10 talking points from Italy's win over England | UEFA Euro 2020 Final

Bhargav
Italy rejoice after winning the UEFA Euro 2020 Final against England.
Italy rejoice after winning the UEFA Euro 2020 Final against England.

Italy recovered from a goal down to beat England in a nervy penalty shootout to lift the Euro 2020 title at the Wembley Stadium in London.

England made the perfect start when they opened the scoring inside two minutes, with Luke Shaw scoring his first international goal in the biggest match of his career.

However, the hosts failed to build on their lead even as the excellent Federico Chiesa spurned two gilt-edged opportunities for the Azzuri.

Italy upped the ante and were back on level terms midway through the second half when Leonardo Bonucci tucked home from close range after a goal-mouth melee. Italy could have sealed the game in normal time, but Domenico Berardi failed to lob Pickford.

In extra time, both teams had opportunities to win the game, but the chances went begging, and a penalty shootout ensued, only the second in European Championship history after 1976.

Following two successful kicks, Andrea Belotti's penalty was saved by Jordan Pickford. While Harry Maguire put England into the lead, it proved to be short-lived.

Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, introduced moments before the end of extra time, missed their efforts and the stage was once again set up for Jorginho to seal it for Italy. The midfielder, who hit the Azzurri's winning spot-kick against Spain in the semis, saw his effort saved by Pickford.

But Bukayo Saka's tame penalty was comfortably saved by Donnarumma to confirm Italy's victory.

On that note, let's have a look at ten interesting stats from the game.

#10 Giorgio Chiellini is the oldest captain to start a European Championship final

Giorgio Chiellini had an excellent game for Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
Giorgio Chiellini had an excellent game for Italy in the Euro 2020 final.

He may be 36, but Giorgio Chiellini plays with the youthful exuberance of a player ten years younger.

Against England in the Euro 2020 final, the Juventus player led Italy from the front, commanding his backline and orchestrating play from the back. In the process, Chiellini became the oldest player to start a European Championship final as the captain, overtaking his illustrious compatriot Gianluigi Buffon.

Chiellini was also a presence at the other end of the pitch and almost scored Italy's equaliser before his defensive partner Leonardo Bonucci scored.


#9 Luke Shaw scores the fastest-ever goal in a European Championship final

Luke Shaw (right) opened the scoring for England in the UEFA Euro 2020 Final.
Luke Shaw (right) opened the scoring for England in the UEFA Euro 2020 Final.

Playing only his 16th international game, Luke Shaw could not have chosen a more opportune moment to open his account for England.

The 25-year-old produced a smart finish in only the second minute of the game to provide England a dream start against Italy in the Euro 2020 final. That marked the fastest goal ever scored in a European Championship final.

Shaw continued to be a lively presence at both ends of the pitch and also performed his defensive duties with aplomb.


#8 Leonardo Bonucci becomes the oldest player to score in a European Championship final

Leonardo Bonucci
Leonardo Bonucci

Leonardo Bonucci scored in the second half to level proceedings for Italy in the Euro 2020 final against England. That made the 34-year-old Juventus centre-back the oldest to score in a European Championship final, beating the previous record by almost four years.

It was only the seventh goal he has scored for the Azzurri in 110 games, and his first in 17 games at the Euros.


#7 Bukayo Saka is the fourth-youngest player to feature in a European Championship final

Bukayo Saka (centre) had a night to forget.
Bukayo Saka (centre) had a night to forget.

Bukayo Saka came on for England as a second-half appearance substitute in the Euro 2020 final. That made the teenager the fourth-youngest player to appear in the title match of the European Championship.

Only Renato Sanches (2016), Cristiano Ronaldo (2004) and Anatoliy Baidachniy (1972) were younger than Saka when they featured in a Euro final.

#6 Gianluigi Donnarumma is only the second goalkeeper to win the Player of the Team award at a European Championship

Gianluigi Donnarumma
Gianluigi Donnarumma

Gianluigi Donnarumma was the hero for Italy in the Euro 2020 final shootout against England, saving penalties from Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka to cap off a memorable campaign at his first major tournament.

In the semi-finals, Donnarumma's heroics helped Italy beat Spain in another shootout. Earlier in the tournament, the 22-year-old kept three consecutive clean sheets in the group stage.

Considering his stellar exploits belying his tender years, Donnarumma was named the Player of the Tournament at Euro 2020, becoming only the second goalkeeper to be bestowed the honor at a European Championship.

Nearly three decades ago, Peter Schmeichel of Denmark was the first goalkeeper to take home the award after inspiring his team to an unlikely title win.


#5 Gianluigi Donnarumma has not lost a penalty shootout for club and country

Gianluigi Donnarumma (right)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (right)

Staying with the Italy custodian, Gianluigi Donnarumma extended his perfect record in shootouts for club and country following the Azzurri's triumph over England in the Euro 2020 final.

The 22-year-old featured in two successful shootouts for Italy (both at Euro 2020) and three for his club side AC Milan.


#4 England have lost more penalty shootouts in European Championships than any other team

England endured more shootout heartbreak at the Euros.
England endured more shootout heartbreak at the Euros.

England's penalty-shootout defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final was their fourth in the European Championship, the most by any team in the competition's history.

Incidentally, the Three Lions won their first-ever European Championship shootout when they beat Spain 4-2 on penalties in the Euro' 96 quarter-finals.

However, since then, England have stumbled in four successive shootouts in the competition. The Three Lions fell 5-6 to Germany in the Euro' 96 semis, 5-6 to Portugal in the Euro 2004 quarter-finals, 2-4 to Italy in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals and 2-3 to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.

England's overall shootout record in major tournaments (FIFA World Cup) and European Championship now reads an abysmal 2-7, the worst by any team appearing in at least three shootouts in either tournament.

#3 Italy are now one win away from equalling the longest unbeaten streak in international football

Italy celebrate their UEFA Euro 2020 final win.
Italy celebrate their UEFA Euro 2020 final win.

Euro 2020 champions Italy have been on a tear after failing to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Since a 1-0 defeat to Portugal in a Nations League game in 2018, the Azzurri are now unbeaten in 34 games in all competitions, winning 29 of these games (including extra time and penalties). That is just one short of Brazil and Spain's record of 35 unbeaten games - the longest unbeaten stream by any team in international football.

Earlier in the tournament, Italy created a new record for most consecutive wins (15) at the Euros, including qualifiers, following their victory over Belgium in the quarter-finals.


#2 Italy win their sixth major title, most by a European team after Germany

Italy rejoice after their UEFA Euro 2020 final triumph.
Italy rejoice after their UEFA Euro 2020 final triumph.

Following their win over England in the Euro 2020 final, Italy have now won their sixth major trophy, the most by a European nation after Germany.

The Azzurri have won two European Championships titles and triumphed four times at the FIFA World Cup. Meanwhile, Germany have won three Euros and four FIFA World Cup titles.


#1 Italy create a new record for longest gap between successive European Championship triumphs

Italy beat England to win the Euro 2020 title.
Italy beat England to win the Euro 2020 title.

Italy's penalty-shootout win over England in the Euro 2020 final marked their first success in the competition since their only triumph in 1968. In the process, the Azzurri created a new record for the longest gap (53 years) between successive European Championship triumphs.

The earlier record belonged to Spain, who won their second title in 2008, 44 years after their first (in 1964).

Italy are now one of four teams to have won multiple European Championships, Spain (3), Germany (3) and France (2) being the others.

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