The Hurt Continues for England as Italy Win the Euros for the First Time in 53 Years

15/07/21 2505

Italy are the champions of Europe after beating England on penalties at the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, as Gianluigi Donnarumma claimed the Player of the Tournament.

The Italian keeper was ultimately the hero at the end of it all as he kept out Bukayo Saka’s penalty to seal the country’s first European title since 1968 and their first piece of silverware since 2006.

It now means Italy have won four World Cups and two European Championships, putting them just one behind Germany as the continent’s most successful nation.

The game itself was a typical final where we witnessed a game of two halves.

England rocketed out of the starting blocks and quickly took the lead when Kieran Trippier whipped in the ball to Luke Shaw, who volleyed the ball past a helpless Donnarumma.

Chances, however, didn’t really come for England after this, but they saw much of the ball and tested the Italian defence throughout the first 45.

The Three Lions would end the first half with a 1-0 lead and the country would fall into great hope of a first title in 55 years.

Roberto Mancini’s men, however, changed the game entirely. They came out with a vengeance and they took control of the game almost immediately as England rapidly fell under the Italian’s tactical spell.

The four-time World Cup winners controlled possession, troubled Jordan Pickford, and despite another solid game from Declan Rice in the centre, they began to seriously worry England.

In the 67th minute, they managed to get back in the game when Leonardo Bonucci tapped home from a corner that was scrambling around.

The game was 1-1 and the Italy pressure forced extra time and in the added 30 minutes, the 1968 Euros champions continued their dominance.

Penalties would come and Italy won the toss to take the first one. Domenico Berardi slotted past Pickford and took the lead.

Harry Kane - after a slightly disappointing final - stepped up and smashed the ball past Donnarumma.

Andrea Belotti was up next for the Italians, and his weak effort was saved by the England keeper, before Harry Maguire gave England the lead in the shootout with an excellent penalty.

It was 2-1 to the English, but Bonucci made it 2-2 before Marcus Rashford hit the post and Federico Bernardeschi stepped up to give Italy the lead and put hearts in the mouths of the English faithful.

England wouldn't score another penalty following Maguire's, as Jadon Sancho and Saka both missed thanks to brilliance from the Player of the Tournament, Donnarumma.

It meant that England lost on home soil as the Italian’s won once again this century to make it a World Cup win, a Euro 2012 final and a Euro 2020 triumph all within the past 15 years.