Gareth Southgate’s name will be synonymous with penalty shootout heartbreak for a little longer yet after England somehow conspired to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at Wembley.
Is there a more cursed national team in world football than England? How they managed to lose this morning’s Euro 2020 final to Italy will be a subject of sociology studies for years to come.
Take nothing away from the Italians, who didn’t panic despite going a goal down as early as the second minute after England defender Luke Shaw volleyed home at the far post.
But following Leonardo Bonucci’s scrambled second-half equaliser, Italy just kept growing in confidence while Southgate’s men went from marauding Lions to shrinking violets.
Much of that is regrettably on Southgate. And it is regrettable, because for the past five years the former England international has proved himself to be one of the most thoroughly decent human beings on the planet.
(Photo by Carl Recine – Pool/Getty Images)
But his game management of this morning’s final will come under some serious scrutiny after he introduced both Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho in the final minute of extra-time specifically to take penalties, only for the two youngsters to miss from the spot.
Even more puzzling was his decision to allow 19-year-old Bukayo Saka to take England’s fifth penalty of the shootout, with the youngster promptly seeing his nervy spot kick saved.
It’s worth pointing out that while Saka is still a teenager, Italian goalkeeper Donnarumma is himself only 22.
But when it came to the shootout it looked like boys against men – even if the outstanding Jordan Pickford still managed to save from both Andrea Belotti and Jorginho.
It takes some kind of effort to win a shootout after going behind in it, and Donnarumma – who wasn’t exactly the most popular man in Italy after forcing a money-spinning move from Milan to Paris Saint-Germain over summer – showed exactly why he’ll be the Italian number one for years to come.
The Azzurri shot-stopper was as ice-cold as the rest of his teammates in saving from both Sancho and Saka, although the key moment was actually substitute Rashford clattering the foot of the post with his stutter-step penalty.
Those stuttering approaches to the penalty spot simply never seem to work, and England have now won only 22 per cent of their major tournament shootouts – or literally two of nine – marking the lowest ratio of any European nation to have been involved in three shootouts or more in a World Cup or European championship.
And perhaps that’s what they deserved after dominating the first half before sitting back and retreating into their shell.
With the Azzurri finishing with 19 shots on goal to England’s six after holding on to 66 per cent of the possession, you can hardly say the Italians didn’t deserve to find a way back into the game.
But if losing on penalties is a cruel way to finish a tournament as runners-up, then England’s collapse is positively Shakespearean in the depths of its tragedy.
It’s hard not to feel desperately sorry for youngsters Saka and Sancho, to say nothing of Rashford and Pickford and the rest of the England squad.
Penalties are a test of a player’s mental fortitude at the best of times, but it’s telling that Italy’s youngest taker in the shootout was 26-year-old Domenico Berardi.
It’s hard not to wonder why the likes of John Stones and substitute Jack Grealish didn’t step up to the spot, while just as curious was the decision to introduce Jordan Henderson into the game as a second-half substitute before taking him off again before the shootout.
But England fans hardly need a forensic analysis of this morning’s failings. What they need is a stiff drink.
Congratulations to Roberto Mancini and his fine Italian side on deservedly winning Euro 2020.
And commiserations to England. They are quite possibly the most cursed team in international football.
Anibal Pyro
Roar Rookie
A Brazil Argentina its not a football game. Its a 120 years old rivalry, its war, its a superclasico of soccer. Perhaps the 2 most gifted teams of the world with skills. I dont know it is right or wrong, but its a contact sport and we southamericas People love a Hard game. More like a Springboks All Blacks finales of the RWC. All or nothing.
chris
Guest
"Most of the top players in the top nations play in the EPL". Mpabbe, Neymar, Ronaldo, Messi, Chiesa, Suarez, Griezman, Benzema, Hazard to name a few DONT play in the EPL. And in the past 10 Champions League winners, 3 have come from England. Hardly routine. You probably think the FA Cup is still the biggest prize in world football.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
case in point, see above post
Ad-O
Guest
TBF, I watched the Copa Final and Argentina and Brazil cant control the ball like Argentina and Brazil any more. Awful quality game, even if it was a fun spectacle.
