Gareth Southgate has revolutionised English football over the past few years but even the waistcoated genius was not capable of ending England’s penalty curse.
After 120 minutes of excruciating action it was Italy who won Euro 2020, beating the Three Lions in the final on penalties at Wembley after things ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.
Saka’s penalty is saved, which means the #EURO2020 final ends in defeat for the #ThreeLions. pic.twitter.com/r9cFIVJqVG
— England (@England) July 11, 2021
The cruellest way to lose…
This won’t be the last we see of this England team! pic.twitter.com/Bfmdq5Pqnr
— 90min (@90min_Football) July 11, 2021
Before all heartache, fans across the continent were treated to an exciting reveal of each side’s starting XI.
Gareth Southgate sprung a surprise with his selection, reverting to a back three with Bukayo Saka being replaced by Kieran Trippier.
People on social media were split over whether it was a good plan or not…
Waistcoat sacrificing Saka for Trippier catch me screaming the Italian national anthem tonight ?
— v (@vsburna) July 11, 2021
Saka when he comes off the bench pic.twitter.com/eyHyUNFj40
— Archie?⚪️ #KroenkeOut (@AFCArchie14) July 11, 2021
All the best against Italy tonight God’s child Bukayo Saka. If you do come off the bench, I hope you are nothing short of exceptional. We are all behind you our star boy. ? #Euro2020Final pic.twitter.com/biao1EJ8cv
— Peace Adikpe (@Psolyn1) July 11, 2021
Saka Highlights v Italy pic.twitter.com/teQ13pLXnt
— Harvey ????????????????????? (@ZimZillaV1) July 11, 2021
#EURO2020 final: ????? ✅@BukayoSaka87 | @England pic.twitter.com/krTbY2zOVg
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 11, 2021
Simeone started Trippier against Real Madrid last season even after 10 weeks banned and 12 games without a kick. He trusted him in all of Atleti’s biggest games and Southgate was there for most of them.
— Tom Allnutt (@TomAllnuttAFP) July 11, 2021
Kieran Trippier providing emotional support for his delighted dog #ENG pic.twitter.com/XGq3sYaSOd
— Footballers with animals (@ftbllrswanimals) July 11, 2021
Wembley absolutely crazy… crowds are huge, atmosphere building. Really thought Southgate would go unchanged but changing it for 37th game running… Trippier for Saka and England going back three.
— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) July 11, 2021
Weirdly, Eder – the man who scored the winner in the Euro 2016 final – was then wheeled out to present the trophy to the two teams.
What a heartwarming moment.
Eder resurfacing after five years dfkm??
— kevin malone (@greyhood16) July 11, 2021
Éder, Éder, Éder, Éder!!! ?❤
— AnaPRDeepBlue (@AnaPRDeepBlue) July 11, 2021
Eder. The real hero.
— A?? (@B1OLA) July 11, 2021
EDER?? , Goalscorer of EURO2016 Final comes up with the Trophy ?
??????????#EURO2020 | #ItalyEngland #ITAENGpic.twitter.com/Jx0c5xEmAx
— ?? ?????? (@ad_saying) July 11, 2021
So Eder looks younger than Odoi ? #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/Z6fffXmGxQ
— Noreaga (@Bobo_Leo7) July 11, 2021
My God Eder is *unrecognisable* with that hair
— Rahul Iyer (@RahulIyer32) July 11, 2021
From one celebrity appearance to another, we then got the long-awaited return of the tiny car. It emerged with a significant glow-up as well, sporting a glorious rainbow colour scheme.
Everyone was loving it, other than Viktor Orban presumably.
This is it. Every charge I’ve ever had has led up to this moment. I’m so excited! And a bit scared! But mainly excited! ? #ENGITA #Euro2020Final #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/nFIO22zyWO
— Tiny Football Car (@TinyFootballCar) July 11, 2021
Love that little rainbow car
— Liam Thorp (@LiamThorpECHO) July 11, 2021
Hello little ? car. #EnglandvsItaly
— Heather Peace ? (@heatherpeace) July 11, 2021
It’s the little car lookkkkk
— disco in furlough (@0hmate) July 11, 2021
LITTLE CAR ?LITTLE CAR? LITTLE CAR ?https://t.co/pSSRu54W7V
— Light and Ewa-meral Things (@EwaSR) July 11, 2021
I need a buddy cop drama between Brum and the little Euro car.
