England 1 Italy 1 (Italy win 3-2 on penalties): England’s bid for Euro 2020 glory fell short in the most agonising fashion on penalties against Italy.

Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions lost 3-2 in the shoot-out on a night of almost unbearable tension at Wembley.

It came despite the heroics of ex-Carlisle United keeper Jordan Pickford, who saved two Italian spot-kicks.

But Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were all unsuccessful from the spot.

It was Saka with the final effort which was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, handing Italy the trophy.

Hexham Courant: Italy keeper Donnarumma saves the decisive penalty from Saka (photo: PA)Italy keeper Donnarumma saves the decisive penalty from Saka (photo: PA)

Pickford had saved from Andrea Belotti and Jorginho in the shoot-out to keep England’s dream alive.

But Rashford hit the post before Donnarumma denied fellow subs Sancho and Saka.

Rashford and Sancho had only come on in the closing stages of extra-time, seemingly with the shoot-out in mind.

It meant Roberto Mancini’s side got their hands on the trophy at England’s national stadium - meaning the wait for a first major tournament win since 1966 goes on.

The sides could not be separated in 120 minutes of football at Wembley, the game finishing 1-1.

A tense 90 minutes had seen Luke Shaw give England a dream start before Leonardo Bonucci brought Italy level in the second half.

Hexham Courant: England celebrate their second-minute opener from Luke Shaw, right (photo: PA)England celebrate their second-minute opener from Luke Shaw, right (photo: PA)

Shaw scored inside two minutes when he arrived unmarked to send a Kieran Trippier cross inside the near post after a sweeping counter-attack.

His goal was the quickest in a European Championships final as well as being his first England strike.

It was followed by a confident Three Lions display for much of the first 45 minutes.
England were the better side for long spells of the opening period, though Federico Chiesa rifled just past the post in Italy’s nearest miss of the first half on 35 minutes.

John Stones then had to make an important block to deny Ciro Immobile in added time.

Sterling was denied with a penalty appeal after going down under Leonardo Bonucci’s challenge, before Italy imposed themselves on things after the break, Lorenzo Insigne firing a free-kick wide.

Harry Maguire headed a Shaw free-kick over the bar as an increasingly edgy England looked for a second, before Pickford saved impressively from Chiesa.

But Italy levelled on 67 minutes when a dangerous cross forced Maguire to head behind, and from the resulting corner, Bonucci netted from close range to make it 1-1.

Hexham Courant: Bonucci makes it 1-1 from close range (photo: PA)Bonucci makes it 1-1 from close range (photo: PA)

Kalvin Phillips volleyed wide in extra-time, with Jack Grealish coming on for England, before Pickford cut out a dangerous Italian cross.

But then England’s dream was dashed in the cruel finale.

The penalties saw Berardi and Kane convert the first two kicks before Pickford denied Belotti and Maguire lashed England into the lead.

Bonucci made it 2-2 before Rashford hit the post.

Hexham Courant: Rashford hits the post in the shoot-out (photo: PA)Rashford hits the post in the shoot-out (photo: PA)

Federico Bernardeschi restored Italy's lead with Donnarumma then keeping out Sancho's spot-kick.

Pickford dramatically saved from Jorginho as the Chelsea man stepped up to try and win it for Italy.

Hexham Courant: Pickford saved two penalties in the shoot-out (photo: PA)Pickford saved two penalties in the shoot-out (photo: PA)

But Arsenal teenager Saka then saw his shot saved as Donnarumma was Italy's hero.