Following an early first-half Luke Shaw volley, then a second-half Leonardo Bonucci equaliser, it was the dreaded penalty shoot-out that proved, once again the downfall of a brave, young England, in last night’s epic Euro 2020 final battle against eventual winners, Italy, at Wembley.
The Three Lions' wait for their first Euros title and, indeed first major tournament victory since World Cup in 1966 will continue onto Qatar, next year, but the nation’s ‘hurt,’ obviously palpable, following last night’s event, the group of young, now seasoned England talents will take their collective experiences, gathered, especially over the past 4-weeks, with, in good time, a view to bringing the Jules Rimet Trophy back to these shows – with the experiences of July 11 2021 a ‘stepping stone’ to the ultimate ‘goal.’
A first-half of end-to-end football saw full-back, Shaw, convert a stunning volley past Azzurri goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma – the fastest in Euro history - before Bonucci stabbed in a deserved equalizer following a goal-mouth scramble, in the second-half. Unbeaten in 33 matches before this final, it was after a tense period of extra time failed to find a winner, that the dreaded penalty shoot-out, again, was the defining factor – and the bain of the Three Lions.
With Marcus Rashford, Jaden Sancho missing their penalties, despite Jordan Pickford saving from Andrea Belotti and Jorginho, it was Bukayo Saka’s missed spot-kick which saw England lose a nerve-shredding shootout 3-2 to the Italians. Gareth Southgate's bid to end their 55-year wait for a major trophy ended in the familiar agony of defeat in a penalty shootout as the Azzurri claimed a European crown for a second time.
They made history by reaching a major final for only the second time in their history, but, nevertheless, they made history, and brought the nation together – in time for the FIFA World Cup – in 18 months.
