How England have evolved since Euro final defeat to Italy
On that fateful night in July 2021, the Azzurri lifted the European Championship having come back from an early Luke Shaw goal to win a tight, tense final on penalties.
Much has changed since that night for both teams, with the Three Lions certainly a different side in terms of tactics and personnel.
Move to a back four
Gareth Southgate used a five-man defence in the Euro 2020 Final but England have moved to a back-four.
The switch has allowed Southgate to get another attacking player into the XI but England have remained solid defensively, with two holding midfielders generally sweeping up in the middle of the park.
Bellingham’s emergence
England’s biggest evolution since the last Euros is surely the development of Jude Bellingham as the best No10 in the world. England are rapidly becoming a team built around the prodigal 20-year-old, who has no obvious weaknesses.
A midfield two of Declan Rice and either Kalvin Phillips or Jordan Henderson was too safe but with Bellingham ahead of them it is explosive.
Jude Bellingham has stepped up for England
/ Getty ImagesNew-look front three
Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling flanked Harry Kane in the Euros final but neither can get in the squad, and the front three is now transformed.
Bukayo Saka would usually start on the right but is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Southgate still has a wealth of options, however, in Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish and now James Maddison and Jarrod Bowen.
