Euro 2020 final: Italy beat England 3-2 on penalties in final to win their 2nd European Championship title | Football News

Italy lifted their second European Championship trophy after they defeated England 3-2 in penalty shoot-out in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium in London. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka missed for the Three Lions as Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two penalties in a row to take his team to the title.

This is the first major international trophy that Italy have won since their 2006 FIFA World Cup win. This is also Italy’s second Euro trophy. They had last won the title back in 1968. Italy had reached the final in Euro 2000 and Euro 2012, as well, but had lost to France, and Spain, respectively.

England were eyeing their first European Championship trophy and their first major international football title since winning the FIFA World Cup at home in 1966.

Highlights: England vs Italy, Euro 2020 Final

England full-back Luke Shaw starred for Gareth Southgate’s team as he sent a thunderous left-footed volley past Italy goalkeeper Donnarumma into the back of the net to give his side the lead in the 2nd minute of the match. It is the fastest goal ever scored in a Euro final.

Italy saw a thunderous shot towards the goal in the first half from Federico Chiesa, but it went just wide. Roberto Mancini’s team took control of the match after the half-hour mark but the equaliser didn’t come in the first half.

The second half saw a dynamic Italy put pressure on the England defence. The Italian pressure almost paid off when Raheem Sterling took Lorenzo Insigne down just outside the England box. But the following free-kick was struck wide by Insigne, and Italy could not find the equaliser.

A defensive error from England a few minutes later saw Chiesa almost netting it in but goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a superb save to deny the Italian forward. Leonardo Bonucci brought things back to level pegging in the 67th minute as he netted it on the rebound after Jordan Pickford denied a shot from Marco Verratti from a set-piece.

Both teams continued to search for the winner in the remainder of the 2nd half, but there despite a few nervy minutes in both the halves, no team could take the lead. The match eventually went to Extra Time.

The first 15 minutes of the Extra Time saw neither of the two teams getting any clear chances. England created plenty of chances in the final 15 minutes of the Extra Time, but Italy defence kept England players at bay. The match went to the penalties shootout as it remained undecided after halftime.

(More details awaited)