Italy win Euro title on penalties after draw against England in 120 minutes

Football
By Xinhua | Jul 12, 2021
Football - Euro 2020 - Final - Fans gather for Italy v England - Boxpark, Croydon, London, Britain - July 11, 2021. England fans react during the match. [Reuters/Andrew Couldridge]

Italy won the European Championship final 3-2 on penalties against England after the game had finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time.

Marcos Rashford, Jaydon Sancho and Bukayo Sako missed the vital penalties for England, with Gianluigi Donnarumma saving from the last two and Rashford sending his penalty against the post.

The game was just two minutes old when Luke Shaw opened the scoring for England. The left back ran into space before connecting with a powerful volley from Kieran Trippier's measured cross.

Italy's Leonardo Bonucci is shown a yellow card by referee Bjorn Kuipers. [REUTERS/Facundo Arrizabalaga]

The goal rattled Italy and they struggled to get to grips with the game in the opening half hour as England's central midfielders, Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips, along with Mason Mount closed down nearly all the spaces in midfield.

Federico Chiesa went closest for Italy after an individual run and shot, but overall England were in control.

Everything changed after the break with Italy forcing England into their own area and although Pickford did well to save from Chiesa, Leonardo Bonucci forced home the equalizer following a 67th minute corner.

 

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