Mason Mount's pressing ability should limit the influence of Jorginho at Wembley tomorrow night
Harry Kane vs Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini. Harry Maguire and John Stones vs Ciro Immobile. Emerson Palmieri vs whoever starts on England’s right. Kyle Walker vs Lorenzo Insigne.
Tomorrow night’s game is not short of fascinating duels but the one that could be the most important carries an added degree of familiarity.
Jorginho has been exceptional during Italy’s run to the final but coming up against Mason Mount, England’s presser in chief, will be the greatest challenge he has faced in this tournament.
The Azzurri midfielder, who scored the winning penalty against Spain on Tuesday, will have been chased and harried by Mount almost daily at Cobham over the past two seasons and it will be fascinating to see if he has the same freedom than all but one game over the past month.
With the exception of that thrilling tie against Spain, Jorginho has progressed the ball with far more ease compared to in the blue of Chelsea. The easiest explanation is that the pressing from the likes of Turkey or Austria has been far less intense, allowing Jorginho an extra second to play the ball..
But Mount leads England's press and the relentless nature of his off-ball work will be a far greater examination of arguably Italy's most impactful player of the summer.
There are irresistible parallels between Roberto Mancini’s gameplan and what Sarriball was intended to be at Stamford Bridge. There is a midfield three where players have defined roles while the attack is fluid and there is an emphasis on verticality.
The difference is Jorginho has become significantly more effective than during that peculiar first campaign at Stamford Bridge which ended with a Europa League win despite finding himself targeted as the then head coach’s teacher’s pet.
Turning his attention immediately to the final on Wednesday night Gareth Southgate spoke of Italy being England's "biggest test". But for Roberto Mancini's players the same applies.
On a night that will be heavy with emotion, where expectation and pressure will be ramped up to heights not seen before at the new Wembley, it could end up being tight and tactical.
