HistoryData
general2021

UEFA Euro 2020 finals — final match of the UEFA Euro 2020

July 11, 2021

Italy defeated England on penalties in the UEFA Euro 2020 final, their first European Championship title since 1968 and first major trophy since 2006.

Quick Facts

Year
2021
Category
general

Key Facts

Attendance
67,173 (limited by COVID-19 restrictions)
Global audience
328 million estimated viewers
Fastest final goal
Luke Shaw scored in the 2nd minute
Penalty shoot-out result
Italy won 3–2
Final score (after extra time)
1–1
Italy's previous Euro title
1968

By the Numbers

67,173
Attendance
328
Global audience
2
Fastest final goal
3
Penalty shoot-out result

Location

Map of London, EnglandMap of London, EnglandLondon, England

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

UEFA Euro 2020 was postponed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, with the final rescheduled from 12 July 2020 to 11 July 2021. Italy and England advanced through the tournament to meet at Wembley Stadium, with England appearing in their first-ever European Championship final and Italy in their fourth.

Event

Before a crowd of 67,173 at Wembley, England took an early lead through Luke Shaw in the second minute, the fastest goal in a European Championship final. Leonardo Bonucci equalized midway through the second half. The match ended 1–1 after extra time, and Italy won the penalty shoot-out 3–2 after England's final three takers — Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka — all missed.

Consequence

Italy claimed their second European Championship title and first major honor since the 2006 FIFA World Cup, drawing level with France on two European titles. England's defeat prompted widespread racial abuse targeting the three missed penalty takers, investigated by Metropolitan Police. The final was also marred by roughly six thousand ticketless supporters attempting to breach Wembley Stadium.

Timeline Context

Timeline around 202120212018201920202022202320242020 Summer Olympics — games of the XXXII Olympiad, in Tokyo, Japan, held in 2021UEFA Euro 2020 — 16th men’s European association football championshipEurovision Song Contest 2021 — 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest2020 Summer Paralympics — 2020 edition of the Summer Paralympics2021 Formula One World Championship — 72nd running of the Formula One World Championship2021 Taliban offensive — 2021 military offensive by the Taliban causing the fall of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan2021 Copa América — Edition's XLVII Copa AmericaFootball at the 2020 Summer Olympics — association football practiced at the 2020 Summer Olympicsuefa-euro-2020-finals-final-match-of-the-uefa-euro-2020-2021