Italian fans stunned as team concedes goal in two minutes to England

July 11, 2021

Mamma mia! Italian fans in Rome are stunned as their side concedes goal inside three minutes to England

A half-volley from England’s Luke Shaw in the first few minutes of the match shocked Italian fans
Crowds of fans waving flags gathered in Rome as Italy faces off against England in the Euros final
Many cities have cancelled gatherings due to Covid-19 but supporters have hung flags from balconies
Meanwhile in London, Italians celebrated ahead of the match in Soho and at Wembley, where 1,000 Italy fans have been allowed to watch the game under tight coronavirus restrictions
Despite Italy’s superior track record of tournament football, this evening’s math is expected to be a nail biter

Italy fans have been left stunned after their team conceded a goal two minutes into tonights Euros final against England.

Luke Shaw scored a half-volley to give England a 1-0 advantage just minutes after Sunday’s 8:00 p.m. kick off at Wembley Stadium.

Fans at Wembley and at Rome’s fan zones had their heads in their hands following the shocking early goal.

Italy fans have been left stunned after their team conceded a goal two minutes into tonights Euros final against England

Pictured: A fan in Rome reacts after England’s goal

Fans in Rome react to Luke Shaw’s goal

Luke Shaw scored a half-volley to give England a 1-0 advantage just minutes after Sunday’s 8:00 p.m. kick off at Wembley Stadium

Prior to the game, confident Italian fans were chanting ‘It’s Coming Rome’.

Crowds gathered in central Rome on Sunday afternoon, hours ahead of the kick off at 8:00 p.m. BST.

Supporters wearing Italy strips and face masks emblazoned with the country’s red white and green flag sang songs and waved flags in the streets.

Tickets for Rome’s two fan zones sold out in seconds after being made available at midnight. Around 3,000 spectators will be able to watch Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri in the zones.

Cities elsewhere in Italy have banned public gatherings in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, while Italy’s interior minister has also advised people to stay home to watch the game.

In the absence of gatherings, buildings have been lit up in the tricolore and flags hung from balconies.

Italy fans cram into Rome’s Piazza del Popolo fan zone ahead of Sunday’s Euros final against England

As Italy prepares to face off against England in the final of the Euros tonight, confident Italian fans are chanting ‘It’s Coming Rome’

Fans in face paint pose at one of Rome’s fan zones on Sunday

Pictured: Italian fans cheer in a piazza in Rome

In the absence of gatherings, buildings have been lit up in the tricolore and flags hung from balconies

Fans gather at the Piazza del Popolo fan zone in Rome, Italy, ahead of the match

Supporter’s wearing Italy strips and face masks emblazoned with the country’s red white and green flag sang songs and waved flags in the streets

Crowds gathered in central Rome on Sunday afternoon, hours ahead of the kick off at 8:00 p.m. BST

Supporters await the kick off at Rome’s iconic Piazza Venezia

Fans in face paint pose at one of Rome’s fan zones on Sunday

Meanwhile, in London, fans draped in Italian flags and face paint began trickling into Wembley Stadium, where 1,000 Italy fans have been allowed to attend the game.

Eugenio Copelli, 63, a railway worker from north London, was just one of the outnumbered Italian fans to make the pilgrimage to Wembley.

‘I’m not nervous today because I do believe we are going to win it. It is going back to Rome,’ he told AFP news agency.

Copelli had not bagged a ticket and would instead be watching with friends on a big screen elsewhere.

‘We will be drowning our sorrows in coffee or drinking champagne,’ he joked.

At Wembley, fans held signs bearing the message: ‘It’s Coming Rome’ while one pair held a banner taunting that England had ‘More Variants than finals’.

While most where decked out in Italy’s strip or the red, white and green, some fans opted for other iconic looks – a centurion, several Super Marios and even a Pope could be spotted in the stands.

Crowds of Italian fans also gathered at Bar Italia in London’s Soho to cheer on their team.

At Wembley, fans held signs bearing the message: ‘It’s Coming Rome’

Italy coach Roberto Mancini is seen on the pitch ahead at Wembley ahead of Sunday’s kick off

One pair of Italy supporters, held a banner taunting that England had ‘More Variants than finals’

Meanwhile, in London, fans draped in Italian flags and face paint began trickling into Wembley Stadium, where 1,000 Italy fans have been allowed to attend the game

Italy fans match their face paint to their face masks while attending Sunday’s match at Wembley

Italy fans gather at Club Italia in Bedford, England to watch the game

An Italy fan has her face painted at Bedford’s Club Italia

An Italinan fan holds a placard as she watches the Wimbledon men’s singles final between Italy’s Matteo Berrettini and Serrbia’s Novak Djokovic

Italy’s delegation chief Gianluca Vialli (centre), assistant coach Daniele De Rossi (right) and another coach share a moment ahead of the match

All smiles: An England fan poses with two Italy supporters ahead of the match on Sunday

Pictured: Commemorative scarves on sale in London

While most where decked out in Italy’s strip or the red, white and green, some fans opted for other iconic looks – a centurion, several Super Marios and even a Pope could be spotted in the crowd

Jubilant Italy fans celebrate ahead of the game at Bar Italian in Soho, London

Despite a superior track record in tournament football, Italy’s match against England is suspected to be a nail biter, with the Three Lions playing on home turf surrounded by tens of thousands of cheering fans.

England are desperate to cinch an historic win in the match – the first major final for the England men’s team since 1966 – but Italy, unbeaten in 33 matches, could dash their hopes.

Italians allowed to attend have to travel in and out of the UK on Sunday and remain in a bubble at all times with no contact with the general public.

They will also have to quarantine for five days upon returning home to Italy.

Rules for VIP guests will be looser, with a number spending a week in London in designated hotels.

The VIPs are expected to be in isolation when not attending official Euro 2020 events, The Guardian reported.

Social media users predicted an Italy win and blasted the behaviour of England fans ahead of the match.

‘I’ve changed my mind, I’m for Italy,’ one Twitter user wrote alongside a video of England fans throwing bottles and setting off flares in a litter-filled square hours ahead of the match.

‘This is why I root for Italy’ another commented.

Pictured: Italy fans at one of Rome’s two fan zones smile ahead of the match on Sunday

Some England fans have since attempted to storm the ground, breaking through a security barrier at Wembley. In a statement, UEFA said the fans did not gain access to the stadium.

Scottish fans, known to support whichever team is playing England, were firmly behind Italy, with social media users promising to ‘stop deep frying pizza’ if Italy lifts the cup.

Mancini has made no changes to his team, keeping the same line up that claimed victory over Spain in the semi finals.

England’s Gareth Southgate had made one change, swapping Bukayo Saka out for Kieran Trippier.

Pictured: Italy fans at Wembley on Sunday

Fans of Italy pose as they cheer their team on outside Wembley Stadium

Mancini has made no changes to his team, keeping the same line up that claimed victory over Spain in the semi finals. Pictured: Italy’s dressing room on Sunday

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