— Greg Johnson (@gregianjohnson) July 11, 2021
A LITTLE RAINBOW CAR BROUGHT THEM THE BALL THAT WAS SO CUTE PLS
— lanita²⁸? (@lanalouisana1) July 11, 2021
Look at the little gay car!!!
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) July 11, 2021
England fans would have spent last night dreaming about a perfect start but they never would have thought this would happen.
With less than two minutes on the clock Luke Shaw drilled home Kieran Trippier’s effort at the back post. It was the fastest ever goal in a European Championship and also the quickest strike by an England player in Euros history.
DREAMLAND.
25 percent of the goals Luke Shaw has scored in his career have come in the finals of major tournaments.
— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) July 11, 2021
Oh my actual god
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) July 11, 2021
Why have we scored too early. FFS.
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) July 11, 2021
LUKE FUCKING SHAW!!!!
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) July 11, 2021
Good to start with the Carlos Alberto goal and work backwards
— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) July 11, 2021
FUCKRIGHTOFF
— twitch.tv/Limmy (@DaftLimmy) July 11, 2021
Unreal that, what a move, cross & finish. Wow
— Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) July 11, 2021
It’s going slightly better
— Sean Walsh (@SeanDZWalsh) July 11, 2021
EEEEEEEEAASSSSSYYYYY
— Football Ramble (@FootballRamble) July 11, 2021
After this ridiculous start the Wembley atmosphere carried England through, with Italy’s only real threat coming through Federico Chiesa.
Chiesa was on fire at time, making Declan Rice look very silly before firing a shot inches wide before the break.
Chiesa is Italy’s best attacking player and barring Nicolo Zaniolo coming back at full strength, that ain’t changing for the foreseeable future.
— Mike Piellucci (@mikelikessports) July 11, 2021
Chiesa has been such a weapon for Italy & still remains their most dangerous player.
On & off the ball, he adjusts to the team needs in an instant (drop off, widen the pitch or make the run) — and to top it all off he has the individual brilliance on possession. pic.twitter.com/VGxr6nr0EJ
— BlancoReport (@BlancoReport) July 11, 2021
I wasn’t sure at ALL about Chiesa when Juve signed him but I gotta put hands up and say I haven’t been this wrong about a player in a LONG time *cough cough* Mustafi *cough cough* https://t.co/C6ufASEBvQ
— Aaron West (@oeste) July 11, 2021
Is Chiesa already the best Italian player regardless of position? What an improvement from the disinterested player we saw last year at Fiorentina, has so much grinta to go with his technical ability
— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) July 11, 2021
It feels like Federico Chiesa is literally the only Italian player on the pitch right now. #EURO2020
— Jack Gallagher (@calciolovesjack) July 11, 2021
Chiesa deserves better attacking players at Juventus.
— Rafael Hernández ?? (@RafaelH117) July 11, 2021
Chiesa had Declan Rice SPINNING ??????
— Ole Gunnar Scamskjær (@Nigerianscamsss) July 11, 2021
Minutes after half time, Raheem Sterling took a tumble in the box after feeling contact from Leonardo Bonucci.
Jermaine Jenas – on BBC commentary duties for the evening – did not think it was a foul. Most on Twitter agreed with him.
Sterling : come on man I want my penalty
Bonucci : get up boy this is not denmark #Euro2020Final pic.twitter.com/lOHPQnsXJb
— WHN (@Whathasal) July 11, 2021
Mapa de calor do Sterling. pic.twitter.com/5lg9tOOlUM
— Curiosidades Premier League (@CuriosidadesPRL) July 11, 2021
Give Sterling a yellow for diving ffs??♂️
— ChelseaFCBlogs (@ChelseaFCBlogs_) July 11, 2021
Sterling once he reach the penalty box pic.twitter.com/rV2oqOvttT
— Jévon (@Jevon6_) July 11, 2021
Reckon that one was quite clearly a penalty. Could be a case of boy who dived wolf for Raheem Sterling
— The Tactical Times (@Tactical_Times) July 11, 2021
Raheem Sterling heading into the second half like…#ItalyEngland#EURO2020#ITAENG pic.twitter.com/M2PcnVkp7T
— Khaled Louhichi (@LOO7ICHI) July 11, 2021
Sterling when he’s in the Penalty box pic.twitter.com/5cpCij78wd
— advit² ?? (@addyvit) July 11, 2021
England fans about Sterling during the Premier League season “That was a dive.”
England fans about Sterling during the Euros or World Cup “PENALTY!!”
