Roberto Mancini and Gareth Southgate have been losers while strengthening their national team. The Euro 2020 final will be penance for both of them. Who will be the champion?
Italy first qualified for the final after getting rid of Spain at Wembley, Wednesday (7/7/2021) early morning WIB. Italy won on penalties 4-2 after a 1-1 draw for 120 minutes.
The day after, England followed through with a 2-1 win over Denmark through extra time. This is the dream final that many football fans around the world have been waiting for.
Moreover, this final match will be redemption for the coaches from each, Mancini and Southgate. Both coaches did have a bad past with their respective national teams.
Mancini although fairly successful so far with Italy, but he failed to present a title for his country. During his career as a player, Mancini always ran aground in that round, namely at the 1988 European Cup and 1980 World Cup.
Mancini, who was an Italian striker in his time, failed at the 1988 European Cup after losing 0-2 to the Soviet Union. Mancini at that time became a striker duo with his current assistant Gianluca Vialli.
Two years later at the World Cup held in Italy, Mancini stuck in the top four again after losing to Argentina on penalties 3-4, after a 1-1 draw.
Roberto Mnacini failed to reach the Euro final with Italy Photo: AP/Matt Dunham |
Meanwhile, Southgate even felt it as a player and coach of the England national team. Southgate was behind England’s defeat to Germany on penalties in the semifinals of Euro 1996.
At that time, Southgate’s failed kick made England fail to advance to the final. Southgate then had the same fate again when he coached England at the 2018 World Cup.
Winning first over Croatia in the semifinals, England had to lose 1-2 through extra time. Now Roberto Mancini and Gareth Southgate will compete in the final of Euro 2020 to erase the dark past.
(mrp/bay)
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