New European Champions Crowned in Euro 2020 Final
After a year-long delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Euro 2020 finally came to an end on July 11th, 2021 with Italy emerging as the champions. The final was held at Wembley Stadium in London, and it was a match that kept everyone on their toes until the very end.
The Road to the Final
Italy began their Euro 2020 journey with a 3-0 victory over Turkey in the opening match of the tournament. They later won all their group stage matches against Switzerland and Wales to secure top spot in their group. The knockout stages saw them beat Austria, Belgium, and Spain in the semi-final, before facing England in the final.
England, on the other hand, had a strong start to the tournament, beating Croatia 1-0 in their opening match. They ended up finishing in second place in their group, behind Scotland, but won all their knockout stage matches against Germany, Ukraine, and Denmark to book their place in the final.
The Final Match
The final between Italy and England was an intense and closely contested match. England took an early lead through a Luke Shaw goal in the second minute of the game. Italy fought back and dominated possession for the remainder of the first half. They finally got their equalizer in the 67th minute through a goal from Leonardo Bonucci.
The match went into extra time, and neither team was able to score, leading to a penalty shootout. England manager Gareth Southgate made the controversial decision to bring on Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka in the final minutes of extra time specifically to take penalties. Unfortunately for England, all three players missed their penalties, giving Italy the victory.
Italy's Victory and Celebration
Italy's victory marked their second-ever European Championship win, their first being in 1968. The team was overjoyed with their win, and celebrations erupted all across Italy. Fans poured out into the streets, cheering, waving Italian flags, and setting off fireworks to celebrate their team's victory.
The Italian team was praised for their resilience and determination throughout the tournament. They demonstrated their tactical prowess and teamwork on the field, and their efforts were evident in the final match. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was named Player of the Tournament, and the team was awarded the Henri Delaunay Trophy for their win.
Conclusion
Euro 2020 was a tournament filled with unexpected twists and turns, and a fitting end with Italy being crowned as the champions. The tournament was a welcome distraction for football fans around the world, who were still dealing with the effects of the pandemic. The tournament was not only a celebration of football but also a celebration of hope and resilience. Congratulations to Italy on their well-deserved victory!
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