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Tag: Italy

  • Euro 2020’s best player, Donnarumma Joins PSG

    Euro 2020’s best player, Donnarumma Joins PSG

    Paris Saint-Germain said on Wednesday that they had completed the signing of Italy’s Euro 2020 goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on a five-year deal.

    The 22-year-old, who saved two penalties in the Euro final and was named player of the tournament, heads to France on a free transfer from AC Milan.

    Donnarumma will be in competition with the experienced Keylor Navas for the goalkeeeper’s jersey.

    “I am delighted to be part of this huge club,” said Donnarumma in a statment released by PSG.

    “I feel ready to take on this new challenge and continue to grow here.

    “With Paris, I want to win as much as possible and to bring joy to the supporters.”

    During his six seasons with the Rossoneri, the Naples-born goalkeeper made 215 Serie A appearances along with 16 Europa League matches and 12 Italian Cup matches (including the 2016 and 2018 finals).

    He is the third player to sign for PSG on a free transfer this summer following Spanish defender Sergio Ramos and Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum who were out of contract with Real Madrid and Liverpool respectively.

  • Can I win the Ballon d’Or? – Jorginho

    Can I win the Ballon d’Or? – Jorginho

    Chelsea midfielder Jorginho won’t rule himself out of the running for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

    Jorginho has finished the season a Euro 2020 winner with Italy and a Champions League winner with Chelsea.

    He told Sportmediaset: “Of course, we all live in dreams. However, if we talk about skills on the field, then I understand that I am not the best in the world.

    “Titles are one of the criteria for the Ballon d’Or. No one but me has won so many significant trophies this year, but how can I compare to Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Neymar? They have completely different characteristics.”

  • I didn’t realise Saka penalty was decider – Italy goalkeeper

    I didn’t realise Saka penalty was decider – Italy goalkeeper

    Italy goalkeeper Gigio Donnarumma admits he didn’t know saving Bukayo Saka’s penalty would win the Euro 2020 title.

    Arsenal youngster Saka had the chance to take the game to sudden death after Jorginho’s penalty was saved by Jordan Pickford, but Donnarumma stood in his way.

    Donnarumma, who has left AC Milan for PSG this summer, pounced to his left and the game, the tournament, and English hopes of a long-awaited trophy were over.

    But Donnarumma has admitted he was not aware the shootout had even finished.

    He told Sky Italia: “I didn’t celebrate because I didn’t realise we had won!”

    It was only when the 22-year-old saw his Azzurri teammates steaming towards him to revel in their victory that it occurred to him they were now European champions.

  • Italy taught England a lesson – Bonucci

    Italy taught England a lesson – Bonucci

    Italy defender, Leonardo Bonucci, has said they gave England “a lesson” after their penalty shootout victory over the hosts at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday.

    Bonucci made it 1-1 in the second half of the game, cancelling out Luke Shaw’s early opener.

    The Juventus centre back then converted a penalty during the 3-2 shootout win.

    “We are just enjoying seeing 58,000 people leaving even before the trophy presentation, it was something which really delighted us.

    “The trophy now is coming to Rome.

    “They thought it was staying here in London, and they’re unhappy. I feel bad for them, but once again Italy has given them a lesson,” Bonucci said.

    The 34-year-old taunted England fans after Gianluigi Donnarumma saved Bukayo Saka’s penalty, which sealed the victory for the Italians.

    He grabbed a TV camera and shouted: “It’s coming to Rome, it’s coming to Rome” — a reference to England’s “Football’s Coming Home” anthem, which was played before the match and chanted by supporters throughout.

  • Euro 2020: Fate owed me something – Roberto Mancini

    Euro 2020: Fate owed me something – Roberto Mancini

    Italy coach Roberto Mancini says “fate” owed him last night’s Euro 2020 triumph.

    Italy are European champions after defeating England in the final at Wembley on penalties.

    Mancini was in tears after the shootout and declared, “It’s the emotion that comes after doing something incredible. In the joy of the guys, the audience, of what we have created. It was 50 hard days but we had a good time together, without a problem. It was good, especially for having cemented the group in these 50 days. They are good guys and have created something indivisible in the future.

    “I want to dedicate a piece to Paolo Mantovani, who was here with me when we lost it in the final against Barcelona and also to the Sampdorians. One piece is especially them and then to my family and everyone. I played in a great national team, in a great Under 21, but despite being the best ever, I managed not to win. We both lost on penalties. Sometimes, fate owed me something.”

    On goalkeeper Gigio Donnarumma, he added: “Having him is lucky for us, he’s the best in the world. I’m glad he’s one of us.”

    About the embrace with his assistant Gianluca Vialli, Mancini concluded: “We were here against Barcelona. We suffered a lot. Then we have been friends for a lifetime, I think something so beautiful, important, that no one had ever done … Win the European since ’68, bringing back the Coppa to Italy, it’s incredible. And then we got excited because we are old. “

  • England still have one rusty cup from 1966 – Italy legend

    England still have one rusty cup from 1966 – Italy legend

    Italy great Alessandro Altobelli hailed their Euro 2020 winners – and enjoyed a swipe at England – after Sunday’s Euro 2020 final shootout victory.

    The former centre-forward was happy for his country.

    “It’s joyful winning at Wembley against England,” Altobelli told RAI Sport. “Who always think they are the best, the greatest, the most talented, the most beautiful.

    “And yet if you look in their trophy cabinet there’s one rusty cup from 1966! Go look at our trophy cabinet, it’s packed!”

  • Southgate takes blame for England’s shootout loss to Italy

    Southgate takes blame for England’s shootout loss to Italy

    Gareth Southgate took full responsibility for England’s failure from the penalty kicks spot as Italy secured Euro 2020 glory at Wembley on Sunday.