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) July 11, 2021
After this early scare Italy grew into the game and just after the hour mark Leonardo Bonucci prodded home at the back post after the ball had ricocheted around the penalty area from a corner.
But Professor, what if England scores first?
Professor: That’s when Bonucci comes in.#EURO2020 #Euro2020Final #Euro2021 pic.twitter.com/Gn5kSpbxUg
— Su Maila (@klazweq) July 11, 2021
Bonucci & Chiellini have memorised how to play together.
— Mohamed Wehliye (@WehliyeMohamed) July 11, 2021
Bonucci going from villan to hero during these euros ? pic.twitter.com/WaMC7Yd0A6
— Marcin Kaczmarski (@PLJuventino) July 11, 2021
Italians fans celebrate in Rome after Leonardo Bonucci scores an equaliser in the second half of the #EURO2020 final #ENG #ITA https://t.co/Gi1lFtP762 pic.twitter.com/ggiN9VHRDY
— ITV News (@itvnews) July 11, 2021
Match has so far been eerily similar to the Croatia semi-final in 2018. #ENG too withdrawn long before Bonucci’s goal and regressing with inability to keep the ball. Rice and Phillips are workhorses but don’t have the passing precision of #ITA midfielders. Chiesa a joy to watch.
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) July 11, 2021
✅ Most appearances for Italy in EURO finals history (18)✅ Oldest player to score in a EURO final (34 years, 71 days)
?? Leonardo Bonucci ?#EURO2020 | #ITA pic.twitter.com/ToWTINCYAP
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 11, 2021
The way Chiellini celebrated with Bonucci ?#EURO2020 #ITA #ENG pic.twitter.com/op0VeNNxKw
— Goal (@goal) July 11, 2021
The goal gave Italy confidence with Roberto Mancini’s side carving out several decent chances. Domenico Berardi had the best of these, narrowly failing to convert a quarterback style pass from defence.
England, meanwhile, looked leggy and were relieved when the final whistle was blown – though a late foul on Bukayo Saka from Giorgio Chiellini might have been punished more rashly. Most on social media were thankful for the break as well, if only to give themselves some respite from the tension.
Luke Shaw scored immediately so England fans could suffer properly and respect tradition.
— Miriti Murungi (@NutmegRadio) July 11, 2021
Conor Coady in the middle of the England huddle getting everyone back up for extra-time.
Hasn’t kicked a ball all summer but played a part.
— Mark Mann-Bryans (@MarkyMBryans) July 11, 2021
Genuinely reckon my life would be 100x better if I didn’t like football
— Ben (@libertineben) July 11, 2021
2020-21 will never end
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) July 11, 2021
Enjoying the timeline erupting in rage that someone at the temerity to tackle Saka.
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) July 11, 2021
The fact I always have to add 45 + 45 to work out how long there is left at this point shows that I really am a fairweather friend of the beautiful game
— Isy Suttie ? (@Isysuttie) July 11, 2021
An Italian in the toilet just waved his fingers in an Italian way, looked at me and said ‘too-much-a-stress’.
— Mark Steel (@mrmarksteel) July 11, 2021
Italians immediately come out with an aggressive press to see if they can steal a quick one before everything turns to mud.
— Ted Knutson (@mixedknuts) July 11, 2021
Couldn’t Bonucci have asked nicely for Saka’s shirt?? @BukayoSaka87 pic.twitter.com/e1pXq6N4T2
— GravityGooner✨ (@Gravitygunner14) July 11, 2021
Extra time was, unsurprisingly, a sickeningly tense affair. The main flashpoint was Jorginho’s challenge on Jack Grealish.
It was rash and Twitter was universally calling for his dismissal.
Very, very clever from Jorginho to stay down.
— Dave Tickner (@tickerscricket) July 11, 2021
Why ain’t VAR getting involved and sending Jorginho off ?
— Morgan Gibbs-White (@Morgangibbs27) July 11, 2021
Jorginho stamps on Grealish. Yellow card. Shocking decision.
— EUROs Tweet (@Football__Tweet) July 11, 2021
Jorginho with the classic, ‘Fuck, I stamped on him, I’d better fake my own injury to help me get away with that.’
