Euro 2020 takeaways: Goals win games, goalkeepers win tournaments

As the dust settles at Wembley Stadium, the Italians have touched down in Rome as the newly crowned kings of Europe.

A thrilling Euro 2020 tournament ended with nerve-racking penalties, as England and Italy played out a 1-1 draw in the rain in London.

It all came down to who could hold their nerve from 12 yards, and it was Roberto Mancini’s men who triumphed. Marcus Rashford hit the post, while Jordan Sancho and Bukayo Saka both saw their attempts saved by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

It was heartbreak for England, but joy and redemption for the Italians, who only three years ago failed to qualify for the World Cup.

Here are three things we learned from the final.

Goals win games, goalkeepers win tournaments.

Donnarumma may only be 22 years old, but he has already been capped 33 times for his country and is on course to be a regular fixture between the sticks for the Azzurri.

He was faultless again in the final with England, and while he could do nothing about Luke Shaw’s goal, he tipped a John Stones header over the bar and then saved two penalties.

That came off the back of a crucial penalty save in the semifinal with Spain, as Italy became the first team in European Championship history to win two penalty shootouts in the same competition.

If you include stats from Copa America, World Cup, African Cup of Nations, Asian Cup, and Gold Cup then only nine teams out of 26 have ever won two shootouts at the same tournament. Even more impressive was that Donnarumma and Italy did it in the semifinal and then the final, something that has only been done three times before — Ivory Coast in the 1992 African Cup of Nations, Saudi Arabia in the 1996 Asian Cup, and Brazil in Copa America 2004.

Donnarumma didn’t concede a goal in the group stage and saved his best performances for when Italy needed him most. He is a key reason the trophy is back in Rome, and he was the first goalkeeper in almost 30 years to be awarded the Player of the Tournament.  

The Three Lions are worth keeping on side at the World Cup

The Euros have only just wrapped up, but all eyes will now be on the World Cup in Qatar, which is only 16 months away.

For soccer bettors, Gareth Southgate’s England is worth keeping on side. World Cup 2018 semifinalists and now European Championship finalists, Southgate is getting the best out of his young squad.

At just more than an average of 25 years of age, England had the second-youngest squad of all the teams at Euro 2020. This is a team that is going to improve over the next two years.

The average age of England’s five penalty takers in the final was just 23.6, compared to Italy’s 28.6. That’s huge pressure on young shoulders, but this disappointment will help mold this team in the future.

Bukayo Saka showed huge courage to step up to take the deciding penalty, with only nine caps to his name and still two months off his 20th birthday. He might have missed, but redemption waits in Qatar.

France lost the final of Euro 2016 on home soil but bounced back to win the World Cup two years later. This could be a similar story, and England will be worth backing when the time comes.

You can’t underestimate final experience

This was Italy’s 10th major final and its fourth since 2000. It was England’s first since 1966.

Mancini’s side did not panic when it went behind inside two minutes, and the Italians kept the ball well and were patient in their build-up. You sensed even in the first half that it was only going to be a matter of time.

Italy ended the game with 65% possession and won the shot count 19-6. Four of England’s six attempts on goal were by defenders, and Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, and Mason Mount all failed to have a shot on goal.

Italy’s game management, after going behind, was perfection, and major final experience cannot be underestimated.