Italy defeated England in a fiercely contested Euro 2020 final on penalties after the game was level 1-1 at the end of regulation and extra time. Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two English penalties in the shootout to ensure that his side emerged victorious by a 3-2 scoreline.
England were playing in front of a boisterous Wembley crowd, and the Three Lions started the game in the best possible manner as they took the lead inside the opening two minutes, scoring the fastest ever European Championship final goal. Harry Kane received the ball just outside his half before spraying it out wide to Kieran Trippier, who took his time before delivering a pinpoint cross for fellow wing-back Luke Shaw to slam home at the keeper’s near post. Shaw’s goal made the fans ecstatic as they celebrated wildly. Italy began to control the game and were looking like they would find an equaliser. The Italian equaliser came in the 67th minute to the relief of the Azzurri and their fans. Leonardo Bonucci scrambled home the loose ball after a Marco Verratti header came back off the woodwork. Both sides huffed and puffed but were unable to find a goal that would seal the match. The match ultimately went to penalties to determine the champions of Europe.
Domenico Berardi took Italy’s first penalty and scored. Harry Kane put England level with a well-placed penalty. Torino striker Andrea Belotti missed his penalty after he sent the ball too close to Jordan Pickford. Harry Maguire sent the ball into the top corner, leaving Donnarumma with no chance of pulling off a save. Leonardo Bonucci scored to draw Italy level before Marcus Rashford hit his penalty against the base of the post. Federico Bernardeschi scored Italy’s third penalty from four before Jadon Sancho sent his penalty into the hands of Donnarumma. Jorginho had a chance to seal the shootout, but his penalty was saved by Pickford before Donnarumma saved Saka’s penalty as England fell to defeat.
Italy have now won a second European Championship, with their first coming 53 years ago in 1968. Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was named as the Player of the Tournament, the first goalkeeper to ever win such an award. Football is not coming home, it’s going to Rome.
