Thousands of Italians spilt into the streets to celebrate their dramatic Euro 2020 triumph over England at Wembley.
In the centre of Rome, car horns and foghorns rang out amid a cloud of smoke from firecrackers and flares after Italy lifted their second European title and first since 1968.
At the final whistle after the penalty shootout win, thousands draped in Italian flags left fan zones installed near the Colosseum and Piazza del Popolo to converge on Piazza Venezia, yelling "Forza Italia! Campioni d'Europa!"
It was particularly sweet for Azzurri supporters after the four-time world champions failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup for the first time in 60 years.
Corriere della Sera, Italy's biggest selling newspaper, wrote: "After the greatest post-war Italian tragedy, Italians are smiling again."
"It's ours! Football came home," read the Corriere dello sport. "England beaten on penalties, Italy in the streets to celebrate the cup."
Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci said Italy were spurred on by England fans' anthem that football was coming home.
Bonucci played a star role in the Azzuri’s success, cancelling out Luke Shaw’s early goal and then converting a penalty during the shootout which his side won 3-2.
“We heard it day in day out ever since the Denmark game that the cup would be coming home to London,” he said.
“Sorry for them but actually the cup will be taking a nice flight to Rome and that way Italians all over the world can savour this competition.
“It is for everyone, we said from day one it was for them and for us.”
The victory extends Italy’s unbeaten run to 34 games, going back to their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Pictures of Italian fans celebrating are in the gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.
