England 1-1 Italy
Hello, and welcome to this evening’s liveblog.
England stand on the brink of history as they aim to win their first major tournament in 55 years.
For Italy, their last and only Euros triumph was almost as long ago, as it took place in 1968.
The Azzurri do have an impressive four World Cup wins in their history, with the most recent victory coming in 2006.
They have also been runners-up on two occasions, with the most recent being the 4-0 defeat against Spain in 2012.
England’s home advantage might give them the slight edge, although the Italians’ greater experience at this level could also be a factor.
It’s a really tough one to call ultimately, and it promises to be a fascinating encounter.
Confirmation of the two teams…
Italy (4-3-3)
Gianluigi Donnarumma; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini (capt), Emerson Palmieri; Nicolo Barella, Jorginho, Marco Verratti; Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne
Coach: Roberto Mancini (ITA)
England (3-4-3/5-3-2)
Jordan Pickford; Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips, Mason Mount; Harry Kane (capt), Raheem Sterling
Coach: Gareth Southgate (ENG)
Who do you think will win?
Poll Results:
Cynicism has been rife, from the quickly aborted European Super League plans to the ridiculously taxing schedule that top-level players are expected to conform to in these unprecedented times.
“Yet over the past couple of weeks, the Euros have felt like a breath of fresh air.”
We ranked the 10 best matches of Euro 2020 and you can read the piece in full here.
HUNDREDS OF TICKETLESS fans tried to storm the Wembley gates in a bid to gain entry to England’s Euro 2020 final against Italy on Sunday.
Footage posted on social media showed supporters battling to get past lines of stewards and police as the atmosphere turned ugly in the hours before kick-off.
While some fans shown in the videos appeared to get past the fences and towards the venue, Wembley officials insisted there had been no breach of stadium security.
There has been pre-match trouble and you can read our full report here.
"Big man!"
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 11, 2021
🇮🇹🆚🏴 Giorgio Chiellini 🤝 Harry Maguire 😀#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/xKxC1an1cT
200 - Having made one change to the starting XI tonight, England have now made a combined 200 starting XI changes across 37 internationals since last naming an unchanged side against Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-final. Tinkering. #ENG #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/CStJYouHQw
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 11, 2021
Damien Duff is backing an Italy win…
An #ITA win is the definitive verdict from Damien Duff #RTESoccer #EURO2020 #ITAENG #ENG
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) July 11, 2021
📱 Live Updates - https://t.co/3NoaPVvJew
📺 Watch live - https://t.co/jyJ07FQRQi pic.twitter.com/stNsXguCCH
We’re underway…
Early nerves for England.
Harry Maguire has just played it straight out for a corner.
ENGLAND 1-0 ITALY (SHAW 2)
Luke Shaw has just scored the quickest goal ever in a Euros final after one minute and 57 seconds.
England break and Trippier picks out the unmarked Man United man with a perfect cross.
He then hammers it home with a brilliant volley to give England a dream start.
Walker finds Trippier down the right but his cross is cut out.
England are causing plenty of problems early on Italy’s left flank.
Kane has started really well and the Italians are finding it hard to cope with him dropping deep.
He’s just found Trippier in plenty of space, and the wing-back’s cross is put out for a corner.
Trippier is getting so much space on the right-hand side.
This does....not look like it is going to be especially nail-biting. Italy look outnumbered and overpowered every time England go forward.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) July 11, 2021
After a really powerful England start, Italy are coming into it a bit more.
They’ve enjoyed more possession and look increasingly settled, though they haven’t created any real chances yet.
Concern for Italy, as Jorginho is down receiving treatment.
The Chelsea star has been a key player for Roberto Mancini’s men at this tournament.
Here’s a look at the opening goal…
Started and finished by Luke Shaw. What a time for the Manchester United full-back to score his first international goal#ita 0-1 #eng#EURO2020 final #RTESoccer #ITAENG #ENG #ITA
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) July 11, 2021
📱 Live Updates - https://t.co/GxytYsCQgP
📺Watch live - https://t.co/jyJ07FQRQi pic.twitter.com/nXUYNDRx5l
Insigne attempts a shot from about 30 yards out but it goes harmlessly wide.
Italy have been pretty toothless in the final third so far, though they are gradually coming more into this game.
Italy are enjoying a good spell of possession now.
