgate’s England this summer, Italy got through their group pragmatically, scoring just once but not conceding at all.
Their knockout games were the polar opposite, though, as they banged in four against hosts Mexico and West Germany in the quarter and semi-finals.
But Brazil did the same to them in the final at the Azteca — with Pele, Gerson and Jairzinho also netting in front of 107,000 fans.
WORLD CUP FINAL 1982
Italy 3 W Germany 1
MARCO TARDELLI claimed his life flashed before him after scoring the goal of his life.
And that is easy to believe when you see the image of the wide-eyed midfielder experiencing a moment of true football ecstasy following his strike against West Germany in the final.
That iconic picture has become synonymous not only with Italian success, but also with the pure joy a World Cup can bring.
As for their route to glory, Enzo Bearzot’s side were lucky to get out of their group as they drew all three matches.
But they went on to beat Argentina, Brazil, Poland and the Germans, thanks to Paolo Rossi’s goals.
WORLD CUP FINAL 1994
Brazil 0 Italy 0 (AET, Brazil win 3-2 on pens)
IF Tardelli’s goal celebration in 1982 epitomised the natural high that football can deliver, then Roberto Baggio ballooning his penalty in the 1994 final shows how low it can leave you, too.
The pony-tailed Italian had been sensational throughout the Stateside tournament and did not deserve to be the fall guy.
Azzurri talisman Baggio scored five goals in the knockout stages — helping to see off Nigeria, Spain and Bulgaria.
But the forward could not hit the target from 12 yards when it mattered most against Brazil in the final for what remains many football fans’ most memorable tournament shootout.
EURO CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL 2000
France 2 Italy 1
ITALY’S final heartbreak at the turn of the millennium is the kind of loss that many supporters would struggle to ever get over.
Leading 1-0 thanks to Marco Delvecchio, the Azzurri snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when Sylvain Wiltord struck in the fourth minute of added time.
They barely had a moment to compose themselves before David Trezeguet — soon to join Juventus — powered in a superb volley to nick it for France with an extra-time golden goal.
Just imagine how we English fans would still be torturing ourselves if that happened to us.
Presumably, the blow is softened when you have already won the World Cup on four occasions.
WORLD CUP FINAL 2006
Italy 1 France 1 (AET, Italy win 5-3 on pens)
THE Azzurri finally had their revenge over France six years after Euro 2000 — and on the greatest stage of all.
Having beaten Jurgen Klinsmann’s Germany in a classic semi, it was Les Bleus and the soon-to-be-retired Zinedine Zidane in the final.
Zizou marked his swansong in spectacular style by netting a Panenka penalty — and then nutting fellow goalscorer Marco Materazzi in extra-time.
The Real Madrid superstar was sent off for his moment of madness and the match went to a shootout.
French hitman Trezeguet crucially missed his effort before Fabio Grosso kept his cool to fire home the winning spot-kick.
EURO CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL 2012
Spain 4 Italy 0
REMEMBER when loose cannon Mario Balotelli was one of the hottest prospects in world football?
Mr ‘Why Always Me’ looked like he might finally realise his undoubted potential when he struck both goals in a semi-final win against Germany.
In truth, Cesare Prandelli did not have an exceptional side at his disposal — which was proven when they were battered 4-0 by Spain’s tiki-taka technicians in the final.
But they did have magical playmaker Andrea Pirlo on top of his game and enough of that Catenaccio, defend-all-costs spirit, to inflict yet another penalty shootout defeat on our boys on the way.
Let’s just hope that is not how it ends on Sunday.
