Azzurri Champions of Europe, but it was a long evening. High tension in a crowded stadium, scratched by a gloomy climate. The cup sparkles, coveted beautiful and on the national anthems, the Arena is majestically exalted. A single English wave gushes from the steps, but the Italians stand out with the tricolor that shines in the London night.
European champions
The start of the race does not ease the tension e like a violent slap, Shaw's goal comes which surprises not only Donnarumma, but the entire stadium. Explodes jubilating Wembley, while the blues in field they are groggy, in shock. The bench is incredulous and all the Italians remain astonished at home. It's hard, but in a very slow way, as tiring as it can be to climb a slimy mossy rock face, Italy raises its head. The attack "regains" the opposing half of the pitch one clod at a time and looks over the spot.
We have to wait for the 67th minute of the second half for see the paw of the old lion. Leonardo Bonucci roars and knocks out goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, annoyed. Italy finally draws and this time it is the British who are taken by surprise. The blues begin to triangulate and tackle the game one piece at a time, putting their opponents in tangible difficulty.
Italy England
Now not only Italy but two nations are with bated breath, glimpsing overtime on the horizon. Chiesa exits exhausted five minutes from the end plus recovery, for him the European is over but he takes his leave from the green rectangle with honor. The English fans sing the choirs, as if they were playing the charge, but it is not enough. Strange field invasions, immediately neutralized by security. Incredible, the British mark a man, frightened by a possible “Italian” flicker. They know how unpredictable the Italian genius can be and in case, definitely not within their reach. Chills in the parts of Donnarumma and the teams no longer run, they walk a bit confused.
Now only a personal twist can decide and write the ending. The British defense aligns; nothing further from the British game. His Majesty's subjects receive six minutes of recovery instead of five and are frightened, no longer triangulating.
Wembley crowns the Azzurri as European Champions
They have lost their bravado and like their fans and possession of the ball is only Italian. We fall into the uncomfortable and insidious extra. We do not have champions like a "Del Piero", but we can count on a national team that never pulls back its foot. Great intervention by Chiellini, which confirms how much the blue team can never do without the “Juve block”.
Technically we are playing better, with an accuracy of 90%, which leads us to almost double. The ball seems inside, thrill on the sidelines, but we are still on par. The first overtime ends goalless. Wembley is a bedlam. It gushes and exudes British cheer, but we are still on the track and we do not step back a meter, facing indomitable “the scream of Wembley”. Mancini calls the team up, he wants to avoid penalties. Yet the second overtime is “infinite.
Lottery of penalties
Almost bewildered theEngland, softly accompanied by “little” courtesies throughout the tournament, she doesn't know why she's going to penalties and why she hasn't lifted the cup yet. We are on penalties. Mancini is in shirt sleeves. We go at a disadvantage and discouragement opens a crack, but suddenly we are back on par. Donnarumma para and the crack is deeper in English pride. We are in the game, shooting from the spot and another save by the English goalkeeper. Adrenaline flows freely. Donnarumma intervenes again, para. We are European champions. Football comes home, yes, it really does, it goes back to Italy and we raise the cup in tears, under a sky that is bluer than ever. Immense Chiellini, masterful Bonucci; an infinite blue night begins.
