Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Joshua Knapman

England players refuse to wear silver medals after Euro 2020 defeat to Italy

A number of England's Euro 2020 team were quick to remove their runners-up medals after they lost out to Italy in the final on Sunday night.

England's goal scorer, Luke Shaw, as well as Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Mason Mount and Kalvin Phillips, were among a number of stars who quickly took off their silver medals after the game.

Captain Harry Kane was the first player to receive his silver medal and appeared to be preparing to remove or adjust it before he exited out of shot of the TV camera.

READ MORE: England release statement suggesting 'football was home all along'

READ MORE: England anthem 'Football's Coming Home' spurred Italy to win, goal-scorer says

He was later asked if a silver medal was an achievement or a missed opportunity, Kane said: "I think, for sure, a missed opportunity right now.

"It's not every day you get to a final, especially for your national team. It's been 55 years since our last one.

"The opportunity was there for us, we didn't quite take it. That's going to hurt for a long, long time.

"That's football. You've got to get on with it and move on."

The players and fans were left devastated after losing out in the Euro 2020 final against Italy on penalties.

The Italians claimed their second Euros trophy, after a game which ended 1-1 after extra time. Italy scored three penalties to England's two, with unlucky misses from Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka.

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made two heroic saves but his Italian counterpart, Gianluigi Donnarumma, dived the right way to deny Saka's shot, clinching the title for Italy.

England's impressive young players and popular manager Gareth Southgate were understandably devastated by the defeat and it was clear to see.

England manager Gareth Southgate consoles Jadon Sancho (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka of England is consoled by Ben White, Kalvin Phillips and Gareth Southgate (Carl Recine - Pool/Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka of England is consoled by Luke Shaw and Kalvin Phillips (Paul Ellis - Pool/Getty Images)

Earlier in the game, Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci cancelled out Luke Shaw’s volley, which was scored after just two minutes.

The Three Lions have now gone 55 years without winning a major international tournament.

Describing the aftermath, pundit Gary Lineker said there were "tears in the crowd, tears on the pitch".

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.