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Euro 2020 Semifinal Roundup: Chelsea’s two sons make the final

By Travis Tyler

Chelsea's Italian midfielder Jorginho (2nd L) celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Chelsea's English midfielder Mason Mount (L) during the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Chelsea at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on February 7, 2021. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's Italian midfielder Jorginho (2nd L) celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Chelsea's English midfielder Mason Mount (L) during the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Chelsea at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on February 7, 2021. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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ROME, ITALY – JUNE 20: Jorginho (L) of Italy is challenged by Joe Allen (R) of Wales during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group A match between Italy and Wales at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy, on June 20, 2021. (Photo by Isabella Bonotto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – JUNE 20: Jorginho (L) of Italy is challenged by Joe Allen (R) of Wales during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group A match between Italy and Wales at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy, on June 20, 2021. (Photo by Isabella Bonotto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /

One of the dumbest, most absolutely brain dead things in regards to Chelsea in the last few years has been the idea of certain players being the sons of certain managers. Jorginho is starting? It must be because he’s Maurizio Sarri’s son. Mason Mount is starting? Frank Lampard’s son. But with each passing manager (for club and country) that got ahold of these players, it became harder and harder to take those whines of favoritism seriously. Players simply can’t be the teacher’s pet for so many different managers. It makes no sense.

What does make sense is that Jorginho and Mount are simply sons of Chelsea. Both have been the heartbeat of their international sides in vastly different ways and no matter how dubious their means of getting to the final might be, this is probably the correct final on the whole of the tournament. But, how did Italy and England get here to bring it home or bring it to Rome?

Italy versus Spain: Jorginho, Emerson, and Cesar Azpilicueta

Jorginho had his toughest, and arguably worst, match of Euro 2020 against Spain. Luis Enrique’s side started with a false nine formation and later switched to a 4-2-3-1 shape, both of which stifled Jorginho’s ability to run the Italian midfield. He wasn’t bad by any means but his contribution was certainly mitigated compared to previous matches in the tournament.

Emerson, for his part, was Emerson. He’s a winger that ended up at fullback once upon a time because someone had to play there and it stuck. Luckily, he didn’t have too many chances to get forward and leave the Italian defense hanging. He had a relatively quiet game as Spain tried, and failed to cut Italy to death with 1000 passes.

Cesar Azpilicueta had another solid game for the Spanish side as he continued to show that he has life in him as a fullback yet. Spain has a deep squad and likely wouldn’t have called up Azpilicueta without the three extra roster spots, but he has surely earned a spot in the team at least through the World Cup. He simply adds a certain directness and grit the rest of Spain lacks.

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