On a sweet British summer night, Italy and England faced off at the summit of the 2020 European Championships, the year delay building levels of anticipation up to a palpable mist that hung in the air, clinging to the players as they walked out of Wembley’s tunnel.
The atmosphere was electric, albeit permeated by English paranoia and anxiety amidst excitement and anticipation. All were hopeful but incredibly aware of the fact, that ever since 1966, something always went wrong.
Whether it was star players making rash decisions, injuries, terrible officiating or the dreaded penalty bottle job, it always seemed to go against England.
Italy on the other hand were probably the underdogs in many ways.
The Build Up
They had failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in embarrassing fashion. Then manager Ventura played overly defensive football against Sweden as they stumbled to a 0-0 draw, losing 1-0 on aggregate. It was a loss that would steal away Buffon’s last World Cup appearance.
It was a disaster, but two years on from that, under new manager Roberto Mancini; a man dedicated to playing a much more expansive brand of football, Italy had made it to a major international final.
But what a transformation from the Italians in the space of just 2 years,very similar to that of England’s transformation under Southgate at teh 2018 World Cup, also 2 years after an insipid Hodgson era that ended after Euro 2016.
But, on the day, the past under different managers had no bearing on the game. In the now, both sides were in form and had fended off capable opponents.
England had overpowered Germany, Ukraine and Denmark, with the first two comfortable victories, before a tense game against the Danes was edged out, albeit it through a shameless Sterling dive to give England an Extra-time penalty.
Italy on the other hand had a lot more difficulty than England, needing Extra time twice and Penalties once, Austria putting up a brave fight, succumbing to a 105th-minute winner in the Quarter Final.
A classic Italian shutout in the second half was enough to see out a 2-1 win over Belgium next before penalties were required to beat Spain in the Semi-final.
After a 4 day wait, which proved the longest four days of every England and Italy fan’s lives, the tournament’s conclusion finally came.
The game kicked off with a deafening English roar, and before long, those very same fans were in ecstasy…
England Off To A Flyer
England got off to a fantastic start, a sweeping move as Italy stumbled out of the blocks, eventually saw a perfect cross finding Luke Shaw completely unmarked just 8 yards out at the back post.
A smart finish, sneaking the ball past Donnaruma’s near post saw the English masses erupt. Dreamland, things had gone their way this tournament, and it really felt like it was their year.
From Italy’s perspective, it was pretty poor defending, Luke Shaw being left completely unmarked in acres of space.
Italy, desperate not to concede a second, only tentatively pushed forward, while England adopted a similar mindset, settling for what they had.
A surging run culminating in a rasping low shot from Chiesa, that just went wide was probably Italy’s best moment of the first half.
Half-time eventually rolled around, Italy fans were unhappy with their showing so far.
England looked like they had the potential to get the job done.
Some England fans dared to dream just the tiniest bit, having done well to nullify the Italian threat, for all myself and every other England fan could tell, this looked a different type of side to the cursed sides of old.
When the second half restarted, Italy were expected to fly out the gates with a new-found lease on life, but it was England instead who put hearts in opposing mouths.
Wriggling his way into the box, Sterling went down after some contact with Chiellini. Unlike with Denmark, this time there really was a penalty call there, but the ref waved it away.
It wasn’t a certain penalty and was sort of one of those 50/50 decisions where they are given just as much as they aren’t, but Sterling’s dive the previous game was no doubt firmly at the forefront of the referee’s mind.
England in spite of things going against them, held strong and continued to limit Italian sight of goal.
It wasn’t until 61 minutes that Italy fashioned another salient opportunity, Chiesa again causing problems, with a brilliant run cutting across the penalty box, making the defenders look like puppets on strings.
Pickford managed to thwart what would have been a magnificent goal, with a diving good save to keep the effort from creeping into the bottom corner.
England held strong still, but after over an hour of great defending, Italy finally found a way to score.
While Italy’s defence for the opening was poor, the English soon reciprocated in a similar style. 65 minutes after the opener, Bonucci tapped in a decently worked Italy corner.
