Perhaps, as it was Gareth Southgate and England, it had to come down to penalties. Sadly for Southgate and England, the national curse struck again. Italy, who had won the World Cup on spot kicks in 2006, claimed silverware in sudden death again.
Gianluigi Donnarumma emerged as the hero as England missed their last three spot kicks. Marcus Rashford rolled his against the post before Donnarumma denied Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka. Southgate, who missed against Germany in 1996, will know how they feel. England have lost shootouts in quarter-finals and semi-finals before, but never a final. Their 55-year wait for silverware goes on.
But Italy’s remarkable renaissance is complete. They failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Now they are unbeaten in 34 games and European champions. The greatest disappointment of Roberto Mancini’s playing days came at Wembley. The greatest success of his managerial career has come there. Mancini, whose Sampdoria lost the 1992 European Cup final at England’s national stadium, inspired a turnaround with his substitutions and Domenico Berardi, Leonardo Bonucci and Federico Bernardeschi took fine penalties after the Juventus centre-back delivered the equaliser.
For England, Jordan Pickford’s shootout saves from Andrea Belotti and Jorginho – the second a quite brilliant stop when the Chelsea midfielder had a chance to win it – were in vain. Yet, in truth, it started to go wrong long before the shootout.
England were ahead after 117 seconds but then there were echoes of the 2018 World Cup semi-final against Croatia when they scored early but lost control of the game to superior passers in the second half. Here Southgate’s side looked tired. Mancini was the first manager to make substitutions and he altered the game. Bonucci cancelled out Luke Shaw’s opener, two defenders finding the net.
Shaw joined Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters in the select band of players to score for England in the finals of tournaments but England showed too little creativity after that stunning start. The goal came with their only first-half shot of any variety. Indeed, they did not muster an effort in open play for the next 100 minutes, limited to headers from Harry Maguire and John Stones from corners and, following another, a half-volley from Kalvin Phillips that went wide.
The fastest goal scored in the final of a European Championships was just the fourth of Shaw’s career. If it capped the revival of a player who, until recently, only played 59 minutes of international football in six years, it was a spectacular and immediate reward for Southgate’s pre-match tinkering.
The England manager reverted to the wing-back formation he used against Germany, demoting Bukayo Saka and bringing in Kieran Trippier. And when Shaw found Harry Kane and he sprayed the ball out to the right flank, there was Trippier. An outstanding crosser delivered the deep ball for Shaw, given licence to get further forward now he was no longer playing as a full-back, to drill in a low shot.
The watching David Beckham and Tom Cruise bumped fists. Southgate’s celebrations were restrained but his gameplan was paying off. Theirs was a confident, assured start, with players adapting well to their different duties. Declan Rice cut a forceful figure in midfield, bringing the ball forward with some driving runs. But while Kane excelled early on, Italy started to snuff him and England out.
This was the first time Italy trailed in the tournament and, within 20 minutes, the longest they had been behind since 2018. It was an unfamiliar scenario but, while it took them time to react, they began to have possession in the England half as Marco Verratti became more of an influence.
Federico Chiesa spurred them into life, powering away from Rice and drilled a shot that fizzed just past the post with Jordan Pickford beaten. Ciro Immobile had little service but when he connected well with a half-volley, Stones made a terrific block.
Opportunities became more frequent. Lorenzo Insigne twice directed free kicks over the bar but he was irrepressible and tested Pickford from an acute angle. It came after a reshuffle by Mancini, who removed the ineffective Immobile and installed Insigne as his central attacker. In the process, he changed the game.
Chiesa moved to the left and became still more threatening. Pickford made a terrific save to deny him. He made a still better one to keep out Verratti’s close-range header from a corner, but Bonucci was on hand to sweep in the rebound, a centre-back showing a striker’s predatory instinct.
It was only the second goal England conceded in the tournament but sheer weight of pressure had told. The substitute Berardi volleyed over after a glorious ball by Bonucci. England rallied a little in extra time after Jack Grealish came on and Jorginho may have been fortunate to escape a red card for a foul on the substitute but greater drama followed.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2A)
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Company%20profile
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Company%C2%A0profile
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The%20specs
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THREE
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Nayla%20Al%20Khaja%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Jefferson%20Hall%2C%20Faten%20Ahmed%2C%20Noura%20Alabed%2C%20Saud%20Alzarooni%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%C2%A0profile
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Look%20Both%20Ways
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Byblos iftar in numbers
29 or 30 days – the number of iftar services held during the holy month
50 staff members required to prepare an iftar
200 to 350 the number of people served iftar nightly
160 litres of the traditional Ramadan drink, jalab, is served in total
500 litres of soup is served during the holy month
200 kilograms of meat is used for various dishes
350 kilograms of onion is used in dishes
5 minutes – the average time that staff have to eat
Turning%20waste%20into%20fuel
%3Cp%3EAverage%20amount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20at%20DIC%20factory%20every%20month%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EApproximately%20106%2C000%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAmount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20from%201%20litre%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%20%3Cstrong%3E920ml%20(92%25)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETime%20required%20for%20one%20full%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%20used%20cooking%20oil%20to%20biofuel%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EOne%20day%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEnergy%20requirements%20for%20one%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%201%2C000%20litres%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%96%AA%20Electricity%20-%201.1904%20units%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Water-%2031%20litres%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Diesel%20%E2%80%93%2026.275%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Signs%20of%20%20%20%20%20%20%20heat%20stroke
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20loss%20of%20sodium%20chloride%20in%20our%20sweat%20can%20lead%20to%20confusion%20and%20an%20altered%20mental%20status%20and%20slurred%20speech%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBody%20temperature%20above%2039%C2%B0C%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHot%2C%20dry%20and%20red%20or%20damp%20skin%20can%20indicate%20heatstroke%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EA%20faster%20pulse%20than%20usual%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDizziness%2C%20nausea%20and%20headaches%20are%20also%20signs%20of%20overheating%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIn%20extreme%20cases%2C%20victims%20can%20lose%20consciousness%20and%20require%20immediate%20medical%20attention%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.