"OH NO! NOT AGAIN" Daily Mirror

Italy Team

England Team

    Match Report by Mike Payne

So, that’s it then, another Euro Final decided, the first with England involved, and yet, still the trophy does not have our name on it. On a night full of anguish and heartache England failed at the final hurdle. It wasn’t for lack of trying, and it has to be said that Italy had much of the game, but to lose in yet another dreaded penalty shoot-out was the final nail in our coffin.

The hype before the match was at extraordinary levels, most of it saying how it would be if we won it. Not a great deal of the conversations ever mentioned what it would be like if we lost in the final. Now we know, and the bitter disappointment of every English fan was there for all to see.

The match was a strange one in many ways, and the announcement of the England team seemed to suggest at a rather safety-first approach rather than a much more proactive one. But Gareth Southgate had made nearly all the correct calls throughout the tournament so far, and within two minutes of the start, all his thoughts came to fruition. Harry Maguire started nervously, and gave away a needless corner in the first minute, but it was then he who cleared the ball to Luke Shaw who laid it inside to Harry Kane. The captain’s exquisite pass to Kieran Trippier out on the right ended with a fine cross to the far side by the man from Burnley. Shaw, following up, ran in and hit a superb volley which beat the goalkeeper all ends up! Dare we to dream? Was it all too early? At that moment England were on cloud nine.

Federico Chiesa, Italy’s danger man, was then fouled by Shaw on the edge of the England box and hearts were in the mouth for England fans. Thankfully, Lorenzi Insigne fired his shot well over the bar much to everyone’s relief. There were a lot of nerves in the early stages, on both sides, and there were several fouls. Italy were rattled though, as they have not been used to being behind in recent years, and it showed when Giorgio Chiellini brought down Raheem Sterling. That wouldn’t be his last foul of the evening. On ten minutes Jordan Pickford made a good catch, Kane was fouled by Marco Verratti and Shaw was warned for taking too long on throw-ins. Two minutes later another fine pass from Kane won a corner, and then Mason Mount won another. Italy cleared the danger from both though.

Chiellini again fouled Kane, and then on 20 minutes we had the first ‘injury’ of the evening, as Jorginho went down, which gave the Italians the chance to have a chat with their agitated manager Roberto Mancini. It was such a relief to see Jorginho up and about and well again soon after the ‘chat’.

Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips were doing a splendid job in stifling and frustrating the Italians, and the England defence stood firm as the possession was ominously starting to be dominated by Italy. On 28 minutes Insigne hit another shot well wide and England continued to repel any threat from Italy. Mount and Sterling almost broke through, but an Italian defender just managed to touch Mount’s pass away from his teammate. On 35 minutes a dangerous Italy attack ended with Chiesa shooting narrowly wide. That was a close call, but England came back through Shaw again, down the left, his cross was cleared, somewhat desperately by Italy’s defenders. Emerson fouled Rice as England worked so hard all over the pitch. Rice was doing some great work in the engine room and he loved every minute of the challenge. The referee gave nothing when Sterling was clearly fouled by that man Chiellini again. The experienced Italian skipper is certainly a past-master at the dark arts of the game.

There were four minutes added at the end of the half and a great block by John Stones was followed by a good stop by Pickford from Ciro Immobile. There was another flurry of activity before the half-time whistle went with England still holding that precious lead. Italy possession had grown throughout the half, but they needed more from their manager. England just needed more of everything.

Kane was fouled early on after the restart, which resulted in a booking for Nicolo Barella, and then it looked as though England had a penalty as Sterling went down. It looked clearcut from my study, where I was sitting, but the referee saw otherwise. Sterling then became a villain as he gave away a free-kick right on the edge of the England box. The crowd held their breath, and Insigne duly obliged by shooting over, answering a few prayers at that moment. A superb piece of defending by Kyle Walker, nodding the ball back to Pickford, ended another of Italy’s increasing attacks. Just after, Insigne shot wide again, Italy started to make changes, with two subs coming on in the next few minutes. Leonardo Banucci was booked for another crude challenge on Sterling. From the free-kick Maguire’s header flies wide.