A flick-on at the near post was nodded goalwards by the 5 foot 6 Veratti. Bouncing off the post, time stood still as Bonnucci ghosted into position amidst the chaos of Veratti’s header, to tap the ball in on the rebound.
Drama at the Death
It was amateur stuff, from England, with Italy players in too much space, losing their markers, holding off defenders and leaving Bonucci with a tap-in. England were all over the place.
The game looked to have petered out for extra time, neither side willing to gamble in the final third during regulation time.
However, with 30 seconds left on the clock, Saka was played clean through on the wing, with space to drive into, having beaten the Italian defensive line.
With no way to legally stop Saka, Gorgio Chiellini cynically pulled Saka down, though were the roles reversed, England would certainly do the same.
It was a grey area when it comes to goal-scoring opportunities. Saka was through, but two defenders may have been able to cover enough ground.
I think a red would have been understandable, especially since a free kick just inside the Italy half hardly seemed adequate compensation for a very real goal-scoring opportunity.
But at the same time, Chiellini was not technically the last defender, it was a tricky decision, and a yellow probably felt the easier decision to make for the referee.
But England had to move on, it was done, the decision was given, whistle signalling the end of the second half blew.
For the 8th time this tournament, the deadlock couldn’t be broken.
The Inevitable Fate Of The Final…
Extra time proved just as cagey, but both teams would have some notable opportunities.
Italy forced a brave save from Pickford, as he parried away a cross with an onrushing Bernardeschi the target.
Then England had a similar chance, a teasing reverse pass from Harry Kane, just about punched away by Donnaruma, with Stones inches from getting there in time to nod the ball in.
But that was about it. Extra time finished, and the game was still tied.
It was the bane of England’s existence. The nightmare every England fan had dreamt about before the game. Penalties…
Despite the pessimism, things got off to a great start.
Both sides converted their first penalties with aplomb, Berardi and Kane firing home comfortably.
Pickford had always been criticised for not being good enough at club level, but for England, he always found an extra gear. A chance to become a hero, you could tell Pickford was well up for this one.
Staring down Belotti for the second pen, he’d guess correct, making a great save diving to his left, beating the ball away.
England could go ahead, and it was Harry Maguire to step up. Most were completely perplexed to see the big centre-back step up, but he’d prove all the doubters wrong.
He sent England ahead with an emphatic penalty, smashing into the camera in the top corner of the goal.
But, the shoot-out took a turn for the worst…
Rashford saw his effort hit the post, fine margins stopping England from retaining a lead. Bonucci and Bernadeschi subsequently converted their penalties.
Sancho’s effort was then easily predicted, Donnarumma now completely in the English player’s heads, with Italy completing a turnaround to take the lead themselves.
The whole tournament rested on a Jorginho penalty. It was inevitable. This was man the penalty king for Chelsea and Italy. He didn’t miss…
With his signature hop and a skip run up, England watched in horror.
He went low, to the keeper’s left. Pickford dived to his left. His hand stretched outwards, colliding with the ball, pushing it onto the post.
England fans went mental, delirious, as confidence flooded back into their faces, which were gaunt and defeated seconds before.
England still had to score to tie things up.
Bukayo Saka stepped up, still a teenager, with England at his feet, willing him to score.
Donnarumma was the final boss of penalties, imposing, he made the goal look tiny.
It felt like Saka would have to send him the wrong way to score.
The keeper stood motionless, staring Saka down while he ran up.
He struck the ball to the keeper’s left. Donnaruma guessed to his left.
Watching through my own fingers like many others, my fears became reality, as the cat-like Donnarumma tipped the ball wide, immortalising himself as Italy’s hero.
Italy were the champions, a dejected Saka in tears. A heroic effort from Pickford wasn’t enough.
It always seemed likely to go to penalties after Italy’s equaliser, and in truth, England rued not going for a killer goal.
Italy won the Euros for a second time, their last victory coming in 1968.
