ITALY have emerged as champions of Euro 2020 after defeating England 3-2 on penalties in the final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday night.
Full-time and extra-time ended 1-1, taking the match to a penalty shootout where Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two kicks to give his country their second European Championship trophy.
Luke Shaw gave hosts England an early lead in the first half before Leonardo Bonucci equalised midway into the second half.
The game was only in the second minute when Shaw shot England ahead, firing home from Kieran Trippier’s cross.
It is the fastest goal ever in a European Championship final and Shaw’s first for England.
Italy fought their way back into the game, putting pressure on England but not getting any joy before half-time.
The Azzurri continued their dominance after the break as England dropped deep, and they got their reward in the 67th minute when Bonucci applied the finishing touch as the ball pinged around in the England box after a set-piece.
With the goal, Bonucci at 34 years 71 days became the oldest player ever to score in a European Championship final.
There were no more goals
in regulation time and extra-time, and the match went into penalties, the second final in the competition’s history to go to a shootout.
Donnarumma became the hero of the shootout, saving from Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, while Marcus Rashford hit the base of the upright.
Italy not only won the trophy, their first since their World Cup triumph in 2006 also on penalties, they also extended their unbeaten run to 35 matches.