— Rupert Fryer (@Rupert_Fryer) July 11, 2021
Jorginho about to hop-scotch his way to scoring the winning penalty when he shouldn’t even be on the pitch
— Andy Castell (@AJ3) July 11, 2021
No red card for Jorginho who’s an excellent penalty taker. #justsaying
— Jacqui Oatley (@JacquiOatley) July 11, 2021
Should Jorginho have been sent off for this tackle on Grealish? ?#ENG #ITA #Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/cM5J1QiwAi
— talkSPORT ??????? (@talkSPORT) July 11, 2021
However, Jorginho survived. This meant he was able to take a spot kick in the resulting shootout.
It was tortuous for both set of fans but Domenico Berardi and Harry Kane did not the let the pressure get to them, striking home confidently. Next up was Andrea Belotti who could not convert, allowing Harry Maguire to put his side up with an emphatic effort.
Parity was then restored when Leonardo Bonucci scored but Marcus Rashford missed, despite sending the keeper the wrong way. Federico Bernardeschi then converted before Jadon Sancho and Jorginho missed, meaning Bukayo Saka had to score to keep his side in it.
Long story short, he didn’t.
There was some criticism about allowing such inexperienced players taking the three decisive spot kicks, but all in all social media was pretty positive about the whole sickening ordeal. Other than Scotland fans of course.
Sterling carried this team. One of the best cup performances of all time
— Ol’ Grandpa Dinners (@tom_usher_) July 11, 2021
Still, Rashford for PM
— Ally McCrae (@allymccrae) July 11, 2021
Was wrong about Southgate. Took us nearly all the way. And he’s the exact one Saka and the other lads need in their ear now to lift them up. Well done boys ???????
— Dan Godfrey (@dangodfrey_) July 11, 2021
Gutted. #ENG can hold their heads high. On & off the field they’ve been brilliant & have tons to be proud about. Feel for Rashford & Sancho. So hard to come on cold & take a penalty under that pressure. & Saka will bounce back. Congrats #ITA. What a story for them & Mancini! ?
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 11, 2021
I STILL LOVE YOU XOXOXOXOX
— pilbeam (@empilbeam) July 11, 2021
Absolutely bawling at Saka
— matt (@matthewOCS) July 11, 2021
It’s Coming Home For Christmas starts now
— Sean Walsh (@SeanDZWalsh) July 11, 2021
You didnae really think you were gonnae win, did you?
— twitch.tv/Limmy (@DaftLimmy) July 11, 2021
Anyways, bring on the World Cup, eh? ??♂️?
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) July 11, 2021
It’s football’s bus running late or something? ??????
— Robbie (@robacopeland) July 11, 2021
you know, it’s entirely possible that those were the right five penalty takers in the right order, and they just… missed
— Jonathan Liew (@jonathanliew) July 11, 2021
So, it was not to be for England but in 2022 the World Cup is surely coming home, right?
Twitter certainly thought so.
Absolutely heartbroken that we lost in the final but I’m so proud of my country and we go again in the World Cup ? pic.twitter.com/KLXnjRo8x3
— ً (@FutbolBen) July 11, 2021
We’re so proud of the England team right now ???????- you gave the nation hope when we needed it most ❤️ History has been made… Bring on the #WorldCup ?⚽️
— Morrisons (@Morrisons) July 11, 2021
Gutted. But so proud! We have so many amazing young players with bright futures. I love how every tournament we come together as country. Winning the Euros would have been amazing but we have great potential with the World Cup next year.❤️???????
— PIZZA? (@CodeNamePizza) July 11, 2021
Keep your heads up @England – we are all so proud of you and ready for the World Cup – GG to Italy ?❤️
— Dawko (@dawkosgames) July 11, 2021
Next to none of England’s players keeping their silver medals on after being presented with it.Hold the feeling. Box it. There’s a World Cup in 18 months. #EURO2020
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) July 11, 2021
Huge congratulations to Italy. ???
From not qualifying for the last World Cup………
to winning the damn Euros. ?
— Castro1021 (@Castro1021) July 11, 2021
Gotta feel bad for the 3 youngsters who missed the pens because of the abuse they’re gonna face from silly fans. Don’t be sending Rashford, Sancho or Saka any racist abuse, instead send them support and lift their heads up, the world cup is around the corner.
— Raf (@CFC_Raf) July 11, 2021
fair play to italy, unlucky england we will go again in 2022 !! the world cup will come home to us ???????
— NDL Ringside (@NikoOmilana) July 11, 2021
So proud of the England players. This isn’t the time to bring them down. This isn’t the time to be racist or single anyone out. England did so well this tournament and I’m really looking forward to how they do in the World Cup.
— LORD KSI (@KSI) July 11, 2021
