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Fighting duels are part of Italy's central defender Giorgio Chiellini
Photo:
Christian Charisius / dpa
Italy are European champions for the second time.
In London's Wembley Stadium, the "Squadra Azzurra" won 3-2 (0-1, 1-1, 1-1) on penalties against the English team.
Luke Shaw brought the English into the lead in the second minute, Leonardo Bonucci equalized (67.).
On penalties, Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two penalties from Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, while Marcus Rashford failed at the far left post.
After 1968 it is only the second European title for the Italians, but England will have to wait for their first continental title.
The excitement around Wembley Stadium was already great before the game.
Thousands of people had come to the stadium without a ticket for the game.
As seen on videos on social networks, hundreds of them broke barriers and got onto the stadium grounds.
After initially denying it, a stadium announcer later admitted that a "small group" had entered the stands without a ticket.
While the security forces at Wembley were still busy locating the fans without a map, Shaw caused the first big cheers at Wembley.
Striker Harry Kane had taken the ball in midfield and shifted it to the right wing, Kieran Trippier waited a little with his cross, but then found Shaw on the second post, who hit a dropkick (2nd).
First England better, then Italy
England dominated the early stages, the Italians hardly ever made it into the opposing half.
The English switch repeatedly over the strong Kane.
Apart from a finish from around 20 meters by Federico Chiesa, who passed just right (35th), the Italians did not succeed in the first round.
After the restart, the Italians got better - and above all more offensive.
While striker Ciro Immobile was on his own in the first half against the English five-man chain, there were now more Italians in the penalty area.
England keeper Jordan Pickford saved shots from Lorenzo Insigne (57th) and Chiesa (62nd);
as well as a header from Marco Verratti after a corner, but central defender Bonucci dusted off to equalize (67.).
As a result, both teams avoided greater risk, which dragged on into extra time.
It only got really dangerous again, Pickford cleared after a cross against Federico Bernardeschi (104th) and the Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma against John Stones (108th).
Shortly before the end of extra time, England's national coach replaced two supposedly safe penalty takers, Sancho and Rashford, both of whom missed on penalties.
hba
