Talking tactics: breaking the final down

Although England took the lead again in the shoot-out, Gianluigi Donnarumma stood tall in goal and Italy emerged triumphant.

The script was all too familiar for England from its 2018 World Cup semifinal defeat to Croatia — take the early lead, sit back, invite pressure, cede control in midfield and get punished. Gareth Southgate set England up in a 3-4-3 formation, while Roberto Mancini’s Italy lined up in a 4-3-3, with contrasting styles on display in a hard-fought contest. England was a goal up through Luke Shaw after 117 seconds of play, capitalising on Italy’s shape being pulled apart after an unsuccessful corner.