England Euro 2020 fall-out LIVE: Overwhelming support for Three Lions stars Saka, Rashford and Sancho – latest reaction
ITALY are Euro 2020 champions after beating England on penalties at Wembley.
Luke Shaw netted early for a rampant Three Lions, before Gareth Southgate's men were pegged back in the second half by Leonardo Bonucci.
And after a tense and hard-fought draw over the full 120 minutes, it came down to spot-kicks once again.
Ultimately it was to be heartbreak for England, with Gialuigi Donnarumma saving from Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, while Marcus Rashford's penalty hit the post.
- Final score: England 1-1 Italy (2-3 pens)
- READ THE FULL REPORT HERE
Follow all the reaction with our live blog below…
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SHAWBERTO CARLOS
Luke Shaw has been critical for England both defensively and on the attack.
CLEAN UP
Come on people, clean up after yourselves!
In the words of Neil Warnock: "By all means enjoy it, but enjoy it by being f****** disciplined."
RAHEEM THE DREAM
England’s Raheem Sterling has attempted (32) and completed (18) more take-ons than any other player at EURO 2020.
Seven of these have been in the opposition penalty area (the joint-most), one of which led to England’s penalty against Denmark in the semi-final which led to their winning goal.
LONG WAIT
England have ended their 55-year wait for a major international final.... but can they go all the way and win it?
The last time England were in a final, they won it convincingly at WEMBLEY!
THREE HOURS TO GO
England fans have flooded Trafalgar Square ahead of tonight's game against Italy.
Still three hours to go until kick-off!
INSPIRED SCHEDULING
ITV are showing The Italian Job in the build-up to tonight's game, starring Michael Caine and Noel Coward!
British humour at its best.
BITTER
Scotland are cheering Italy on today.
Scottish newspaper The National has called on Italy boss Roberto Mancini to save Scotland from years of English gloating.
Mancini is their "final hope", likening the former Man City boss to Braveheart.
The paper conducted their own poll, and it found that a whopping 83 per cent of Scots will be supporting Italy.
HAMMER TIME
England midfielder Declan Rice is looking to emulate the boys of 66.
Famously, Hammers trio Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters played a pivotal role in winning England the World Cup.
Moore captained the team, Hurst scored a hat-trick - the only hat-trick scored in a World Cup final, and Peters got the fourth goal of the final.
Rice said: "Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters actually won the World Cup, obviously I’ve only just got to the final so you feel like maybe your name can be put up in that light if you win the tournament.
"Obviously it’s a great achievement to get to the final. The first time since 1966 is history for England, but Sunday is my first chance to win a trophy in football and you’re not going to get a better chance to do it.
"It’s at Wembley and I doubt I’ll get that again in my career so you need to grab that with both hands and give everything.
“We’re ready to run, ready to go to places we’ve never gone before. This is a chance to make history and there’s no way we’re not going to go out there and give it everything.”
FIFTY-FIVE YEARS OF HURT
England captain Harry Kane has urged his team to make their own history, to add to the 1966 World Cup win.
Speaking ahead of tonight's Euro 2020 final clash against Italy, he said: "In 1966, obviously, England won the World Cup and it was such an amazing achievement as a team and as a country.
"The fans are so behind us, every tournament they're pushing us and willing us to get far and this has been no different.
"Now we have that opportunity to create even more history, and [for] our parents and family members who've never seen England in a final before – and I know that goes across the whole country.
"It's a special moment to be in and if we can finish the job and win, then obviously we'll be remembered in history for the rest of our lives. That's the challenge we have, so we'll have to go and take it."
THROWBACK
David Beckham has wished England captain Harry Kane good luck ahead of tonight's Euro 2020 final.
Kane had a picture with Beckham years ago alongside his childhood sweetheart, and wife Kate.
HOME SOIL
This will be England’s first ever appearance in a European Championship final, and their first in the final of a major tournament since winning the 1966 World Cup.
It’s the longest gap between major finals (World Cup/EUROs) for any European nation (55 years).
