PENPIX-Profiles of Italy soccer team
By Alasdair Mackenzie
ROME, July 10 (Reuters) - Profiles of the 11 Italy players expected to face England in Sunday's Euro 2020 final.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, 22, goalkeeper (Free agent)
Towering young goalkeeper, expected to join Paris St Germain after his AC Milan contract expired. Superbly agile and has made some vital saves during Italy´s run to the final. Widely considered the heir to legendary Azzurri goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo, 27, right-back (Napoli)
Versatile defender who came into the side after Alessandro Florenzi´s injury in the opening game. Shifted to the left against Spain and can also play centrally. Tends to operate more cautiously to allow the left-back to get forward.
Leonardo Bonucci, 34, centre-back (Juventus)
Veteran defender who will become Italy´s record appearance holder at the Euros with his 18th tournament match in the final. Physical presence with good passing range, who poses a threat from set pieces.
Giorgio Chiellini, 36, centre-back (free agent)
Oldest member of the Italy squad and one of two survivors from squad that finished runners-up at Euro 2012, along with Bonucci. Wily, intelligent defender who throws himself in front of everything. Juventus contract recently expired.
Emerson, 26, left-back (Chelsea)
Brazil-born defender came into the side for the semi-final after an injury to in-form Leonardo Spinazzola. Impressed going forward against Spain but some question marks raised defensively. Only featured twice in Premier League last season for Chelsea.
Nicolo Barella, 24, midfielder (Inter Milan)
Dynamic midfielder tasked with getting forward to support the forward line. Has become a fundamental player for club and country over the last year and scored a superb strike to give Italy the lead in their quarter-final win over Belgium.
Jorginho, 29, midfielder (Chelsea)
Italy´s midfield metronome. Looks to dictate tempo with masterful passing and positioning. No player has made more interceptions in one match over last two Euros than his eight against Spain. The Azzurri's pivot.
Marco Verratti, 28, midfielder (Paris St Germain)
Missed start of the tournament through injury but has impressed since coming back in, silencing calls for Manuel Locatelli to start. A second playmaker in midfield alongside Jorginho, Verratti also provides bite in the tackle.
Federico Chiesa, 23, winger (Juventus)
Started the Euros behind Domenico Berardi in the pecking order but forced his way in following a man-of-the-match performance against Wales. Possesses electric pace, dangerous in one-on-one situations, and scored superb strikes against Austria and Spain.
Ciro Immobile, 31, striker (Lazio)
Began the Euros strongly with two goals in two games but has come in for criticism after failing to score since. Works hard, creates space for others and has a prolific scoring record at club level. Mancini has kept faith in him, saying: "The most criticised player can be the one to decide the tournament."
Lorenzo Insigne, 30, winger (Napoli)
Diminutive forward with superb technical ability and a tendency to cut inside and shoot towards the far corner. Scored one of the goals of the tournament against Belgium doing just that, and his link-up play with Spinazzola down the left was one of Italy´s biggest weapons before the defender's injury. (Reporting by Alasdair Mackenzie; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
