The Italian national team won Euro 2020 after beating England in the final match. This is the second European Cup trophy for Gli Azzurri. Italy first won the European Cup title in 1968. Roberto Mancini’s squad successfully conquered England through a penalty shootout after the two teams drew 1-1 in normal time until extra time.
In addition, Euro 2020 became Gli Azzurri’s first international trophy after the 2006 World Cup. Now, Gli Azzurri have recorded six international trophies, namely four World Cups (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006) and two European Cups (1968, 2020).
Interestingly, there are a number of similarities when the Italian national team won the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2020. Here are summary of four similarities between Italy when it emerged as the champion of Euro 2020 and the 2006 World Cup:
1. Winning on penalties against a team in white jersey
In the final match of Euro 2020 at Wembley, the Gli Azzurri wore their blue jersey. Meanwhile, England, which is the host, wears a white main uniform. With the victory via penalty shootout and the jersey that was worn, Italy seemed to repeat history when they won the 2006 World Cup.
In the 2006 World Cup final at the Olympiastadion, Berlin, Gli Azzurri won over France via penalty shootout. At that time, France also wore a white jersey. Uniquely, there are similarities about the jersey used by Italy at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2020, namely the main color is blue with the number and name set in gold.
2. Left behind
In the 2006 World Cup final, Italy first left by France through Zinedine Zidane’s penalty goal in the seventh minute. Meanwhile, at the top of the Euro 2020 match, the Gli Azzurri goal had to concede first through Luke Shaw’s lightning goal. The match had only been running for 1 minute 56 seconds.
However, in the end, Italy could equalize the score to 1-1 and the match was then continued into extra time. In these two finals, Gli Azzurri both won on penalties.
3. The scorer was the centre-back.
In the 2006 World Cup final, Italy was able to avenge the deficit through their centre-back, Marco Materazzi. Now, 15 years later, Leonardo Bonucci is like an incarnation of Materazzi by scoring a goal against England in the Euro 2020 final. Bonucci scored against England to make it 1-1 in the 67th minute.
4. Coached by former Inter Milan coach
When they won the 2006 World Cup, Italy was managed by Marcello Lippi. Meanwhile, Lippi had coached Inter Milan in the 1999-2000 period. Like Lippi, Roberto Mancini, who brought Italy to Euro 2020 champion, has also coached Inter Milan. Mancini coached Inter Milan for two periods, 2004-2008 and 2014-2016.
