The EURO 2020 Cup

In contrast to the dejected mood of the England supporters as Italy celebrated, hours before kick-off, Wembley Way was flooded with fans, waving flares and booting footballs, drinking and chanting for their heroes. The supporters numbered far in excess of the 60,000 lucky enough to have tickets, with thousands making the pilgrimage to the national stadium to be a part of the historic occasion.

That enthusiasm and desire to support the team over-spilled on several occasions, with some trying to force their way into the stadium. They were unsavory scenes but did not detract from the incredible atmosphere created by supporters inside the ground.

Italy were unchanged for the final, while England brought in Kieran Trippier for Bukayo Saka to switch to a back three.

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That noise went to a whole new level just moments after the first whistle. Italy had won an early corner but England counter-attacked rapidly, with Harry Kane shuttling the ball out wide to Kieran Trippier, who delivered a fantastic cross to the back post for Shaw to lash home a brilliant half-volley.

What a hit it was for his first goal for his country, and what a start to the final for England, who continued to cause real problems down the right side, with Emerson struggling to prevent Trippier from delivering two more crosses in quick succession.

The rain began to fall and the pitch quickened up, but it was still England fastest to every loose ball, sharpest with their touch and attacking with real pace. There were cheers from the England supporters as first Kalvin Phillips and then Harry Maguire confidently carried the ball out of defence past blue shirts, before sarcastic applause greeted Lorenzo Insigne’s dragged drive wide.

The EURO 2020 Cup

The jeers were more nervous when Federico Chiesa, trying to single-handedly get his side back on track, fired just past the upright on 35 minutes after a spell of Italian pressure. Mancini’s side remained on the front foot but struggled to see a way through the walls of white shirts, with Ciro Immobile’s shot blocked by John Stones and Marco Verratti’s follow up easy for Pickford.