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'Textbook s***housery': Italians troll England after Euro heartbreak

Italy's players were filmed singing, 'It's coming, Rome' after the match. Pic: Twitter/Getty
Italy's players were filmed singing, 'It's coming, Rome' after the match. Pic: Twitter/Getty

Video has emerged of two Italian stars brutally trolling England after beating the Three Lions in a drama-charged penalty shootout to claim the Euro 2020 title.

With the scores locked at 1-1 after extra time it was a familiar spot-kick outcome for England as Italy won 3-2 on penalties.

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Marcus Rashford and 21-year-old Jadon Sancho - brought on late in extra time seemingly as specialist penalty-takers - both failed to convert before Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy's imposing goalkeeper, dived to his left and saved the decisive spot kick by 19-year-old Arsenal midfielder Bukayo Saka.

The whole of England had been brimming with hope and expectation going into the final but once again, the team fell short.

Familiar chants of "it's coming home" could be heard by English supporters before the match and on social media as the now-infamous catch-cry of the 2018 World Cup echoed around the world.

However, it was the Italians that were crowing at the end of 120 minutes of football, plus a nerve-jangling penalty shootout, as the tournament proved another false dawn for the English.

As the Italian players sang and danced, kissed and cried, bathed in sparkling ticker tape, England's players and fans were left devastated.

Seen here, Bukayo Saka is hugged by teammates after his decisive miss in the penalty shootout.
Bukayo Saka is consoled after his miss in the penalty shootout saw Italy claim victory. Pic: Getty

Italian players Leonardo Bonucci and Jorginho - who many viewers thought should have been red-carded for a studs-up challenge on Jack Grealish in extra time - rubbed salt into the wounds of the English after the match.

Borrowing the tune from the 'It's coming home' song, the two Italian stars were filmed in the corridors smiling and dancing while belting out 'It's coming, Rome' in an obvious swipe at the vanquished English.

Bonucci also stuck the boot in after speaking to reporters about his side's triumph after the match.

"It's a unique pleasure to see 58,000 people leave before the trophy presentation," Bonucci said dryly.

"Now the cup is coming to Rome. They thought it was staying here, I'm sorry for them but Italy has once again taught a lesson."

So while Italy now have two European Championships to add to their four World Cup triumphs, England's wait for silverware stretches into a 56th year.

Not since their sole World Cup triumph back in 1966 have the English tasted success, but they could hardly have come closer with a bunch of exciting players who have put fun and pride back into the Three Lions shirt.

It was just their rotten luck that they met an inspired Italian squad whose experience perfectly countered England's sometimes-callow weak spots.

Italy are pictured here celebrating with the Euro 2020 trophy after the final.
Italy lifted the Euro 2020 trophy after a thrilling penalty shootout triumph over England. Pic: Getty

Italy finish strongly after dream England start

For the hosts it had all started so brightly, when they took the lead inside two minutes through a cracking Luke Shaw goal, but they were then reeled in by a cannier, more experienced side on the night.

For all the giddy excitement and promise of England's youthful side, ultimately it came down to a test of nerve, and three of England's youngsters were found wanting when the stakes were highest.

Whether 19-year-old Bukayo Saka and fresh substitutes 23-year-old Marcus Rashford and 21-year-old Jadon Sancho should have been down to take penalties is a debate that will rage.

In the event, they all missed in the shootout and the dream was over.

England manager Gareth Southgate said he was immensely proud of his players after the match and took blame for the disappointing defeat.

"We prepared as well as we could for that and that's my responsibility, I chose the guys to take the kicks," Southgate said.

"No-one is on their own in that situation. We decided to make the changes right at the end of the game and we win and lose together as a team."

On selecting 19-year-old Saka to take the fifth penalty and also making very late substitutions to get more takers Southgate said: "That's my decision to give him that penalty so it is totally my responsibility: it is not him, Marcus or Jadon.

"We worked on it in training and that's the order we came to. My call as coach.

"It is always the risk you run but they have been by far the best and to get all those attacking players on you have to do it late.

"It was a gamble but if we gambled earlier we may have lost the game in extra-time any way."

Southgate said none of the England players could be blamed for the defeat.

"They cannot have any recriminations,. They have gone further than we have gone for so long but tonight it is incredibly painful in that dressing room."

with agencies

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