2329 England boss Southgate has taken took full responsibility for his side’s latest penalty failure.
“We prepared as well as we could for that and that’s my responsibility, I chose the guys to take the kicks,” he told ITV.
“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 team.”
2325
2319 Should Saka have taken the crucial fifth penalty?
Former England Women forward Eni Aluko has said it was “too much” for someone of his age, but former England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright told ITV: “He is more than capable of taking that penalty. He is brave enough to take it. I am devastated for him.”
2315 Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has sounded an optimistic note about the national team’s future.
He said: “Tonight’s result is a disappointment but huge congratulations to England for performances that filled the nation with pride.
“Praise must go to the players, and to Gareth Southgate and his coaching team and everybody at the FA, for a great Euro 2020 tournament. Gareth is a fantastic leader and instilled the players with belief, to go alongside their undoubted ability.
“Irrespective of tonight’s result, I am excited for the future – to see not only what this squad can go on to achieve, but also for the millions of people their success will inspire to play, support and get involved with our sport.”
2310 Alan Shearer has questioned the timing of Southgate’s subs, with neither Rashford or Sancho getting much time on the pitch before it went to penalties.
Shearer said on the BBC: “It’s a big ask to put players on with a minute to go and say ‘go and take a penalty’ when they’ve had no feel of the ball. You’re put in a position.”
But Rio Ferdinand argued: “That’s happened for years, the last five, four, three minutes, players go on as takers. Marcus Rashford is a recognised taker. It happens. We look down the years, the biggest and best players miss penalties. Big players of the past… Baggio… they’ve missed penalties.”
2308 Gary Neville has told ITV: “The lads fell a little bit short but they should be so proud. Every single one of them has been outstanding through this tournament.
“We’ll have to look after the young lads (who missed penalties). They will need a cuddle. The whole nation is going to need cuddling.
“It was a massive struggle but it was always going to be a massive struggle. It was 50-50. Gareth has planned for penalties. He brought his subs on ready to go.”
2306 Former England midfielder Frank Lampard believes the better team won.
He said on the BBC: “In respect to Italy, they controlled the elements of the game after 20 minutes and you have to give them credit. We wanted our team to get over the line, but I do think Italy were the better team.”
2303 Rio Ferdinand has praised the England squad for giving the country some joy during the tournament.
Speaking on the BBC, the former England defender said: “Huge disappointment, but the fans clapping our players, they brought us great joy that my generation and below have not felt. They lifted this country when we needed it after a pandemic and take credit for that.
“It’s harsh, painful. I was supremely confident, but they are wily old foxes in that (Italy) team. When it got to penalties, it’s a toss of a coin.”
2256 There would be no glory for England, though, with Italy winning 3-2 on penalties as Rashford, Sancho and Saka all missed in the shootout.
2240 Perhaps inevitably, the game went to penalties.
2237 As the end of extra-time approached, with no chances but plenty of tension, Jorginho was perhaps unlucky to escape a red card for a late challenge on Grealish while, with penalties in mind, Henderson and Walker were replaced by Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho.
2220 Half-time of extra-time soon arrived, with the sides still locked together.
2209 England started extra-time with renewed energy and Sterling broke into the box, but his cross was cut out and from the resulting corner Kalvin Phillips volleyed wide. Fan favourite Jack Grealish was then brought on to replace Mount.
2158 Normal time dwindled away with extra-time feeling almost inevitable, and so it proved as six minutes of added time passed without incident.
2148 There was a blow for Italy five minutes from time as the dangerous Chiesa hobbled off with an injury.
2138 With Italy now looking by far the better team, England made two changes, with Trippier replaced by Saka and Jordan Henderson coming on for Rice.
2129 Italy’s deserved leveller came midway through the second half as Bonucci struck from close range following a corner. Marco Verratti snuck in at the far post and his header was tipped on to the post by Pickford, but Bonucci tapped home the rebound.
2124 Italy kept knocking on the door and Pickford was forced into his most testing save of the night. The Everton goalkeeper did brilliantly to get down low and keep out Chiesa’s shot.
