The Italy national football team scripted a memorable end to their UEFA Euro 2020 campaign as they beat England 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time in the final on Sunday.
The Italians reached their fourth final at the European championships. They extended their unbeaten run under manager Roberto Mancini and went on to win their second Euro title and a first since 1968.
53 - Italy have won their second European Championship trophy after 53 years from their first one (1968), the largest gap for a single side in the history of the competition. CHAMPIONS!#ItaliaInghilterra #Euro2020Final #EURO2020 #ITAENG pic.twitter.com/EvTkIX9jz0
— OptaPaolo 🏆 (@OptaPaolo) July 11, 2021
England left-back Luke Shaw scored the fastest goal in a Euro final, when he converted a cross from Kieran Trippier in the second minute. Just as things looked to be going in England’s favour, Leonardo Bonucci equalised for Italy. Bonucci’s 67th-minute goal meant the Juventus defender became the oldest goal-scorer in a Euro final.
1:57 - Luke Shaw's opener was the quickest ever goal scored in the final of the European Championships, as well as his first ever for the England national team. Dream. #ENG #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/l80WW6f4ZL
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 11, 2021
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
After neither team managed to break the deadlock in extra time, the final went into penalties in what was just the second instance in the tournament’s history after the European championship 1976.
2 - EURO 2020 will be only the second European Championship final to be decided via a penalty shootout, after the 1976 showpiece. Nerves. #ENG #ITA #EURO2020
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 11, 2021
Gianluigi Donnarumma, who kept three clean sheets in seven matches at Euro 2020, held his nerve to save Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Sako’s spot-kicks to hand the Azzurri their second European championship. The 22-year-old shot-stopper’s efforts earned him the Golden Ball award for the Best Player of the Tournament.
Donnarumma, currently a free agent, became just the second goalkeeper to win the Golden Ball award after Denmark’s Peter Schmeichel in 1992.
Who scored the most goals in Euro 2020?
Italy and Spain shared the record for most goals in Euro 2020, finding the back of the net 13 times. While Mancini’s men took seven games to score that many goals, Spain netted 13 times in just six matches.
The Euro 2020 goals tally (142 goals) and goals-per-game ratio (2.78 goals per match) are also new record highs for any edition of the tournament.
On the individual level, Cristiano Ronaldo won the Golden Boot for scoring five goals and an assist. The Portugal captain, the only player to appear and score in five consecutive European championships, is the all-time leading scorer in Euros with 14 goals.
Who scored the most own goals in Euro 2020?
Euro 2020 saw as many as 11 own goals, which is more than all the previous editions of the European Championship combined. Portugal and Slovakia registered the most in Euro 2020, with two own goals each in a single game in the group stage.
Spain’s Pedri, adjudged the Young Player of the Tournament, has an unwanted record to his name as he netted the longest own goal scored at any European championship (44 metres) in the round of 16 meeting with Croatia.
Who registered the most assists in Euro 2020?
Switzerland’s Steven Zuber recorded four assists in four games in Euro 2020 to finish as the player with the most assists.
The 29-year-old midfielder equalled the record for most assists in a single European championship, shared by Ljubinko Drulović (2000), Karel Poborský (2004), Eden Hazard (2016) and Aaron Ramsey (2016).
Who conceded the least goals in Euro 2020?
England conceded the fewest goals in Euro 2020. The Three Lions kept clean sheets in the group stage, the round of 16 and quarter-finals before conceding once each in the semis and finals.
Who registered the most clean sheets in Euro 2020?
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford registered the most clean sheets in Euro 2020, keeping five shutouts in seven games.
The Everton custodian made 16 saves in the tournament, but wasn’t rewarded with the Golden Glove as UEFA doesn’t have an award for the best goalkeeper.
Who was the Best Young Player of Euro 2020?
Spain's 18-year-old midfielder Pedri was named the Best Young Player of Euro 2020. The Barcelona youngster, who had just four international caps to his name before this year’s European championship, played a pivotal part in La Roja’s run to the semi-finals.
Pedri played 629 minutes for Spain in Euro 2020, completing 92.3 per cent of his passes. In the semi-final against Italy, the 18-year-old completed 65 of his 66 passes across 120 minutes of action.
Featured photo: AFP / Laurence Griffiths