England, though, look very compact and are proving very hard to break down.
The Azzurri still haven’t tested Jordan Pickford at all.
Chiesa gets away from Rice and fires a low shot inches wide.
This is a much better spell for Italy now.
Plenty of patient build-up play by Italy but they don’t look threatening at all.
Insigne and Immobile have been totally ineffectual in attack and been very wasteful on more than one occasion.
The game has been played almost exclusively in the England half in the last few minutes.
Still, though, Stones, Maguire and Walker look comfortable, with the visitors lacking incision.
As I type, Verratti turns with the ball on the edge of the area, but his effort is tame and Pickford saves easily.
After a series of passes, Bonucci attempts a shot from about 30 yards out but it’s well off target.
That’s a sign of frustration, with Italy rarely looking like scoring in this half.
HALF-TIME: ENGLAND 1-0 ITALY
So that was an interesting opening half.
England started really strongly and got the all-important goal, and they continued to look the better team for the first 25 minutes.
Gradually, Italy came back into it and started to control the game, but their lack of firepower is conspicuous at the moment, as the English defence has dealt relatively comfortably with anything that has come their way.
The second half will likely continue in a similar pattern to the end of the first, and it will be interesting to see whether England can maintain their intensity for 90 minutes.
The Italians will hope their long spells of possession will eventually wear the hosts down and create more space and opportunities for them in front of goal.
So far though, the Azzurri have had six attempts and only one has been on target.
This footage from inside the stadium this evening pic.twitter.com/g3vTYrKwDu
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) July 11, 2021
Roy knows what’s important at times like this. 😂 pic.twitter.com/wBAAs6Fhat
— Jarlath Regan (@Jarlath) July 11, 2021
The second half has begun…
Barella has received the first booking of the game for a late challenge on Harry Kane.
Otherwise, it’s been a fairly uneventful start.
Claims for a penalty as Sterling goes down in the area.
Bonucci and Chiellini were both close to him, but the referee waves play on.
Sterling has taken down Insigne on the edge of the England area.
Free kick in a good position now for Italy.
Insigne takes the free kick but it goes well wide.
It has not been his night so far.
Insigne gets the ball in a promising position on the edge of the area, but his finish is woeful.
Italy then make a change.
Barella and Immobile are replaced by Cristante and Berardi.
That’s no surprise, as neither of the departing players have had a good game.
More pressure now from Italy.
Insigne drives in a cross-shot that Pickford has to parry away.
Italy are still dominating possession.
England are just sitting back and soaking up the pressure.
The next goal will be absolutely pivotal you feel, and if England get it, it’s hard to see a way back for the Italians.
Close!
Chiesa finds space in the box, and his low shot forces a decent save by Pickford.
It’s England’s turn to go close.
A corner finds John Stones, whose header is tipped over by Donnarumma.
ITALY 1-1 ENGLAND (BONUCCI 67)
A corner creates a goalmouth scramble.
Chiellini’s initial header is saved by Pickford, but Bonucci is on hand to slot home the rebound.
Italy have been the better side in this second half and deserve that goal.
Italy have had 71% possession according to the Uefa stats.
England respond to the setback by making a change, with Saka replacing Trippier, who started really well, but like the rest of the hosts’ team, has faded as the match has developed.
England have been playing like it's 85 minutes since about 30 minutes.
— Jonathan Liew (@jonathanliew) July 11, 2021
So close!
A long ball catches England out.
The onrushing Berardi gets to the ball ahead of Pickford but cannot direct a difficult volley on target.
England then make another change, with Henderson replacing Rice, who has played well but started to tire.
The Liverpool man might be able to add a bit more guile to the English midfield.
Italy continue to dominate possession.
England are fading badly and look in need of inspiration, with the match going against them at present.
34 & 71 - Leonardo Bonucci (34 years and 71 days) has become the oldest scorer in a EURO final, beating the previous record of Bernd Hölzenbein in 1976 (30 years and 103 days). Strike.#ItaliaInghilterra #Euro2020Final #EURO2020 #ITAENG pic.twitter.com/0VC6UhTJOZ
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) July 11, 2021
Chiesa is down receiving treatment currently.
Losing him would be a real blow, as he has been one of Italy’s best attacking players.
Mount breaks free down the left.
