Italy lift European Championship after penalty shootout against England

LONDON - Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was the hero with two saves in the penalty shootout as Italy won the title 3-2 on penalties after the final against England ended 1-1 after extra time.

Marcos Rashford sent his penalty against the post and then the Italian goalkeeper saved kicks from Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Sako after Jordan Pickford had done well to save from Jorginho and Andrea Belotti

Once again the penalties were cruel on England, but Italy will argue that after suffering in the first half, they did enough in the remainder of the game to deserve the win.

While Italy were unchanged from the squad that beat Spain in the semifinal, England coach Gareth Southgate returned to the three central defenders who had served so well against Germany.

Southgate's tactics paid immediate dividends when Luke Shaw volleyed England into a second minute lead. Harry Kane dropped deep and created space for Kieran Trippier and the wing-back had time to pick out Shaw's run at the far post.