Italy won 3-2 against England in the penalties after both teams had ended even-stevens at the end of extra time. The loss only prolonged England’s wait for a major trophy. England has last won a football title in 1966, when they lifted the World Cup.
Roberto Mancini’s men recovered from the shock of conceding the quickest goal ever in a European Championship final to equalise and held their nerve to claim a 3-2 shootout victory.
This was Italy’s second victory in the European Championship and will go a long way at redemption after the side failed to even qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
England started the game in full throttle as Luke Shaw found the back of the net in just the second minute from kickoff. The Italy coach said that the side did well to come back from this early setback. “We conceded a goal straight away and struggled, but then we dominated the game,” Mancini told RAI Sport.
“The lads were wonderful, I don’t know what more to say. It’s important for all the people and all the fans. I hope they’re celebrating (in Italy).”
Despite the rain, the 60,000 fans at the Wembley provided a relentless wall of noise, especially in the first half when it looked like England might increase their lead.
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England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a fine one-handed save from Federico Chiesa’s effort to preserve his side’s advantage with about half an hour to go.
But minutes later they were level when Leonardo Bonucci scrambled the ball into the net from close range after England failed to clear.
Despite a flurry of substitutions in the final minutes of normal time, the sides ended at 1-1. Neither England nor Italy could break the deadlock in extra time.
Pickford saved spot-kicks from Andrea Belotti and Jorginho but Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka all failed to find the net.