Euro Cup Italy | 'Donnarummazo' at Wembley

The Italy that did not go to the World Cup, the one that has recovered in record time, the one that had not appeared for a long time, conquered the European Championship at Wembley with the usual charisma, with the usual favorable fate, with penalties on its side . Mazazo for England and for their coach, Southgate, who failed to manage a team that had much more than what was given. Europe is blue after the penalties stopped by Donnarumma, the hero of the night and of the European Championship for the Italians.

And that the final began with an earthquake, the one caused by the two English lanes. Southgate's schematic dance throughout the tournament this time featured the center-three dance, freeing the band to Tripper and Shaw. With spaces to emerge – and with Italy still asleep – the Atleti player put a piece of candy and the United team took advantage of it with a total instep hit.

Shaw pulverized the Italian defense, in part also because of Kane's good back play early in the play. Only two minutes had passed. Kane was key there and also later. Southgate traced Luis Enrique's strategy in the semifinal against the Italians. He made his striker play to the despair of Chiellini and Bonucci, who need muscle with which to fight.

In return they found air, as Kane constantly moved and emptied his space to appear behind the midfielders. This version made in Benzema has made him one of the premier's top assistants, in addition to the top scorer. Wembley, who was already aroused by herself, fell apart. The whole game was ahead, but for Italy that goal was a mental torture that forced them to come back at the host's house.

Nor was Italy Italy. Emerson is a shadow of Spinazzola and the Italian midfielders, fine with holes and time to think, always found the tunnel boring machines Phillips and Rice on top. Meanwhile, Kane was still in undetectable mode and with a zone of influence too wide to stop him. Sterling, agitator as always, understood that his party was going through interpreting the movements of his attacking partner, while Mount tried to put the pause.

It was not an England thrown for more goals, but a calm and effective one. This is the biggest change that this English team has undergone compared to others: they do not lose what they have so hard to win. It took Italy almost half an hour to remove the straitjacket. He did it thanks to Chiesa, that kind of solitary revolutionary who plays a match parallel to the rest. A ride from him was the first serious scare for Pickford, who saw the ball lick the post.

Change of scenery

It didn't take long for Mancini to air his bench, which changed the game. He energized the attack with the very left-handed Berardi and put gasoline in midfield with Cristante, although for this he removed the fine stylist Barella. Immediately there were symptoms of improvement. Chiesa passed to the left and Insigne flourished more centered between the two centers. The first time his forwards were ordered, Pickford had to put himself to good use.

Everything began to taste better in Italy. In another house-brand play, Chiesa tried from outside the area, but the English goalkeeper saved again to the enthusiasm of Wembley. The local response was only reduced to the set piece, their best weapon. Maguire could score like that, Stones too. Little more for a team with so much talent, really.

With Chiesa and Berardi drilling on the sides, the English lanes, aggressive in the first half, did not go beyond the midfield. England began to suffer. Despite being a team with only one goal conceded until the final, they do not defend with confidence. He did not do it either in the corner that took the Italians out of the UCI. Chiellini and Bonucci, of course, made the necessary stir in the area and it was the second who ended up pushing almost on the line.

The emergency department changed sides. Southgate reacted by undoing his three centrals and putting Saka in to balance his ends. I needed a boost of self-esteem in England, a bit of the charisma that Italy did show. Berardi was able to turn Wembley upside down, but failed to miss a jumpy Pickford. Chiesa's injury reduced the Italian euphoria, which was settling for extra time like England. The final headed for agony.

The entrance of Grealish uncovered England, corseted until then in attack and held on to a wire every time the ball approached Pickford. There was little to tell in the areas, with Chiellini and Maguire immeasurable in each cut to the limit. All the tension was in the outcome, in the spice to know where the Cup would go. Only penalties could determine it. And there appeared the two usual ghosts, the one that has plagued England for 55 years and the one that enlarges Italy, a new Italy, a different one, but Italy after all.