Ad-O
Guest
Its easily the best league in the world
Ad-O
Guest
Emerson is not a good defender, most of the top players in the top nations play in the EPL, and EPL clubs are routinely winning European Cups. Furthermore, England have plenty of world class players they just don't have any in the midfield. If they solve that problem they could do a lot of damage.
Ad-O
Guest
No, not really. They just don't produce midfielders that are technically and tactically world class and that's why they cant control possession against the good teams in the big moments. Plenty of CDMs and box-to-box types but unfortunately no Busquets, Rodri, Thiago, Modric, Kroos, Jorginho, and never had one.
Aiden
Guest
Sometimes yes. I think, stay on your feet, you can actually score this. But odds are, if the attacker feels they are being impeded, such that they can’t get the shot away with skill, they will go down in the box at the slightest touch as usually the keeper has got the ball covered. They don’t go down if the are balanced and able to shoot. They go down if they think they can’t shoot. Usually their last touch is poor and the ball is moving away from them (hence keepers ball). And they think oh well, I’ll go down and maybe have another bite at the cheery.
Marcel
Guest
Maybe they need to get John Safran on the case.
sheek
Roar Guru
I'm not a hard-core soccer fan, but I have an opinion on strikers, or attackers, attempting to milk a penalty in the goal square. You might get the penalty or you might not. I'm firmly of the belief an attacker should hold his balance as well as he can. The thing is, once a defender has tried to foul you, he has momentarily taken himself out of the defensive line. The attacker only needs a split-second to regain, or maintain his balance, & slot the ball home for a goal. Why wait for a penalty you might not get? Hold your feet & keep attacking positively. As for England, they're not cursed, they often just brain-dead. Their arrogance in not mixing with the world until after WW2, & even then for long periods afterwards, robbed them of critical tactical & skills development. England are much better than they were, but they are still a long way from being the best. And in the Euro final, they were the second best team. So no need to feel sorry for them.
Anibal Pyro
Roar Rookie
Well, not cursed, just not good enough. They cant control the Ball like Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Italia, France. To be a Powerhouse means to know how to defend, how to counterattack, how to play tiki taka. Every match has different stages in modern fútbol.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
best comment!
Kozz
Roar Rookie
Happy to see the moronic England fans suffering...LOL
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Well said Gerry
Gerry
Roar Rookie
I understand I have already stated Italy were the better team. I also stated England need to hang on to the ball better and become more comfortable with the short precise passing like the European teams. It’s not far off from them doing that. Sterling is a fabulous player if he just stops falling over all the time way too easily and that goes for Kane too. Younger talents such as Grealish Rice and Phillips and stoic defenders like Stones and Maguire are also vital to the team. I am not sure if Jane is better suited as a playmaker or an out an out striker. As a striker he needs to get quality supply. Luke Shaw and Grealish passes in the Ukraine game are prime examples. There is no reason England can’t play like that against the top teams. The early goal proved that England are capable of quality passes to unlock any defence in the world. They needed more of that but in order to do that they must retain the ball much better. They are not that far off. A midfield maestro type player and a brilliant passer of the ball like Beckham used to be are probably what us needed. England have won a couple of Youth World Cups. They have a bright future and need fear no team. Sure they may let in goals but they just need to score one more than the opposition. With their attacking weapons they need to learn how to adapt and deploy these. All credit to Italy they deserved to win but England are certainly not going away.
Lara
Guest
With some supporters that you prefer not to have, let alone acknowledge…..England are cursed.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
cursed? no not good enough? yes
NoMates
Roar Rookie
England did well, they just have to pick them self's up and move forward to the world cup now if hey Qualify.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
goalposts will never be moved in the country we live in (we're in australia and not england, seems like a lot of people forget this at times) while they worship at the alter of the premier league
Guppy
Guest
Move those goalposts Andy!