2115 Moments later Italy had a great chance at the other end as they won a free-kick in an inviting position, 20 yards out in a central position. However Insigne was well wide with his effort and England breathed again.
2111 England had a shout for a penalty three minutes after the restart as Raheem Sterling went down after trying to go past Bonucci but referee Bjorn Kuipers waved away protests.
2106 Speaking on ITV at half-time, former England defender Gary Neville said: “We raised our eyebrows a little bit this afternoon when we saw the team and the system come through but Gareth Southgate has proved to be absolutely spot on again. Chiellini and Bonucci have just been pulled around in that first half apart from the last 10 minutes.”
2050 England’s goal came under threat in first-half stoppage time as Italy fired two shots on goal in quick succession. First Ciro Immobile had an effort well blocked by John Stones and then Marco Verratti’s shot was easy for Pickford to save, before the half-time whistle blew.
2023 England continued to dominate at the 20-minute mark as they found space down both flanks. However, they lacked the quality in the final pass to allow them to create chances for further goals.
2019 Regarding the reports of stadium breaches, The Metropolitan Police said the force has been working with Wembley’s security staff to prevent further incidents at the stadium.
“Earlier this afternoon there was a breach of security at Wembley Stadium, which resulted in a small number of people getting into the stadium without a ticket. Officers worked closely with security officials to prevent any further breaches.
“We will also support action by Wembley Stadium officials to identify those without tickets and eject them.”
2007 England survived a scare in the seventh minute as Lorenzo Insigne sent a curling free-kick from 25 yards over the crossbar.
2002 England made a dream start and went ahead after only two minutes. Harry Kane spread the play out to Kieran Trippier and the wing-back’s cross was rammed home at the far post by Luke Shaw as Wembley went wild.
2000 Despite the disturbances around the stadium, the final kicked off as scheduled.
1919 On the ugly incident where fans appeared to try to force their way into Wembley Stadium, the Metropolitan Police tweeted: “We supported the security teams at Wembley Stadium a short time ago with this incident. Wembley security officials have confirmed there was no security breaches of people without tickets getting inside the stadium.”
1909 Southgate insisted his tactical change was more of an attacking move than a defensive one. “Italy cause you a tactical problem, they have a familiar way of playing and it is a problem which is difficult to resolve with a winger because he ends up defending in our own third of the pitch,” he told ITV.
“We want to keep our attacking players higher up the pitch, which we hope will cause them a problem higher up.”
1858 Trippier was determined to repay the faith the manager had shown in changing the formation to include him. “It worked against Germany and I just want to give the balance and try to create as much as we can,” he told ITV.
1841 England’s team showed the one change reported throughout the day, with Kieran Trippier called up in place of Bukayo Saka.
Southgate changed formation to a 3-4-3, with Kyle Walker moving into a three-man defence and Trippier playing right wing-back.
Manchester City forward Phil Foden was not fit enough to make the bench for the Three Lions after he picked up a knock against Denmark.
Italy named the same starting XI as the one that beat Spain in the semi-final after extra-time. Defender Leonardo Bonucci will play his 18th match at the European Championship, a record for his country as he overtakes Gianluigi Buffon.
1831 Not everything was jovial, however, with Wembley having to release a statement relating to an issue at the stadium’s perimeter: “We are dealing with an incident that occurred at the outer security perimeter area of the stadium, with support from police. Safety measures were quickly activated in the relevant areas and there were no security breaches of people without tickets getting inside the stadium,” the statement read.
1829 England’s players were in good spirits as they arrived at Wembley around 6.20pm. Gareth Southgate’s squad then took in their surroundings with an amble on the turf, which received a partisan welcome from the fans already in the stadium.
1803 England’s players are making the journey from their Grove Hotel to Wembley Stadium.
1800 How the teams compare ahead of the final.
1755 Gary Lineker was enjoying the ‘Countdown’ to kick-off.
1750 From London to York, and Three Lions to Sweet Caroline, fans are ready for the big match.
Where can I watch the final?
BBC One – build-up from 1820
ITV – build-up from 1830
