England’s 55-year wait for a major trophy was extended by a brilliant Italian side who won the Euro 2020 after winning 3-2 on penalties. However, for Italy, they won their second European championship after 53 years. The goalkeepers of each team – Jordan Pickford and Gianluigi Donnarumma – were the stars of the shootout as they saved two blocked two attempts each. The match which was tied 1-1 after the full time headed into extra-time.
But neither of the teams could manage to create any chance in the extra time, prompting a tense penalty shootout. For Italy, Jorginho and Belotti failed to convert from the spot and for England, Sako and Sancho were denied and Rashford hit it wide of the goal.
Earlier in the match, England’s left-back scored the fastest goal in the history of the Euro Finals. The clock read 1 minute and 57 seconds. England’s lead was cancelled by Leonardo Bonucci in the second half, who became the oldest scorer in the final.
England were attempting to win their first trophy since the 1966 World Cup and Italy had won their only European title in 1968.
Here are the highlights of the match:
3:30am: ITALY HAVE BEEN CROWNED THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS.
3:25am: DENIED! Saka goes right. Donnarumma reads right and parries. Italy are the champions of Europe!
3:24am: DENIED! Jorginho is denied and Jordan Pickford dives the right way. Italy 3-2 England.
3:23am: DENIED! Sancho is denied by the Italian keeper. Italy 3-2 England.
3:22am: GOAL! Federico Bernardeschi puts Italy in the front. Italy 3-2 England.
3:21am: MISS! Marcus Rashford misses from the spot as he hits the goalpost. Italy 2-2 England. It’s level now.
3:20am: GOAL! Bonucci slots it. Italy 2-2 England. It’s still advantage England.
3:19am: GOAL! Harry Maguire scores. Italy 1-2 England.
3:18am: DENIED! Jordan Pickford saves as Belotti fails to slot one. Italy 1-1 England.
3:17am: GOAL! Harry Kane scores. Italy 1-1 England.
3:16am: GOAL! Berardi scores. Italy 1-0 England.
3:11am: END OF EXTRA TIME. Penalty shootout to follow.
3:07am: Last few minutes of the game left. Florenzi comes in and Emerson goes out. For England, Rashford and Sancho are introduced.
2:58am: England survive a scare. A brilliant ball for Sterling down the right flank, who makes a dangerous run but is stopped by Giorgio Chiellini. The ball is cleared.
2.54am: Italy get a free kick just at the beginning of the second period of the extra time. But Jordan Pickford does well to stop and collect the ball, comfortably, which was sent swirling in by Bernardeschi.
2.52am: The second period of the extra time begins.
2.50am: The first period of the extra time comes to an end. The scoreline still reads 1-1.
2.45am: Italy are pressing high but the English defenders are keeping their defences intact. A counter-attack here and there, by the English team, is being successfully nullified by the Italian side.
2.27am: FULL TIME! England 1 – 1 Italy
2.22am: The stipulated 90 minutes are over and six minutes will be added on. Both Italy and England would look to finish it in these 6 minutes, and not take the game to extra time.
2.01am: GOAL!!! Italy have drawn level in the 67th minute. Leonardo Bonucci found the net to get Italy back in the game.
1.55am: Italy’s Leonardo Bonucci gets the second yellow card of the Euro 2020 final for a foul on Raheem Sterling.
1.46am: Second half gets underway. Neither team has made a substitution.
1.35am: Italy will look to strike back in the second half. Except for the one shot by Bonucci, the first half has been dominated by England.
1.20am: Half Time! England have managed to hold on to their lead.
12.59am: This is the first time in the last 18 games that Italy have conceded the first goal. The last time this occurred, was in September 2020.
12.44am: Here’s a look at the fastest ever goal scored in the final of a European Championship.
12.40am: England have dominated the first 10 minutes of the game and the 60,000 fans at Wembley are cheering every run made by Harry Kane and Kevin Trippier.
12.33am: Luke Shaw has put England ahead just 2 minutes into the game.
12.29am: Starting lineup for England
Formation: 5-3-2
Lineup: Jordan Pickford; Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips, Mason Mount; Harry Kane (capt), Raheem Sterling.
12.28am: Starting lineup for Italy
Formation: 4-3-3
Lineup: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini (capt), Emerson Palmieri; Nicolo Barella, Jorginho, Marco Verratti; Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne.
12.25am: England are just one win away from making history and winning their first major football trophy in 55 years. But Italy have been unstoppable in Euro 2020, and would definitely look to spoil England’s party.
