Italy are taking it to Rome to end their 53-year wait for the European Championship title after beating England 3-2 on penalties in the Euro 2020 Final at the Wembley Stadium on Sunday night.
The match ended 1-1 in normal and extra-time after Leonardo Bonucci’s 67th-minute equaliser canceled out Luke Shaw’s fastest opening goal (2nd minute) in a Euro final.
Both the goals in normal time were special as Shaw scored his maiden international goal while Bonucci became the oldest player to find the back of the net in a Euro final at 34 years and 71 days.
The European Champion was then decided by penalties for only the second time in history after the 1976 Euro.
Donnarumma then became the hero for the Azzurri as he saved Bukayo Saka’s decisive penalty by diving to his left to help Italy lift their 6th major title – 4 World Cups & 2 Euro Trophies. They are now only behind Germany (7) on the list of teams with the most major trophies in international football.
England’s youngsters Bukayo Saka, Jason Sancho and Marcus Rashford missed their spot-kicks while Italian veterans Belotti and Jorginho failed to beat Jordan Pickford.
Italy last won the Euro in Rome in 1968, the first time a team clinched the title on home soil. And they will take the trophy back home after 53 years, which is the longest gap between two Euro titles in history.
The win also extended Italy’s unbeaten run in international football to 34 matches, just one less than the world record of 35 managed by Spain during their golden run from 2007 to 2009.
England was playing in its first major final in 55 years. It’s the latest heartache in shootouts at major tournaments, after defeats in 1990, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2006 and 2012.Live TV
