England have lost the Euro 2020 final on penalties to Italy, extending the Three Lions’ 55 years of hurt with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka missing from 12 yards like manager Gareth Southgate in 1996, breaking fans’ hearts.
Despite the heroic efforts of Jordan Pickford, England missed three consecutive penalties crowning Italy champions in front of 60,000 fans at Wembley.
Nineteen-year-old Saka was consoled by Gareth Southgate, as penalties came back to haunt the manager again after his missed penalty at Euro 1996.
In a bitter irony it was the substituted penalty specialists Rashford and Sancho who failed to score before Saka.
Nerves were already shattered after the Italians ran England ragged in the second half, dealing them a hammer blow on the 67th minute through a scrappy goal from Leonardo Bonucci.
Pickford appeared to have made a great save off the corner before the Italian center-half rattled the loose ball into the net.
Earlier Luke Shaw gave them a stunning lead within three minutes – the fastest goal ever in a European championship final – sending fans inside the stadium and millions across the nation wild.
