icon bookmark-bicon bookmarkicon cameraicon checkicon chevron downicon chevron lefticon chevron righticon chevron upicon closeicon v-compressicon downloadicon editicon v-expandicon fbicon fileicon filtericon flag ruicon full chevron downicon full chevron lefticon full chevron righticon full chevron upicon gpicon insicon mailicon moveicon-musicicon mutedicon nomutedicon okicon v-pauseicon v-playicon searchicon shareicon sign inicon sign upicon stepbackicon stepforicon swipe downicon tagicon tagsicon tgicon trashicon twicon vkicon yticon wticon fm
13 Jul, 2021 09:49

Italy hero Donnarumma explains why he DIDN'T CELEBRATE after saving decisive penalty in Euro 2020 final

Italy hero Donnarumma explains why he DIDN'T CELEBRATE after saving decisive penalty in Euro 2020 final

Italian goalkeeping hero Gianluigi Donnarumma says his ice-cold demeanor after saving the decisive penalty in the Euro 2020 shootout victory over England was because he didn’t know his team had won.

Donnarumma, 22, was inspired as he kept out efforts from Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, while Marcus Rashford struck the post as Italy won the shootout 3-2.

The scores had finished level at 1-1 following extra time at Wembley, after Luke Shaw’s goal for England after just two minutes was canceled out by Leonardo Bonucci’s second-half strike for the Italians.  

In the shootout it was Saka’s miss with England’s fifth penalty which ended up being the match-winning moment as Donnarumma dived to his left to keep out the shot at waist height.

RT

But despite handing Italy their first European title since 1968, Donnarumma calmly walked away from the goalline, briefly glancing back at the referee to check that the save had been given the all-clear and only then being mobbed by his teammates.

The composed non-celebration went viral, with football fans on Twitter hailing Donnarumma for being ‘ice cold’.

But the young star – who was later crowned player of the tournament, making him the first goalkeeper to win the honor – has now revealed why he initially appeared so calm.

“I didn’t celebrate because I didn’t realize we had won,” Donnarumma told Sky Sport Italia amid the wild celebrations back in Rome on Monday.  

“I looked at the referee, I tried to understand if VAR had given the OK and I only realized we had won when I saw my teammates celebrating.”

Having established himself as one of the world’s top-class keepers in six seasons at AC Milan, Donnarumma is poised for a move to French money men Paris Saint-Germain this summer. 

“Now, I’ll enjoy the party and then tomorrow I will be on holiday. I thank all those who have given me affection and I hope to have repaid it,” Donnarumma said.

“I have treasured what I have lived and it has become experience. Peace of mind has always been my strength, but experience helps a lot. Both when things go well and when things go wrong." 

RT
RT

After suffering the humiliation of failing to qualify for the World Cup in Russia three years ago, Italy have been transformed into a resurgent force under manager Roberto Mancini.

The Azzurri are unbeaten in 34 matches, in no small part to the brilliance of Donnarumma but also the wily genius of central defensive pairing Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, both of whom were excellent in the final against England.

Italy's win at Wembley means they have two European titles to add to the four World Cups they have won in their long and distinguished history at major tournaments.

Also on rt.com Football’s not coming home: England’s agonizing wait for glory goes on as Italy win Euro 2020 on penalties at Wembley
Dear readers! Thank you for your vibrant engagement with our content and for sharing your points of view. Please note that we have switched to a new commenting system. To leave comments, you will need to register. We are working on some adjustments so if you have questions or suggestions feel free to send them to feedback@rttv.ru. Please check our commenting policy
sport-banner-telegram
Join RT Sport on Telegram
Podcasts
0:00
26:56
0:00
24:47