England's hopes of winning the Euro 2020 final ended in devastating fashion as they lost to Italy on penalties at Wembley Stadium. The match finished 1-1 after extra time, with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka all missing from the spot. It was a cruel repeat of history for manager Gareth Southgate, who missed a crucial penalty for England in the Euro 96 semi-final 25 years ago.
The nation wept as Southgate's men fell short, but fans still praised the team for their extraordinary efforts over the past month. Neal Weekes, 56, from Greenwich, said: 'Congratulations to Italy but I’m still very proud. Maybe our time will come in 17 months.' He added: 'We have a fantastic set of lads... a group that can definitely bring it home one day.'
Among the crowd at Wembley were Prince William, Tom Cruise, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Labour leader Keir Starmer. Despite the loss, the stadium was alive with emotion. After collecting their medals, the players found their families in the stands and waved to them before heading down the tunnel.
Fans streaming down Wembley Way praised the 'pride and honour' Southgate's team had brought. Mark Baldwin, 61, from Sidcup, said: 'It's disappointing that we lost but Gareth Southgate and the squad have done us proud.' Leeds United fan Krish Adams, 27, added: 'We just fell at the final hurdle but the future is bright – we have such a young squad.'
Paul Adams, Krish's father, remarked: 'If our leaders and politicians could behave with the dignity and class Gareth Southgate does the country would be a much better place.' The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow, but the nation's support for the team remained unwavering.
