After the regulation time finished 1-1, three English players missed their penalties to hand the trophy to Roberto Mancini’s side.
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Italy came back from a goal down to defeat England in a nail-biting penalty shootout on Sunday night to win the Euro 2020 trophy. After the regulation time finished 1-1, three English players missed their penalties to hand the trophy to Roberto Mancini’s side. Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho both missed penalty kicks, giving Jorginho the opportunity to win the trophy, but Jordan Pickford saved his kick, keeping the Three Lions in the game. But, Bukayo Saka, who had to score from his kick to take the match into sudden death, saw his effort parried away by Gianluigi Donnarumma to leave the Wembley crowd stunned. Saka covered his face in despair as Italian players jumped in joy on an eventful Sunday night.
The Euro 2020 title is Italy’s first major trophy since winning the 2006 World Cup against France in the final. Even back then, the Italians needed a shootout to edge past the French side. Earlier, Luke Shaw had given England a dream start, scoring his first goal for the country. He got on the end of a Kieran Trippier’s cross to hit a thumping half-volley just two minutes in. Buoyed by the early goal, England had the momentum on their side as they started to set the pace. Young English players started to stretch Italian defence and the Wembley crowd could not have hoped for a better start. But the joy did not last for long.
Oldest player to score in a EURO final ⚽️
EURO 2020 winner ??? Leonardo Bonucci ?#EURO2020 https://t.co/tqYfb6BXGA pic.twitter.com/7QiYVvIOxV
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 11, 2021
Once Roberto Mancini’s side found a way to nullify Gareth Southgate’s wing-back system, Italy wrestled control of possession and started to dictate the tempo. The second half started with Italy pressing hard for an equaliser. Under pressure, English players were more than content to drop back, which invited more pressure on the home side. Federico Chiesa, who fired just past the upright on 35 minutes, drew Pickford into making a smart save in the second period after bursting into the penalty box from the left flank.
England defenders found it difficult to mark Chiesa as the Juventus wide player began to have more influence in the game. On one end, the referee waved away Raheem Sterling’s penalty appeal, while Italy began to apply pressure on the other. Seven minutes past the hour mark, Mancini’s side won a corner. From the resulting cross, Verratti, who was at the far post, directed a header at the goal. Pickford got a hand to it, but the ball hit the inside of his post and rebounded for Leonardo Bonucci to turn the ball in for the equaliser.
As a result of the goal, Southgate changed his system from a back three to a flat back four. For the Italians, an injury to Chiesa stalled the game and probably hampered their momentum. Both teams were unable to break the deadlock as the match went into the additional 30-minute period. Tiredness started to creep in as extra time did not produce many clear-cut opportunities either.
?? Donnarumma = national hero!#EURO2020 https://t.co/a2e0vBWkPz pic.twitter.com/gG0WJyf5qc
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 11, 2021
With both teams taking a cautious approach, penalties loomed large. Keeping that in mind, Southgate brought on Rashford and Sancho with just a couple of minutes left to give them an extra edge in the shootout, but as it turned out both players missed their spot-kicks.
Pickford made the early save, denying Andrea Belotti from scoring as the Wembley crowd cheered in joy. But it soon turned to despair with Rashford and Sancho missing their spot-kicks and handing the advantage back to Italy. Jorginho missed the chance to wrap it up, but Saka’s following kick was saved by Donnarumma to the delight of the Italian team.
It was joy for Mancini’s boys and despair for Southgate’s side. Nothing can be taken away from either manager as they did an incredible job leading their country to a major tournament final. Mancini took over Italy after they failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, but the journey since has been inspirational for the Azzurri. On the other hand, Southgate helped the Three Lions reach their first final in a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup. On Sunday, however, England will have to settle for a runner-up finish as Italy walk away with the trophy.
