Euro 2020 final: Italy beat England in 'breathtaking' penalty shoot-out

Italy beat England in a penalty shootout to win the European soccer championship, dashing England’s hopes of winning its first major title since the 1966 World Cup.

?? Italy become two-time EURO champions! #EURO2020 | #ITA pic.twitter.com/xT83qJlVpE

— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 11, 2021

The shootout was a dramatic conclusion to a gripping day at London’s Wembley Stadium, and to a monthlong tournament that overcame a one-year pandemic delays and dozens of positive tests and innumerable public health concerns on its way to a final, scintillating day in London.

The final was worth the wait: It saw an early England goal by Luke Shaw, a second-half response from Leonardo Bonucci and then a whirlwind of highs and lows, misses and makes, before Italy prevailed in the shootout, 3-2.

Italians took to street soon after the final game to celebrate win. On the other hand, English people were seen frustated and disappointed in ground and outside the stadium. 

Fans break security barrier to force into stadium 

A "small number" of fans were able to force their way into Wembley Stadium for the Euro 2020 final on Sunday after hundreds tried to gain access, London police said, amid scenes of disorder in the British capital ahead of the historic game.

"Earlier this afternoon there was a breach of security at Wembley Stadium, which resulted in a small number of people getting into the stadium without a ticket," the Metropolitan Police said.

"Officers worked closely with security officials to prevent any further breaches.

"We will also support action by Wembley Stadium officials to identify those without tickets and eject them."

A Wembley spokesperson added stadium stewards and security were working to remove the intruders.

"Anyone inside the stadium without a ticket will be instantly ejected," the spokesperson said.

The breach came as hundreds of ticketless fans tried to storm Wembley's outer gates in a bid to gain entry to England's contest against Italy.

Footage posted on social media showed supporters battling to get past lines of stewards and police as the atmosphere turned ugly in the hours before kick-off.

Some fans shown in the videos appeared to get past the fences and towards the venue. However, Wembley officials and police had earlier insisted there was no breach of stadium security and no ticketless fans had entered the actual ground.

The mood outside Wembley and in central London grew increasingly febrile well before the 1900 GMT kick-off as thousands of fans gathered on Olympic Way.

Some drunken fans were throwing beer cans and bottles as well as traffic cones, with red flares and fireworks set off.

Social distancing was ignored as maskless supporters congregated in large groups on the concrete approach to the stadium.

Meanwhile in Trafalgar Square in the city centre, a group of England fans tried to storm into a fan zone for 1,500 supporters who had won tickets in an online ballot.

Police said they were on-site to defuse the situation.

England has been gripped by Euro fever since Gareth Southgate's side booked the country's first major final appearance for 55 years.

The Three Lions are aiming to win a first trophy since the 1966 World Cup.

With coronavirus restrictions still in place, the final capacity at Wembley has been limited to 67,500, with around 7,500 seats reserved for Italy fans.

-- Additional input from AFP