Penalty curse denies England their dream
Football fans across Italy celebrated in the streets of their main cities until the early hours of this morning after their national team won the Euro 2020 championship in a hard-fought match against England at Wembley. Italy went a goal down in the first two minutes of the match but pulled level in the second half to take the contest into extra time and then won on penalties (4-3). England missed three penalties.
The Football Association has condemned racist abuse aimed at England players Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after the match. All three players missed penalties in the 3-2 shootout loss and were targeted on social media. The Metropolitan Police is investigating the abuse and said “it will not be tolerated”.
The victory at Wembley brought Italy its first European title since 1968. England remain without a major trophy since 1966, when they beat West Germany in the World Cup final 4-2. Ecstatic Italy fans started street parties across the country immediately after the penalty shootout.
The Metro sums up the thoughts of the nation as it declares “Lions did us proud”. Its main image shows manager Gareth Southgate consoling a devastated Bukayo Saka after his penalty miss. Italian Corriere della Sera declares: “I campioni siami noi” while La Gazzetta dello Sport says “Italia, ti amiamo da impazzire: siamo campioni d’Europa!”
Pope appears in good health
Avvenire says that after last Sunday’s intervention and a week in hospital, the Pope recited the Angelus at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome. The voice was a little fainter than usual but the Pontiff appeared in fairly good health. “I am happy to be able to keep the Sunday appointment of the Angelus, also here at the Gemelli Hospital. I thank you all: I have felt your closeness and the support of your prayers very much. Thank you so much!” He underlined the importance of a “good health service accessible to all”.
von der Leyen pays tribute to Italian resistance
“It was a German soldier who ordered your parents and grandparents to be killed. It is a profound sin in the history of my country.” Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU Commission, spoke at the Fossoli Camp, near Carpi, in Emilia Romagna, in front of the family members of 67 Italian political inmates murdered by the SS 77 years ago. According to Ansa, she said, “Their resistance helped save Italy and all of Europe. Including my country, Germany”. At these words the audience applauded and stood up.
Branson rockets to the edge of space
The BBC says the Virgin Galactic space shuttle with Richard Branson on board has returned to earth with a perfect landing, after just over an hour of flight. In the few minutes that the space shuttle floated in space, he said, “A once in a lifetime experience”. The spacecraft in its suborbital flight reached a height of 80 kilometers above the New Mexico desert.
Cubans protest against COVID measures
Grandma reports that thousands of Cubans have taken to the streets in several Cuban cities to protest against the government in what were described as “the biggest demonstrations on the island in almost 30 years”. President Miguel Diaz-Canel said the protests were a provocation by mercenaries, hired by the US to destabilise the country.
Wimbledon 2021: Djokovic beats atteo Berrettini for 20th Grand Slam title
Novak Djokovic won his sixth Wimbledon title to equal Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s record of 20 men’s Grand Slam victories after fighting back to beat Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. The 34-year-old Serb won 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-4 6-3 in front of a passionate and vocal 15,000 strong crowd on Centre Court. Seventh seed Berrettini, 25, received loud backing but could not maintain his advantage in his first major final. Top seed Djokovic has now won all three Grand Slam men’s titles in 2021.
