EURO 2020- The Finals

Little did we know before the final game for the UEFA EURO that the famous English saying “IT IS COMING HOME” would turn into Italy’s, now favoured phrase, “ IT IS COMING TO ROME”. In a highlight of unexpected events, Italy bagged the UEFA EURO championship and with pride took it back to Rome.

The Wembley Stadium in England played host to the much anticipated final, a final that proved to be well worth the wait. On one side was England, searching for their championship, well on the lookout for their 2nd major title in the UEFA after their 1966 World Cup win, a drought that lasted for 55 years. On the other side, Italy were almost consistent winners of major titles, a 2006 World Cup win, not far behind this one.

Unfortunately, England, the favourites to win this one, on the verge of making history couldn’t get across the line. The 34 matches unbeaten side of Italy, threw sticks on England’s dreams when Italy’s Leonardo Bonucci levelled the game with a close-range finish. With that goal, Bonucci drowned the high spirits of the confident English side, they had the trophy within their sights and it was only a matter of time.

The game went into extra time as football fans reached the end of their seats. With still no clear winner, the extra time allotted to the game came to an end and the game went into penalty shootouts which have been said to be a thorn for the English side and this game holds proof to that statement.

Italy’s goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnaruma made two saves against the English and the third goal missed was when the ball kicked, hit the post which leads Italy to win the finals with a 3-2 result in the shootout. A dramatic end to an exhilarating final between the two sides.

A low blow to the English, the players and the fans of the team. They had everything in them to win the championship but that trophy still ended up being one foot further away from them.

“The balloon is burst, and the feeling around the country will be very empty, I know,” Coach Gareth Southgate said. “That’s hard for everybody to take. We wanted to give everybody one more night that would continue the biggest party ever. We haven’t been able to do that, but I hope we’ve given everybody some incredible memories.”

The mood on the side of the mantle holders was something of the Azzuri's opposite nature. The coach of the Azzuri’s was filled with nothing but praises for his team, with a sense of enigma, “This is a renaissance for Italian football” and renaissance it was.

The cup didn’t come home, it went to Rome.

Bonnuci, Italy’s match-winner, quoted to have said, “We really believed we could become a great side. We have done that now and now the cup is coming back with us to Rome”

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