Italy crowned European champions after shootout win over England

Italy celebrate with the trophy after winning Euro 2020  

Italy won the European Championship for the first time since 1968 as Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two England penalties en route to a 3-2 shootout win after the teams had fought out a 1-1 extra-time draw at a raucous Wembley on Sunday.   

 The giant keeper saved from Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after Marcus Rashford hit a post, as Federico Bernardeschi, Leonardo Bonucci and Domenico Berardi all scored for the Italians.   

 Luke Shaw had given England a dream start with a superb goal after two minutes but Italy, who offered almost nothing in response in the first half, gradually took command and deservedly levelled through Bonucci after 67 minutes.   

 It was the first final to be decided on penalties since Czechoslovakia beat West Germany in 1976 and will be wildly celebrated in Italy after they lost in the final in 2000 and 2012.   

 For England coach Gareth Southgate, who missed from the spot when they lost in the Euro 96 semi-final to Germany, it was another shootout horror show as the two players he sent on late in extra-time with penalties in mind missed, as did 19-year-old Saka, who crumpled under the pressure of taking the final kick.   

 Italy, have now won five and lost six of their 10 major tournament shootouts, including one win and one loss in World Cup finals, while Englands dismal record now reads seven losses from nine.    But England fans dreaming of a second title to add to the 1966 World Cup can hardly complain they were robbed this time, after they followed a strong start by surrendering the initiative despite unswerving support from most of the 67,000 crowd.   

 The match statistics told the story as Italy had 66% possession and 19 shots to England’s six. Italy are now unbeaten in 34 matches, underlying the stunning turnaround fashioned by coach Roberto Mancini who took over after the country’s humiliating failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.   -REUTERS