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England\u2019s long wait for a major trophy goes on after Gareth Southgate\u2019s side saw their Euro 2020 dreams end in a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy.<\/p>\nEngland\u2019s long wait for a major trophy goes on after Gareth Southgate\u2019s side saw their Euro 2020 dreams end in a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy.<\/p>\n
Italy wrested control of Sunday\u2019s final and deservedly levelled through Leonardo Bonucci, with the match going to extra-time and on to spot-kicks after it ended 1-1.<\/p>\n
England boss Southgate failed with the key effort in the Euro 96 semi-final loss to Germany and Wembley witnessed another gutting shoot-out loss in the country\u2019s first ever European Championship final.<\/p>\n
Jordan Pickford denied Andrea Belotti and Jorginho, but Marcus Rashford hit the post before fellow substitutes Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were denied as Italy won the shoot-out 3-2.<\/p>\n
Pre-match chaos made way for a perfect start as Shaw hammered home his first England goal after just 117 seconds \u2013 the quickest ever goal in a European Championship final.<\/p>\n
But England\u2019s intensity eventually tapered off and the Azzurri grew into proceedings, with Roberto Mancini\u2019s men dictating the play in the second half and deservedly drew levelling through Bonucci.<\/p>\n
The match went into extra-time and then goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma helped silence the partisan crowd of 67,173 at Wembley and seal Italy\u2019s second Euro crown.<\/p>\n
Southgate gathered his devastated players as Italy celebrated at the end of a night that started in disordered fashion as ticketless fans stormed gates and turnstiles.<\/p>\n
Boos for Italy were followed by a guttural roar as England made their way on to the pitch \u2013 a racket that perhaps explained the jittery early Harry Maguire backpass which went straight out for a corner.<\/p>\n
But such nerves were settled superbly after England dealt with that set piece.<\/p>\n
Shaw \u2013 playing left wing-back after Southgate surprisingly started with a 3-4-3 formation \u2013 effortlessly played out of the press and on to Kane, who sprayed an exceptional ball to Kieran Trippier on the opposite flank.<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old showed his experience and quality by hesitating before sending over a cross to the back post, where Shaw had been allowed to continue his run and strike home from six yards.<\/p>\n
Wembley had never been as loud as when the left-back wheeled off in celebration, with Italy appearing overawed, even shell-shocked, by England\u2019s early intensity.<\/p>\n
This was a fight that the Three Lions were up for but as play became scrappy the Azzurri began to ask more questions.<\/p>\n
Lorenzo Insigne dragged a shot off target before Federico Chiesa sent a low strike from distance skipping just wide.<\/p>\n
Shaw saw a threatening cross just evaded team-mates, but Italy ended the opening period on top as Ciro Immobile, Marco Verratti and Bonucci all tried their luck.<\/p>\n
Raheem Sterling saw half-hearted penalty appeals ignored at the start of a second half Italy dominated for the most part.<\/p>\n
While Maguire and John Stones threatened with headers, Pickford was called into action by Insigne and had to produce a fine stop to thwart Chiesa.<\/p>\n
The Azzurri pressure was mounting and they levelled in the 67th minute.<\/p>\n
Maguire cleared a threatening cross and from the resulting corner diminutive Verratti got on to the flicked-on cross. Pickford tipped the header on to the post and Bonucci reacted quickest to direct home.<\/p>\n
The blue wall behind that goal went wild and Southgate turned to Saka in place of Trippier as England moved to a back four in a bid to change the dynamics of a match that was getting away from them.<\/p>\n
Substitute Domenico Berardi fired over under pressure from Pickford when picked out by a stunning Bonucci pass.<\/p>\n
The lively Chiesa limped off and a pitch invader led stewards a merry dance, with Giorgio Chiellini booked for wiping out Saka in stoppage time as the match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.<\/p>\n
Italy\u2019s grip of the midfield battle loosened but there was to be no breakthrough in the first period of extra-time, with Kalvin Phillips coming closest when firing a fine effort just wide.<\/p>\n
Southgate turned to fan favorite Jack Grealish in that half, with Pickford dealing with a long-range Federico Bernardeschi free-kick when play resumed.<\/p>\n
Grealish was blocked and Donnarumma just about dealt with a Kane cross, while exceptional defending from Chiellini stopped Sterling.<\/p>\n
Grealish was left in agony after being caught by Jorginho. The Italy midfielder was perhaps fortunate to only receive a yellow card.<\/p>\n
Italy handball appeals were ignored and Bryan Cristante glanced a header across the face of goal as the match went to penalties.<\/p>\n
The nation was dreaming when Pickford denied Belotti, but Rashford and Sancho \u2013 both brought on for spot-kicks \u2013 failed from the spot. The first hit the post, the other was denied by Donnarumma.<\/p>\n
There was renewed hope when Pickford saved penalty expert Jorginho\u2019s attempt, only for teenager Saka to see his strike stopped to spark wild Italian celebrations.<\/p>\n