Three  players who missed penalty kicks for England in the decisive European Championship shootout against Italy on Sunday night were subjected to racist abuse online, prompting the English Football Association to issue a statement condemning the language used against the players. Bukayo Saka, at 19 one of the youngest players on the England squad, missed the penalty that gave the title to Italy and denied England its first international trophy since the 1966 World Cup. Read: Italy wins Euro 2020, beats England in penalty shootout It was England’s third straight failure from the penalty spot in the shootout, with Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho also missing. The FA said in a statement it was “appalled” by the abuse of the three players. The team had taken a knee before games at the Euros to signal its support for an end to racial inequality, and the young, multi-ethnic squad won the hearts of the soccer-mad country before the shootout failure brought out all-too-familiar messages of hate. “We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible,” the FA statement said. “We will continue to do everything we can to stamp discrimination out of the game, but we implore government to act quickly and bring in the appropriate legislation so this abuse has real-life consequences.” London’s Metropolitan Police also said it was investigating “offensive and racist” messages on social media. Read: England, Italy set for thrilling EURO 2020 showdown on Sunday Rashford, who plays for Manchester United, noted the racial abuse he received on social media in May after the team lost the Europa League final. England coach Gareth Southgate was criticized for his strategy of bringing in Rashford and Sancho off the bench to take penalties while star Raheem Sterling was sidelined in the shootout. “They were the best takers we had left on the pitch,” Southgate said. “We win and lose together.” Read: Italy vs England Final: EURO 2020 Match Preview

Italian soccer’s redemption story is complete. England’s painful half-century wait for a major title goes on. And it just had to be because of a penalty shootout. Read: Italy vs England Final: EURO 2020 Match Preview Italy won the European Championship for the second time by beating England 3-2 on penalties on Sunday. The match finished 1-1 after extra time at Wembley Stadium, which was filled mostly with English fans hoping to celebrate the team’s first international trophy since the 1966 World Cup. “It’s coming to Rome. It’s coming to Rome,” Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci shouted into a TV camera amid the celebrations, mocking the famous lyric “it’s coming home” from the England team’s anthem. For England, it was utter dejection again — they know the feeling so well when it comes to penalties — after Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy’s imposing goalkeeper, dived to his left and saved the decisive spot kick by 19-year-old Londoner Bukayo Saka, one of the youngest players in England’s squad. That was England’s third straight failure from the penalty spot in the shootout, with Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho — players brought on late in extra time seemingly as specialist penalty-takers — also missing. Read: England, Italy set for thrilling EURO 2020 showdown on Sunday As Saka and Sancho cried, Donnarumma was mobbed by his teammates as they sprinted toward him from the halfway line at the end of the second penalty shootout in a European Championship final. Then Italy’s jubilant players headed to the other end of the field and ran as one, diving to the ground in front of the Italian fans who have witnessed a rebirth of their national team. It was less than four years ago that Italy plunged to the lowest moment of its soccer history by failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in six decades. Now, they are the best team in Europe and on a national-record 34-match unbeaten run under Roberto Mancini, their suave coach who has won an international trophy in his first attempt to add to the country’s other European title — in 1968 — and its four World Cups. Mancini joined his players on the podium as Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini lifted the Henri Delaunay trophy to the backdrop of fireworks and tickertape. “It was impossible even to just consider this at one stage,” Mancini said, “but the guys were just amazing. I have no words for them.” For England, it’s the latest heartache in shootouts at major tournaments, after defeats in 1990, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2006 and 2012. They ended that losing streak by beating Colombia on penalties in the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup, but the pain has quickly returned. “The boys couldn’t have given more,” England captain Harry Kane said. “Penalties are the worst feeling in the world when you lose. It’s been a fantastic tournament — we should be proud, hold our heads up high. It’s going to hurt now, it’s going to hurt for a while.” Read: Euro 2020 final: Italy holds historical edge over England England’s first major final in 55 years had all started so well, too, with Luke Shaw scoring the fastest goal in a European Championship final by meeting a cross from opposite wing back Kieran Trippier with a half-volley that went in off the post in the second minute. It was Shaw’s first goal for England and it prompted a fist-pump between David Beckham and Tom Cruise in the VIP box amid an explosion of joy around Wembley, which had at least 67,000 fans inside. Maybe more, given dozens of ticketless England fans managed to barge their way past stewards and police and into the stadium in unsettling scenes before kickoff. That was the only time Italy’s famously robust defense was really opened up in the entire 120 minutes. Indeed, after Shaw’s goal, England barely saw the ball for the rest of the game. Italy’s midfielders dominated possession, as widely predicted before the match, and England simply resorted to dropping deep and getting nine or even all 10 outfield players behind the ball. It was reminiscent of the 2018 World Cup semifinals, when England also scored early against Croatia then spent most of the game chasing its opponent’s midfield before losing in extra time. Italy’s equalizer was merited and Bonucci was the unlikely scorer. He put the ball in from close range after a right-wing corner was flicked on to Marco Verratti, whose stooping header was tipped onto the post by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. England managed to hold on for extra time — the way three of the last six European finals went — and actually had the better of the final stages. Just not the shootout, again. After the misses of Rashford — he stuttered up to the ball and then hit the post — and Sancho, whose shot was saved by Donnarumma again down to his left, Jorginho had the chance to win it for Italy. Incredibly, the midfielder who converted the decisive penalty in a shootout win over Spain in the semifinals also failed to score as Pickford tipped the effort off the post. It was Donnarumma who then made the crucial saves and within minutes he had also been named player of the tournament, the first goalkeeper to be so honored. So instead of coming home, the trophy is headed to Rome. “We’d heard it day in, day out from Wednesday night — we heard it would be coming home to London,” Bonucci said. “I’m sorry for them, but the cup will be taking a nice flight, making its way to Rome so Italians all over the world can savor this.”  