As the hour approached Italy were stepping up the pressure. Pickford saved well from Bryan Cristante, but England were sitting too deep, hanging on to what they had. On 62 minutes Chiesa again forced a fine save from Pickford. How ironic that 66 minutes had gone when England finally conceded an equaliser. England’s defending at corners has been exemplary throughout this tournament, but this time it let them down.

The corner was played to the near post, flicked on and both Stones and Mount were caught out of position. Verrati’s diving header was brilliantly tipped on to the post by Pickford but the rebound fell perfectly for the inrushing Bonucci to bundle the ball home. What a blow that was for England and their fans. It has to be said though that the goal had been coming and Italy deserved it. It was also difficult to see how England could score again such was their side so under pressure at the back. Bukayo Sako was brought on for Trippier, but the next attack was again from the Italians as from a blatant foul throw-in Domenico Berardi went very close with his shot. If that had gone in the referee would have been under severe pressure to consult the largely ignored VAR of this tournament.

England were chasing shadows at this time, and getting little possession. Southgate brought on Jordan Henderson for Rice, which many felt was a wrong move, as Rice had been magnificent, whereas Mount had faded out of the match after his bright start. Tackles were flying in and with ten minutes to go England’s heads were a bit down. They were glad to see the back of Chiesa, who was replaced, and Insigne earned himself a booking for a foul on Phillips. Six minutes were added on at the end of the half, time enough for a disgraceful foul by Chiellini. He grabbed Saka’s shirt as the Arsenal player broke away for a run at goal, and nearly throttled the youngster. It was a dreadful foul, cynical to the highest degree, and yet all the Italy captain received was a yellow card. He just had to go for that one.

The extra-time saw England attack a little more without unduly worrying the Italian defence. Jack Grealish was sent on for Mount with just 21 minutes to go, too little time to make an impact but time enough to receive another dreadful challenge, this time from Jorginho, who again was rewarded with just a yellow. In the Premier League, both those late challenges would have seen red in most people’s eyes.

As the game drew to the inevitable close, very late on, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were sent on, to give us a chance in the shoot-out if there was one. Italy seemed content to go for penalties whilst England still tried hard to find a winner. A couple of scrambles later and time was up. As soon as it was realised we had to have those dreaded penalties to decide this thing, I think millions of English hearts sank.

The Lottery began. Berardi and Kane made it one apiece, but then substitute Andrea Belotti’s shot was saved by Pickford. Maguire stepped up and confidently scored 2-1 and England in the lead for the second time in the match. Bonucci scored and up stepped Rashford. I don’t think I have ever seen such a stuttering run up as the Manchester United player managed. It was no surprise that his shot hit a post. My own opinion is, that was the turning point. If Rashford had scored I think we would have had the confidence to go on. Federico Bernardeschi then made it 3-2 before Sancho stepped up. His penalty was perfect…...but for the goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma to save, soft, right height, easy. All hope gone? No! Pickford had other ideas and he saved another weak penalty from Jorginho. Surely Sterling would be next up, but no, the task was entrusted to Sako, a 19-year-old, who had only been on for half the game. Sadly for him, and much to the dismay of all the millions of England fans watching, the goalkeeper dived to make another comfortable save.

So Italy win, and through gritted teeth I say well done to them. Meanwhile, the England team has certainly had a magnificent tournament, and all the players deserve nothing but praise for their efforts over the past month. We are so proud of them all, and we look forward to bigger and better things in the years to come. As for the penalty misses, would you liked to have taken one?

To finish, this result, and the way it ended, is best summed up by the two word message my grandson Matt sent me after the final whistle. It just said, "Absolutely Gutted!" I know how he feels.
   

Source Notes