Harbinger Of Glory

The players stood in their lines facing the stands as the anthems ran in sequence.

And Leo, standing in the Italian line, did his best with the words, finding most of them and approximating the rest.

Funny enough, when the English anthem started up, he caught himself singing it in his head word for word before he’d noticed he was doing it.

He pressed his lips together and then shook his head internally.

"The irony," he muttered.

Eventually, the players broke off as the captains met at the centre following that.

Donnarumma and Kane went through the coin toss with the referee, and Leo jogged back toward his position after handing his jacket to the kit man near the sideline, and Spalletti caught his eye and nodded once, and Leo nodded back.

"The lineups," the commentator said on the broadcast, "make for fascinating reading on both sides. We start with England, who have Pickford in goal.

Walker, Stones, Maguire and Trippier make up the back four, and they have Rice and Phillips sitting at the base of midfield.

Sitting right ahead of them is Bellingham in the ten position.

The front three starts with Foden on the right, Rashford on the left, and Kane leading the line. Gareth Southgate has gone with experience and quality in equal measure."

"Very solid," the co-commentator said. "This kind of lineup gives you defensive security without sacrificing the creative threat. Rice and Phillips will make life very difficult for the Italian midfield."

"And Italy," the main commentator continued, "set up with Donnarumma in goal. Di Lorenzo at right back, Di Marco on the left, Scalvini and Acerbi as the centre back pairing.

Yes, Spalletti has decided to sit down Basatoni for this game. And in midfield, a flat three of Leo Calderon, Barella and Frattesi, which is the first time we’ve seen Leo deployed in that specific system. It seems this is what Spalletti has been building toward, and tonight he uses it."

"Calderon in a flat three is interesting," the co-commentator said.

"Less defensive responsibility than we’re used to seeing him carry, but that might mean that we may get more of an attacking side from him in this game. I can’t wait to see what this game holds!"

"Yes, we can’t wait, but we can continue. Ahead of them," the main commentator said, "Scamacca plays right through the middle, El Shaarawy on the left, Berardi on the right."

Down the pitch, the players settled into their positions, and the commentary drew its description to a close.

"So that is it for both sides, and the stage is set."

At the centre spot, Scamacca rested his boot lightly on top of the ball.

England stood ready across from them, every line compact, every player already leaning forward before a pass had even been played.

The referee checked both assistants, glanced at his watch, then lifted the whistle.

At the sharp blast, the Meazza erupted while Scamacca rolled the ball backwards.

"And away we go!" the commentator called over the noise. "Italy against England, and listen to this place!"

Leo met the first pass almost immediately, cushioning it into his stride before laying it first time into Di Lorenzo’s path.

Behind them, the England side moved as one.

Kane sprang forward to close the angle, not chasing the ball as much as steering it.

Behind him, Bellingham and Rice squeezed the midfield while Rashford and Foden tucked inside, compressing every passing lane Spalletti had spent the week trying to create.

It was aggressive, calculated, and within seconds the match had settled into exactly the battle everyone expected.

Italy started trying to play through while England tried to suffocate them before they could breathe.

Under that guise, Frattesi received under pressure and attempted to burst away from Rashford.

He looked clear of the Manchester United player, but at the last, the England winger stabbed a toe at the ball.

It ricocheted loose, and for a split second it sat invitingly between them.

Both lunged after the rolling object, but Leo was already on it, with Bellingham flying at him in second.

The Madrid midfielder closed with long, powerful strides, convinced he’d trapped him as Leo dragged the ball backwards with the sole of his boot, looking like he was going to go back.

Bellingham reacted well, shifting his weight to apply more pressure on the ball, but that was all Leo wanted.

The drag stopped halfway through as Leo nudged the ball sharply across his own body, spinning away into the opposite channel while Bellingham’s momentum carried him into empty grass and the Meazza loved it.

A wave of applause rolled around the stadium before swelling into cheers as Leo moved on with the ball!

"Oh, that’s magnificent!" the commentator exclaimed.

"Jude Bellingham has been completely sold there."

Leo laid it right past Rashford into Frattesi, who widened the gap between himself and the winger who once again tried to apply pressure, but the midfielder, this time, moved away, slowly dragging the ball in the position Leo had been a moment ago before he slipped the ball right between Bellingham’s reach and Rashford’s lung.

Leo, without even getting the ball, spun to face the English setup and ahead of him, Rice held his ground in front with Trippier instead opting to explode out.

Leo glanced across his shoulder, his body movements once again suggesting a pass backwards and that made Trippier pressure him more.

And Leo never played it.

Instead, with the outside of his right boot, he lifted the ball delicately over Trippier’s outstretched leg right as the right back got there and burst past him before the defender could recover.

The England full-back skidded past, turning to find nothing but Leo accelerating away.

"Beautiful football!" the co-commentator laughed.

"England have been sent the wrong way twice already."

Berardi had already recognised the run and was spurred on by the potential pass.

Rice slid across to cover the gap Trippier had abandoned, but Leo kept sprinting beyond him, attacking the space before the midfielder could set himself.

A moment later, Leo let go of the ball as Rice fully went at it, trying to snatch the ball away from Berardi, who ran with it, but just as it seemed like Rice would get what he wished, Berardi, without even looking, sent the pass behind him.

Rice stretched, reacting well, but he missed it by inches and right in the space behind him, the ball arrived perfectly.

Leo ran onto it, and in that instant, he didn’t even consider slowing the ball.

With a clean and almost violent strike, Leo smashed the ball.

"HE’S HIT IT!"