    Following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes, after Leonardo Bonucci had cancelled out Luke Shaw’s second-minute opener, it was a familiar spot-kick outcome for the Three Lions.

    Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka all missed from the penalty kicks spot, with Jordan Pickford saving two Italian penalty kicks.

    “We prepared as well as we could for that and that’s my responsibility, I chose the guys to take the kicks,” Southgate said.

    “No-one is on their own in that situation. We decided to make the changes right at the end of the game and we win and lose together as a team.”

    On selecting Saka to take the fifth penalty kick and also making very late substitutions to get more takers on, Southgate added: “That’s my decision to give him that penalty kick.

    “So, it is totally my responsibility. It is not him, Marcus or Jadon.

    “We worked on it in training and that’s the order we came to. (It’s) my call as coach.

    “It is always the risk you run but they have been by far the best and to get all those attacking players on you have to do it late.

    “It was a gamble but if we gambled earlier we may have lost the game in extra-time any way.”

    Captain Harry Kane was proud of the effort of the team.

    He said: “The players couldn’t have given more. Penalty kicks obviously are the worst thing in the world when you lose. It wasn’t our night.

    “But it’s been a fantastic tournament and we should be proud, hold our heads up high.

    “Of course it’s going to hurt for a while but we are on the right track and hopefully we can progress from this next year.”

    Kane offered words of encouragement for the three players who missed penalty kicks in the shoot-out.

    “You have got to hold your heads up high. It’s been a fantastic tournament.

    “Anyone can miss a penalty kick. We win together, we lose together. We will learn and these boys will grow from it.

    “It will give us more motivation to do well in the FIFA World Cup next year.

    “We should be extremely proud of what we have achieved. It will probably hurt for the rest of our careers, but that is football.

    “We have progressed well from Russia (2018 FIFA World Cup). Now it is about continuing. We have a great squad with loads of good young players.”

  • BREAKING: Italy defeat England at Wembley to lift Euro 2020 trophy

    BREAKING: Italy defeat England at Wembley to lift Euro 2020 trophy

    England’s bid to end their 55-year wait for a major trophy ended in the familiar agony of defeat in a penalty shootout as Italy claimed the Euro 2020 crown at Wembley.

    On a night of anticipation, tension and ultimate heartbreak in a feverish atmosphere, England looked on course for their most joyous day since 30 July 1966 when Luke Shaw gave them the perfect start after two minutes.

    Italy, unbeaten in 33 matches before this final, slowly edged their way back into the game and were level in the 67th minute when Leonardo Bonucci pounced after England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford turned Marco Verratti’s header on to a post.

    And after a tense period of extra time failed to find a winner, it was on to penalties and bitter disappointment for England manager Gareth Southgate and his players, who had gone into this final on a wave of expectation and high emotion.

    England missed three of their five penalties, Marcus Rashford hitting a post and Gianluigi Donnarumma denying Jadon Sancho before – so cruelly for such a fine young player – Arsenal teenager Bukayo Saka also saw the giant Italy goalkeeper save his spot-kick.

    Harry Kane and Harry Maguire were on target for England while Pickford kept hopes alive with saves from Andrea Belotti and Jorginho while Domenico Berardi, Bonucci and Federico Bernardeschi scored for Italy.

    The tearful 19-year-old Saka, who showed such courage to step forward, was consoled by England team-mates and manager Southgate but there was no real consolation for them or the expectant fans packed into Wembley.

    After so much hope, England’s long wait goes on.

  • Conte highlights two major weaknesses in England XI

    Conte highlights two major weaknesses in England XI

    Former Italy coach Antonio Conte has spied two key weaknesses in England’s XI ahead of the final of Euro 2020.

    Conte also highlighted two areas in which he thinks England could be vulnerable on Sunday, however, with Gareth Southgate’s midfield and defence coming under scrutiny.

    “In the middle of the park they have two very physical midfielders in [Declan] Rice and [Kalvin] Phillips, capable players who bring balance but very few vertical passes, often going for the easiest option,” former Chelsea boss Conte wrote for Gazzetta dello Sport.

    “One of England’s weak spots is that, if their defence is pressed when building from the back, they aren’t as good as Spain at escaping their opponents’ press. But if you go after them with ultra-offensive pressing and they do escape, then watch out for their pace up front.

    “Again, this is when the [Italy] players must show their experience at reading the various moments of the game.”

  • England reach first Euros final, to battle Italy at Wembley

    England reach first Euros final, to battle Italy at Wembley

    England battled back from a goal down to beat Denmark after extra time on a truly memorable night at Wembley and reach a first major men’s tournament final since 1966.

    Captain Harry Kane’s 105th minute goal, after Kasper Schmeichel had saved his penalty, secured the Three Lions a place in the Euro 2020 final against Italy on Sunday.

    Mikkel Damsgaard had stunned England fans in the 60,000 crowd by putting the Danes ahead with a sumptuous free-kick – the first goal Gareth Southgate’s side had conceded at Euro 2020.

    Denmark keeper Schmeichel denied Raheem Sterling from close range before England equalised when captain Simon Kjaer put past his own keeper trying to stop Sterling from connecting with Bukayo Saka’s low cross.

    On a night of huge excitement and tension, Schmeichel then produced a full-stretch save to keep out Harry Maguire’s header and he also denied Kane and substitute Jack Grealish before Kane’s winner.

    It is the first time England have reached the European Championship final.

    Kane’s goal means the Tottenham forward has equalled Gary Lineker’s long-standing record of 10 goals for England at major tournaments.