WEMBLEY WAY
Best fans in the world.
ALL-WHITE STRIP ⬜️
England will be in all white this evening, despite wearing navy shorts in their games with Ukraine and Denmark.
CHIELLINI ON ENGLAND 🗣
"Kane and Sterling aren't that young, they are no spring chickens. (Phil) Foden, (Bukayo) Saka and (Jadon) Sancho, that's different," the Italian defender said.
"Everyone has their own attributes. If you match me against Sterling in a foot race, I don't think I ever beat him to the punch,"
"Maybe in situations where there is a ball to be won in a 50-50 or there is a long ball from the goalkeeper, I might be more likely to win the header.
"I need to limit their attributes, it also depends on who plays. Kane and Sterling are different, the others have their own qualities.
"England's bench could have made it to the final themselves because they have extraordinary players.
"Thankfully it is a team game, it's not Chiellini and Bonucci versus Kane and Sterling, ultimately it is Italy versus England."
SWEET CAROLINE 🎶
Unbelievable scenes at Wembley already. England fans in full flow.
PREDICTED TEAM
It's looking like England will be going with a back five for their clash with Italy tonight.
Kieran Trippier is set to replace Bukayo Saka.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Fair to say it hasn't been easy for English sides against the Italians whenever they've met in major competitions.
Most recently, England lost 2-1 to Italy in the group stages of the World Cup back in 2014.
And two years before that, Italy knocked England out of Euro 2012 on penalties.
SOUTHGATE SPEAKS 🗣
"When we started, three or four years ago we had people throwing paper aeroplanes, they weren't behind the team and there was an apathy," he said.
"Now the energy in the stadium is fantastic. That is so important."
The players need to feel that warmth and support. It has definitely helped inspire us," he added.
"Over the last four years the players have knocked down so many barriers, they've come through so many different challenges."
ROYAL MESSAGE 👑
Prince William has wished the England players good luck ahead of their clash with Italy tonight.
He's expected to be in attendance alongside his wife the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.
ITALY'S ROUTE SO FAR
And it hasn't been plain-sailing for the Italians either, as they've endured the odd extra-time song and dance themselves. But here they are.
ENGLAND'S ROUTE SO FAR
It's been tough at times, and it hasn't come without its fair share of criticism, but England's run to the final has been a memorable one.
TEAM NEWS
Phil Foden is set for heartbreak as he looks certain to miss tomorrow’s Euro 2020 final.
The Manchester City forward did not train today after picking up a foot injury in training yesterday.
It was expected that Bukayo Saka would start the game anyway, but Foden will likely be unavailable for the bench too.
Southgate is expected to stick with a back four, with his biggest decision potentially coming in midfield, as Jordan Henderson pushes for a start.
Italy will start with Emerson Palmieri at left-back as Leonardo Spinazzola has a ruptured Achilles.
Federico Chiesa is likely to start in a front three with Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne.
GOOD AFTERNOON! 🏴🇮🇹
Hello and welcome to SunSport's coverage of England, yes that's right - England!… vs Italy in the final of Euro 2020.
It's an absolutely huge day for football fans all over the country as Gareth Southgate's Three Lions look to claim their first major trophy since the World Cup in 1966.
We know it won't be easy against a tough Italian side, who have been imperious throughout the tournament so far.
England overcame Germany in the last-16, before cruising past Ukraine in the quarters and scraping past Denmark in the semis.
Italy, on the other hand, have beaten Austria, Belgium and Spain to book their spot at Wembley Stadium tonight.
England are likely to stick with their usual line-up but Southgate could decide to switch to a back three, as he did against the Germans 10 days ago.
Italy will no doubt come out firing , so England need to be defensively careful, as they have been throughout the entire tournament.
Either way, tonight will be a cracker.
So if you're not on Wembley Way, or in the stadium or standing on top of a bus in Piccadilly, then do join us… we've got you covered the whole way.
It can't finally be coming home…. can it?