For the second time in the history of the Euro Tournament, the lottery of penalty kicks was required to determine the champion and it was Italy who emerged victoriously.
After battling to a 1-1 draw in Sunday’s final at Wembley all through the 90 minutes and extra time, the game went into penalty kicks.
Italy took the first kick and was converted the same way Harry Kane converted for England.
The Bellotti stepped for Italy’s second. but it was saved by Pickford.
For the third kick, Maguire scored for the Three Lions and Bonucci followed suit.
Rashford took the fourth for England and he missed hitting the bar, with Italy scoring they restored parity.
Sancho stepped out for the fifth and also missed leaving Jorginho to take the all-important last kick which he missed and gave England a lifeline.
In the sudden death, Bukayo Saka played for England and lost which effectively handed the trophy to Italy meaning the Three Lions will have to continue their wait for a major trophy since the 1966 triumph in the World Cup.
It was Italy who got the game underway and within the first minute they were gifted a corner kick by Harry Maguire but it was well dealt with by the England defence.
Italy pressed immediately for an equaliser and in the sixth minute they won a free kick in a promising position but Insinge’s shot went inches over the bar.
There was an injury scare in the 21st minute for Italy as Jorginho appeared to have gotten a knock but the Chelsea star was able to shake it off and continue the game.
Both sides pressed hard to score and Chiesa came quite close in the 35th for Italy but his low drive was few inches off the target.
England at the other end also came close but the low cross by Shaw into the Italy box failed to get the simple tap in it needed.
Emerson was lucky to escape a booking after he clattered into Declan Rice in the 35th minute.
Italy ended the first half on a high with Verrati and Immobile had clear attempts at goal in added time but both were stopped by Pickford in goal for the Three Lions.
Expectedly, the second half started on a frenetic note and Jorginho was given the first yellow card of the game after a foul on Harry Kane.
Moments afterwards, the Three Lions had a shout for a penalty kick after Sterling went down in the box but it was waved off by the referee.
Italy in the 50th minute had a free-kick just outside the England box but Insinge was unable to direct his shot at goal.
Bonnuci was booked for a foul on Sterling
Italy had another good chance on the hour mark with Chiesa firing a low shot but Pickford produced a world-class save to deny the Azzurri the equaliser they badly craved for.
But Mancini’s men made their domination in the second-half count as they found a way back with Bonucci scrapping in the equaliser in the 67th minute.
Southgate responded with a substitution pulling off Trippier for Bukayo Saka
He also took out Rice for Jordan Herdasson.
Hard as both sides pushed to win before penalties, it was not the case as the game went all the way and Italy prevailed at the end.
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