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12 Jul, 2021 13:32

‘ICE COLD’: Italy hero Donnarumma goes viral for Euro 2020 penalty save reaction as Bonucci and Chiellini troll England (VIDEO)

‘ICE COLD’: Italy hero Donnarumma goes viral for Euro 2020 penalty save reaction as Bonucci and Chiellini troll England (VIDEO)

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has gone viral for his ice-cold reaction to the Azzurri's dramatic Euro 2020 penalty shootout triumph, as veteran defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci also celebrated online.

PSG-bound shotstopper Donnarumma was beaten early by Luke Shaw within two minutes of the Wembley final against England. 

Yet after a Bonucci equalizer in the second half forced extra time and penalties, the former AC Milan star became the hero of the evening.

First conceding spot kicks to Harry Kane and Harry Maguire, Donnarumma was sent the wrong way by Marcus Rashford but the Manchester United striker got his angle wrong and hit the post.

Nerves then set in for England's young stars, with the imposing 6"4 Italy goalkeeper saving from Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, whose misses handed the Azzurri their first Euros trophy since 1968.

Most television coverage immediately panned away from Player of the Tournament Donnarumma after he had denied Saka, instead showing the rest of Roberto Mancini's men celebrating.   

However additional footage that has since gone viral online and shows off the ice-cool persona of the 22-year-old in all its glory.

Rather than slumping to his knees as most shotstoppers do after winning a shootout, usually followed by gestures such as pointing to the heavens or crossing themselves before bursting into tears, the prodigy simply struts off through the 18-yard box with a blank expression.

Even when mobbed by his teammates, he still manages to stay standing for some time in his ruthless stroll, until they eventually bring him into the ground before their travelling compatriot faithful in the stands.

Yet while Saka, Rashford and Sancho have been racially abused for their misses, Donnarumma has received universal praise.

"It's just another day in the office," commented one onlooker online.

"Never seen a colder reaction after saving a penalty and winning your country the Euro Cup!"

"I want this level of composure in life!," claimed another.

RT

"The I Do This For A Living posture," quipped someone else, as it was also remarked: "This guy is cool as ice. The fact that he's just 22 and already one of the best is just amazing!"

"It’s an incredible night," Donnarumma said post-match. "If I am the best player of the tournament it is also thanks to Bonucci and Chiellini. We were extraordinary, we are very happy."

“We didn’t give an inch. We are a fantastic squad and we deserve all this," he went on. "That goal could have killed us, but we’re not those kind of men. We are those type of men who never give up."

"Despite the goal right at the beginning we always commanded the game and then with penalties there’s Gigio," captain Giorgio Chiellini added.

"We’ve gone from Gigi to Gigio," he concluded, in reference to how the hero of the night has succeeded the legendary Gianluigi Buffon between the sticks for the four-time World Cup winners.

Once the win was sealed, Bonucci was captured screaming "It's Coming [to] Rome" down the camera, and this is something the central defender continued while celebrating in the Wembley changing rooms, with Donnarumma later joining in.

"We heard it day in and day out that the trophy would be coming home to London. Sorry for them, but actually the cup will be taking a nice flight to Rome," said the Star of the Match in his post-match press conference, while dedicating the win to Italians in Italy and around the world.

Now completing 326 games together for club and country, Bonucci and Chiellini have finally tasted glory after a loss on this stage at the last hurdle to Spain in 2012, and a pair of defeats in the 2015 and 2017 Champions League finals to La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.

It was suspected that their veteran ages would make them an easy target for pacey attacks in this edition of Uefa's flagship tournament, but in a remarkable feat for the 34 and 36-year-olds, they neither made an error that led to a shot nor were dribbled past on one occasion.

After skipper Chiellini had posted an "It's coming Rome" selfie with the trophy on the team bus, Bonucci this morning uploaded an intimate snap of the pair with the prized possession on a hotel room bed. 

"Quiet, it's sleeping safely. We protect it," he wrote in his caption on Instagram.

In the comments section, Antoine Griezmann replied with a string of loveheart-eye smilies and flames, while former Juve teammate Patrice Evra said: "I love this couple" alongside two crying-with-laughter emojis.

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