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Bjorn Kuipers has been confirmed as the man in the middle for this Sunday’s EURO 2020 final between Italy & England.
The Dutch official is a household name in his native Netherlands having taken charge of 20 games in the Eredivisie last season in addition to 8 Champions & Europa League ties. The 48-year old has officiated 3 times at this Summer’s European Championships - Denmark v. Belgium, Slovakia v Spain & Czech Republic v. Denmark - handing out no fewer than 10 yellow cards all told. |
Midfield enforcers Marco Verratti (15/8) & Kalvin Phillips (9/4) are the most likely to find their way into Kuipers notebook according to the bookmakers. Verratti averages 3.3 tackles a game at EURO 2020 with an average of 1.3 fouls while his opposite number Phillips, who has been an ever present for the Three Lions, averages 0.7 tackles per game with an average of 1.7 fouls.
Italian left-back Leonardo Spinazzola had been making all the headlines before suffering a nasty injury v. Belgium leaving fellow full-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo to somewhat go under the radar at right-back.
Italian left-back Leonardo Spinazzola had been making all the headlines before suffering a nasty injury v. Belgium leaving fellow full-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo to somewhat go under the radar at right-back.
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Alessandro Florenzi was Roberto Mancini’s first-choice for the right side of defence at the beginning of the tournament. However, the Roma man who spent last season on loan in Paris has been sidelined with a calf injury since the opening game against Turkey.
Di Lorenzo has started 4 of the Azzurri’s 5 EURO ties since then, sitting out against Wales with qualification from the group already secured, and has quietly gone about his business with an average of 7.8 duels won per game. |
The Napoli man is no stranger to a yellow card. The 27-year-old was booked no fewer than 11 times in Serie A last season and was cautioned during the Italian’s last-16 tie with Austria at Wembley.
Raheem Sterling is likely to start on the left wing for the Three Lions and the Man City man likes to run at his marker with 31 attempted dribbles in his 6 outings in the competition so far.
Raheem Sterling is likely to start on the left wing for the Three Lions and the Man City man likes to run at his marker with 31 attempted dribbles in his 6 outings in the competition so far.
