IndiaIt's all finished! Italy won their second European Championship title after defeating England 3-2 on penalties.
Italy won the Euro 2020 final 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 deadlock during extra time at Wembley on Sunday, clinching their second European Championship victory. In the shootout, Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was the star for the Azzurri, as England's substitutes Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka all missed from the spot.
England took the lead in the second minute after Luke Shaw scored the fastest goal in a Euro final. On the right, Harry Kane passed Kieran Trippier, whose magnificent cross was hammered home first time by left back Shaw. In the 67th minute, Leonard Bonucci equalised for Italy when England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford pushed Marco Verratti's header against the post, and Bonucci pounced to slot in the loose ball. Since 1966, England has not won a major prize.
It was another shootout horrible mess for England coach Gareth Southgate, who missed from the spot in the Euro96 semi-final loss to Germany.
The two players he brought on late in extra time with penalties in mind, as well as 19-year-old Saka, who crumpled under the pressure of taking the game-winning kick, all missed their penalties.
The penalty takers are my call. We know they were the best takers we had left on the pitch, and we tried to get those players on to the pitch.
Southgate told Reuters
The players have given everything, not only tonight but throughout the whole tournament. They should hold their heads high... but the devastation of getting so close is difficult to put into context.
At the moment the pain of the defeat is huge, we wanted to give our nation one more special night and a first European championship and we haven't quite been able to do it.
On Monday, Italy extended their 34-match winning streak by defeating England in the final of the Uefa European Championship (Euro 2020) at Wembley Stadium in London, which proceeded to a penalty shootout after a 1-1 tie after extra time. Italy defeated England 3-2 in the Euro 2020 final after England missed three penalties in the shootout. The loss means that the host team's quest for a second major triumph, after winning the 1966 World Cup and their first European crown 55 years earlier, continues.
It was impossible even to think about this, but the guys were extraordinary. I don’t have words for them, this is a magnificent group. We were great, we conceded an early goal and had some problems but then we dominated.
Mancini told Reuters
This is Italy's second European victory, following 1968, and their first major title since winning the 2006 World Cup. In the last three Euro editions, this was their second final. The high-octane match between the two teams got off to a fast start, with England seizing the lead in the second minute. Nevertheless, the English side's initial enthusiasm waned, and they were unable to produce many chances.
The Italians grabbed control of the game in the second half and began threatening England's goalpost. In the 67th minute, it was great defender Leonardo Bonucci who scored from close range to give Italy the lead.
Melidona tells Sky Sports that "the change has already happened in Italy."
There is Roberto De Zerbi, there is Vincenzo Italiano, there is Fabio Liverani. All progressive trainers. Now, Maurizio Sarri is back at Lazio. So this typical Italian way has changed.
Some of the situations are so like Sassuolo, “tells Melidona, in reference to the team's possession style that has made such an impact in Serie A. "Like Sassuolo, the Italy of Mancini like to build the ball from the back and use everyone on the field.
Spain was aggressive and we had no time in the defensive third so that was the first time that we really had to play in the old Italian way, Melidona added. That platform was provided by Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci.
We are still the leaders in the defensive phase, another Italian coach told Sky Sports.
This is indeed a huge disappointment for England. They haven't been this close to winning a World Cup since 1966. Only three times in the tournament's history has the home country been able to win it. In the 2016 Euro Cup, France, the hosts, also fell in the final to Portugal.
They made it to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, the Euro final this year, and another World Cup next year. The team did not perform to its potential in the final, but it is full of youthful and dynamic players, many of whom have already shown themselves at the club level.
This year may not be England's year, but they must learn from their failure and begin planning for next year's World Cup.
As Italy wins Euro 2020, internet users rejoice with memes
On July 11, England faced Italy in the European Championship final at Wembley Stadium in London, and lost in a penalty kick shootout. As fans celebrated Italy's first European Championship victory since 1968, Twitter was flooded with memes and jokes.
When England seized the lead with a Luke Shaw strike in the second minute, the quickest goal in a Euro final, fans felt the trophy was “coming home,” recalling the iconic anthem for English football “Three Lions (It's Coming Home).”
'Football is coming home,' #Itisnotcominghome, and #Euro2020Final began trending on Twitter shortly after. On social media, there were a flood of memes and jokes celebrating Italy's victory and mocking England's dismal finish in their first major final since winning the World Cup 55 years ago.
Following England's defeat, social media was swamped with emotions. While some praised Italy for winning their second Euro title, others praised England for putting up a valiant fight in the final.
Have a look at some of the great #Euro2020Final reactions:
Cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Kevin Pietersen, and others respond to Italy's victory over England
With the match going into a penalty shootout, the enthralling Euro 2020 final between Italy and England even had cricket fans on the edge of their seats. The action-packed conclusion elicited reactions from cricketers all across the world.
Legendary Cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar, Kevin Pietersen, Jofra Archer, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Tammy Beaumont, a women's cricketer, all flocked to Twitter to congratulate both teams on a great performance.
Tendulkar, who tied the title for the most hundreds in international cricket, congratulated Italy on social media and also wished England and Gareth Southgate's side well.
He wrote on twitter, "Congratulations to @azzurri Flag of Italy on the hard-fought victory to become the #EURO2020 Champions! Trophy And well done @England for reaching the finals & keeping the game alive until the very end. What a sport packed and refreshing weekend this has been!."
England Women Cricket star, Tammy Beaumont tweeted, "Congrats Italy. So proud of our @England boys! Such a good tournament for us! You can all hold your heads up high. Let's all get behind them now! #EURO2020."
Michael Vaughan, a former England test captain, similarly took to social networking site to admit that the Italians were the superior squad. With the World Cup in Qatar less than 500 days away, he also backed the Three Lions to perform well in international games.
He wrote on twitter, "If we are honest Italy were better tonight... But this England side are so so close and will come again... What an incredible 4 weeks which has given all our country a huge lift... Cheers @England..."
The English football squad was heartened by Pietersen and Ashwin's sentiments.
The fact is as simple as that neither team was able to score any more goals as the game progressed to extra time and finally penalties, where Italy defeated England 3-2.
England vs. Italy: Odds & prediction
These were the oods predictions of the UEFA finals between Italy and England for those who are in to sports betting.
Prediction: England 1, Italy 0
England to win (90 mins): +148
England to win the trophy: -121
Draw (90 mins): +190
Italy to win (90 mins): +240
Italy to win the trophy: +102
Total goals Under 1.5: +148
England to score first and win: +170
England to win by one goal: +285
England -0.25 Asian Handicap: +106