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Italy Defeat England To Be Crowned Champions Of Europe

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The defeat for the Three Lions means their 55-year wait for a major title continues

The 16th edition of the European championship ended with the Italian team clinching the title, after defeating the Three Lions of England 3 - 2 on penalties in the final played at Wembley.

Luke Shaw had opened the scoring for the Three Lions inside the opening three minutes but Leonardo Bonucci equalized for the Italians in the 67th minute, tapping in from close range. 

The defeat for the Three Lions means their 55-year wait for a major title continues while Italy’s quest for a first European championship since 1968 ends in victory. 

With both sides failing to score in extra time, penalties were needed to decide a winner and after the opening 10 spot-kicks, Italy emerged champions winning it 3-2.

Speaking after the game, England manager Gareth Southgate said, "The feeling around the country will be very empty, I know, and that's hard for everybody to take. We wanted to give everybody one more."

Italy manager on the other hand Roberto Mancini said, "we did well, the lads were wonderful, its important for all the people and all the fans to celebrate."

 The Stats: 

Italy have won their second European Championship title, and a first in 53 years; it's the longest ever gap between championships in the tournament by a single nation, surpassing Spain's 44-year wait from 1964 to 2008.

England have won just two of nine of their major tournament shootouts, the lowest ratio of any European nation to have been involved in three or more.

Luke Shaw's opener was the quickest goal scored in the final of the European Championship. 

Leonardo Bonucci became the oldest player ever to score in a European Championship final.

Harry Kane failed to get a shot or create a goal-scoring chance for only the second time in his 61 appearances for England against Italy on Sunday.


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