Italy won the European Championship for the second time by beating England 3-2 on penalties on Sunday. The match finished 1-1 after extra time at Wembley Stadium.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy’s imposing goalkeeper, dived to his left and saved the decisive spot-kick by 19-year-old Londoner Bukayo Saka, one of the youngest players in England’s squad.
Less than four years ago, the Italians plunged to the lowest moment of their football history by failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in six decades.
🏆 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗜 𝗗’𝗘𝗨𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗔 🏆
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 11, 2021
🇮🇹 Congratulations Italy, EURO 2020 winners 🎉🎉🎉@azzurri | #ITA | #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/62Ve8TMEFu
Now, they are the best team in Europe and on a national-record 34-match unbeaten run under Roberto Mancini, their suave coach.
England was playing in their first major final in 55 years. It’s the latest heartache in shootouts at major tournaments, after defeats in 1990, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2006 and 2012.
England went ahead in the second minute when Luke Shaw scored the fastest goal in a European Championship final.
Leonardo Bonucci equalised in the 67th.
After the two sides remained unseparated following 120 minutes of football, Italy inflicted more penalty heartache on England as Bukayo Saka missed the decisive kick.