His cross falls to Saka, but the youngster can’t control the ball and the danger is subsequently averted.
Just over five minutes remain now.
The tension is really palpable and you suspect extra-time is on its way.
Chiesa is hobbling off now. That’s a blow to Italy as he’s been among their best players.
Juventus winger Bernardeschi is on in his place to win his 34th cap.
Here’s a look at the equaliser…
Leonardo Bonucci levels up the #EURO2020 final from close range.
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) July 11, 2021
Game on now!#ITA 1-1 #ITA#RTESoccer #ITAENG #ENG #ITA
📱 Live Updates - https://t.co/GxytYsCQgP
📺Watch live - https://t.co/jyJ07FQRQi pic.twitter.com/Ogqn83Lb6M
There will be six minutes of stoppage time…
Italy are owning the ball at the moment, but can’t get past a solid rearguard.
England are hanging on a bit.
As I type though, Chiellini cynically drags back Saka and gets a deserved yellow card as a result.
FULL-TIME: ENGLAND 1-1 ITALY
So, it’s another 30 minutes of action and possibly penalties.
Italy looked the far stronger side in that second half, and dominated possession.
The equaliser was deserved and they appeared to have all the momentum thereafter.
That said, England have continued to look very solid at the back and are not out of this by a long stretch.
The loss of Chiesa for Italy is also a big blow, as he has been one of their most inventive attacking players.
The visitors look the stronger team going in at extra-time, and you get the sense Gareth Southgate’s side will be the happier side if it goes to penalties.
Italy make a change.
Insigne, who was poor at first but came into it more in the second half, is replaced by Belotti.
The first half of extra-time is underway.
The game is continuing in a similar fashion.
Italy are dominating possession, with England sitting back and hoping to hit them on the counter.
As I type though, Sterling finds himself in space on the left, but Chiellini gets back well to make a good tackle.
Italy then make a change, with Locatelli on for Verratti.
England make a change, and it’s a popular one in the stadium.
Jack Grealish is replacing Mason Mount, who has had a quiet game.
England are starting to play with a bit more positivity now.
They’ve shown a willingness to get bodies forward since the start of extra-time.
Nervy moment for England.
Emerson gets in behind Walker. Pickford just throws himself at the cross and England fortuitously get it clear eventually.
Per RTE, Italy are 17-5 ahead when it comes to attempts on goal.
They have had five on target compared to England’s one (the goal).
HALF-TIME: ENGLAND 1-1 ITALY
The second half has begun…
Bernardeschi hits a free kick from about 30 yards out that swerves slightly, and Pickford only gathers it at the second attempt.
It’s unbearably tense at the moment.
This is a good spell for England now.
Sterling made a promising run in the box, but the magnificent Chiellini got a well-timed challenge in.
Grealish is down after a poor late over-the-top challenge by Jorginho.
“It’s a bad tackle and he should be off,” says Ronnie Whelan on RTE.
Instead, the midfielder is only given a yellow card.
Not too much of note happening at the moment.
Florenzi is coming on for Emerson.
Unsurprisingly, both sets of players look fairly shattered and you get the sense they’ve settled for penalties.
England make a double change.
Rahsford and Sancho replace Henderson and Walker.
That has to be with penalties in mind.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time…
Berardi curls a ball into the area but no one is in there to convert.
It looks set for penalties.
FULL-TIME: ENGLAND 1-1 ITALY – PENALTIES TO BE PLAYED!
Berardi is up first for Italy…
Italy 1-0 England – Berardi scores.
Italy 1-1 England – Kane scores.
Italy 1-1 England – Belotti misses.
England 2-1 Italy – Maguire scores.
Italy 2-2 England – Bonucci scores.
England 2-2 Italy – Rashford misses.
Italy 3-2 England – Bernadeschi scores.
Italy 3-2 England – Sancho misses.
Italy 3-2 England – Jorginho misses.
Italy 3-2 England – Saka misses.
ITALY BEAT ENGLAND 3-2 ON PENALTIES!
Wow, what a game!
Italy have edged England on penalties.
More than one English player is in tears, while the Italians are understandably ecstatic.
It’s probably just about deserved. They were the better team for most of the 120 minutes, even though England started superbly.
It’s been a really enthralling match to watch – one of the most memorable finals in recent memory.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read the report here and we’ll have more reaction to follow.