The semifinal round of the ongoing UEFA EURO Championship came to an end on Thursday (July 8). Italy overcame Spain 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in the first semifinal, while England ousted Denmark 2-1 in the second semifinal. We will be watching Italy vs England final on Monday, July 12th at 1 a.m. (BST). Italy last competed in a EURO Championship final in 2012, losing 4-0 to Spain. On the other side, this will be England's first European Championship final. Prediction of Italy vs. England final of this year’s EURO tournament is discussed in this article. Italy’s Chances of Winning the UEFA EURO 2020 Italian fans were disappointed by their country's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Italy's national team is still under a lot of strain, so it will be a huge joy for them if they can win this competition. Italy have exceeded expectations by playing the most exciting style of football and finished first in the group stage points table. They are now a strong contender to win the UEFA EURO 2021 Championship after eliminating Belgium and Spain in the knockout stage.  Read Copa America 2021 Match Preview: Argentina vs Brazil Final Italy have shown their real potential in the knockout stages, but they will have to compete hard against England, who are currently in excellent form. One thing is certain, they will make it tough for England in the final.  Led by central defender Giorgio Chiellini, Italy have several real match-winners, like goalkeeper Donnarumma, attacker Insigne, and midfielders Locatelli and Marco Verratti. They must all play well to win their second European Championship. Key Players Who Could Make the Difference  Donnarumma (GK), Insigne (Goals: 2), Chiesa (Goals: 2), Locatelli (Goals: 2), Marco Verratti (Assists: 2), Giorgio Chiellini Predicted Playing XI  Donnarumma (GK), Chiellini, Bonucci, Di Lorenzo, Spinazzola, Barella, Jorginho, Chiesa, Verratti, Insigne, Immobile Read: Italy beats Spain on penalties, reaches Euro 2020 final England’s Chances of Winning the UEFA EURO 2020 England have not won a major event since winning the 1966 World Cup. In fact, they have never reached a World Cup or European Championship final since then. This is England's first UEFA EURO final, and the 'Three Lions' are hoping to win a major tournament for the first time in 50 years. England are in great shape, and a number of exceptional players have joined the national team in recent years. That is why English football fans have high expectations for this team. They've played impressive football throughout the tournament and have yet to lose a game. England came out on top with the most points in Group D. In the knockout stages, they defeated Germany (2-0), Ukraine (4-0), and Denmark (2-1). So, the confidence is high in the English campaign to win this year's EURO Championship. Read: Euro 2020 final: England can finally end 55 years of misery Led by charismatic Captain Harry Kane, England have numerous true match-winners, including attacking midfielders Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish, and defender Kieran Tripper. But they must all carry extra responsibility in the final in order to win their first UEFA European Championship title. Key Players Who Could Make the Difference  Jordan Pickford (GK), Harry Kane (Goals: 4), Raheem Sterling (Goals: 3), Luke Shaw (Assists: 3), Jack Grealish (Assists: 2)  Predicted Playing XI  Jordan Pickford (GK), Maguire, Stones, Trippier, Walker, Grealish, Shaw, Rice, Phillips, Sterling, Kane.  Read Copa America 2021: Martinez the Hero as Argentina Advance to Final Verdict Italy vs England final will be held at the Wembley Stadium in London, and the football world is anticipating an exciting contest between these two teams. England will get some advantage because of their home condition and they are a strong contender to win their first European Championship. On the other side, Italy haven't won a EURO tournament since 1968, so they'll go all out to win the coveted championship. Both teams are in fantastic form right now and have been very consistent throughout the tournament. Hopefully, the deserving team will win the trophy in the end. Read: Euro2020 semi-finalists have been determined