The winners of Euro 2020, Italy, and the holders of the Copa America, Argentina, will meet in the 2022 Finalissima at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday night.
Italy beat England on penalties last summer to become European champions, while Argentina recorded a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the final of the Copa America.
This will be only the third showdown between the CONMEBOL and UEFA champions.
Angel Di Maria scored the all-important goal against Brazil in the CONMEBOL Copa America 2021 final to help Argentina win their first major title in nearly three decades – 28 years, to be precise. Their record-equalling 15th continental title also meant Lionel Messi finally lifted a trophy with the national senior team.
Italy beat Austria, Belgium and Spain in the knockout rounds of last summer’s European Championship before overcoming England on penalties in the final following a 1-1 draw.
The triumph saw the Blues become European champions for just the second time in their history, but they have incredibly now missed out on the finals of the last two World Cups, failing to qualify in 2018 before missing out on the 2022 competition by losing to North Macedonia in the semi-finals of the playoffs back in March.
Giorgio Chiellini will make his final Italy appearance against Argentina, with the 37-year-old set to bring a long international career to a close, but Mancini will also be looking to the future, with a number of uncapped players in the squad.
Italy had lost each of their last three matches against Argentina, which have all been friendlies, with their last competitive meeting coming at the 1990 World Cup when Argentina won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the semi-finals of the competition.
Team News:
Italy: Roberto Mancini is without the injured Domenico Berardi and Andrea Pinamonti, with Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile, Gaetano Castrovilli and Rafael Toloi also out of action of late.
Jorginho and Marco Verratti are both expected to start in midfield, while Nicolo Zaniolo and Lorenzo Insigne are set to feature in the final third of the field.
Argentina: Expect Lionel Messi to start for Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina alongside Lautaro Martinez and Copa America hero Angel Di Maria.
The South American side’s defence should see Cristian Romero pair up with Nicolas Otamendi.
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Alexis Mac Allister is also in the selection, while Nehuen Perez and Marcos Senesi will be hoping to be given opportunities to make their first appearances for the national side in London.
Italy’s possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Zaniolo, Scamacca, Insigne
Argentina’s possible starting lineup:
E Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Rodriguez, Lo Celso; Messi, L Martinez, Di Maria
