Italy won the European Championship for the second time by beating England 3-2 on penalties on Sunday (early Monday in Nepal).
The 90 minutes and extra 30 minutes do or die match played in front of over 60,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium in London ended 1-1 goals.
It was less than four years ago that the Italians plunged to the lowest moment of their football history by failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in six decades.
Now, they are the best team in Europe and on a national-record 34-match unbeaten run under Roberto Mancini, their suave coach.
England were playing in their first major final in 55 years. It’s the latest heartache in shootouts at major tournaments, after defeats in 1990, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2006 and 2012.
Though, English team scored a goal on home ground by Luke Shaw immediately opening the match in the second minute which recorded the fastest goal in a European Championship final, was equalized by Italy’s Leonardo Bonucci’s shot that kissed the English team’s net in the 67th.
During the entire game, most of the ball was possessed by Italians. This final match was the first European Championship decided on penalties since 1976.
While their 55-year wait to win another major international title goes on, Italy’s own particular half-century of hurt is over.
