England's years of hurt go on but it looked for the first 30 minutes of this final that the moment the country has waited more than 20,000 days for had finally arrived.

Southgate's side came firing out of the blocks and the manager's one change - replacing Saka with Kieran Trippier - paid an instant dividend as Trippier ran on to Kane's perfect pass to find the onrushing Shaw at the far post and he slammed an emphatic finish past Donnarumma.

England were up and running and urged on by a vast, frenzied crowd they had this talented, streetwise Italian side on the back foot until they suddenly gained a foothold in the closing phase of the first half.

Italy dominated possession, and it was no surprise when they restored parity, then looking the more likely winners as Southgate's side, so full of running early on, started to labour, particularly after losing the outstanding Declan Rice to a knock.

Southgate surprisingly waited until extra time to introduce Jack Grealish but by that stage the game was locked on course for penalties and so it proved.

Sancho and Rashford came on in the closing moments, presumably in readiness for penalties, but sadly for Southgate, who has got so much right in Euro 2020, this was one move that did not pay off as both failed with their spot-kicks.

Pickford performed heroics to save two penalties but he was also left in tears after England's fate was sealed.

Italy edged over the line and both Southgate and his players looked devastated as they took sympathetic applause from England's fans, who had arrived with such high hopes but filed out of Wembley with their dreams of a major trophy shattered once more.

England came close when they reached the semi-final of the World Cup in Moscow in 2018 but this loss will cut even deeper after they made such smooth progress to the final and had the chance to finally claim a second trophy in what was effectively a home tournament with its climax at Wembley.

They have made progress - but still England could not clear the final hurdle.