Italy vs. England
Italy defeat England 3-2 on penalties at Wembley Stadium in London to become the Euro 2020 Champions. The game ended 1-1 in regular time and remained the same during overtime. Penalties would decide the game and Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two in a row to give Italy the victory.
England set a record as they pulled ahead just two minutes into the game. English midfielder Kieran Trippier played a nice cross to the other side of the box where teammate Luke Shaw came running in caught the ball just right, as it just nicked the left post on the way in. England then switched over to a more defensive game to make sure they went into halftime with the lead.
Italy would control the game with 66% of possession and finally get their equalizer at the 67th minute off of a corner. The ball came in and was headed onto the post and Leonardo Bonucci was there to tap the rebound into the bottom left-had corner from a foot away.
The game remained tied, and after two additional halves of overtime Dutch referee Björn Kuipers would blow the whistle, signaling that penalty kicks would decide the game.
Italy would kick first, and Domenico Berardi would convert his, followed by English star Harry Kane to tie things up. Italian Andrea Belotti would be the first to miss, and Harry Maguire would make his to give England a 2-1 advantage. Leonardo Bonucci made his followed by Englishman Marcus Rashford who hit the bottom left post and missed making the score tied again at 2-2.
Federico Bernardeschi faked out English keeper Jordan Pickford and placed it into the center of the goal. Jadon Sancho took the next penalty for the Three Lions, but Donnarumma figured it out and saved it.
Jorginho stepped up next for Italy, knowing that if he made it, Italy would become champions. Pickford gave England a break as it was able to just push the shot onto the post and keep the score at 3-2 for Italy. The pressure was back on for England because Bukayo Saka needed to make this next penalty to keep England in the game.
Donnarumma figured it out once again and saved it, giving the win the Italy.
This is just the second time that Italy have won the Euro, with their last victory being back in 1968.
England will now have to wait until this coming World Cup to try and win their second ever international trophy, with their first one being the World Cup of 1966.
Photo: Gianluigi Donnarumma, from Shutterstock, taken by ph.FAB
