La Copa América 2021 ha llegado a su fin después de tres semanas de partidos memorables y actuaciones impresionantes, que concluyeron con una gran final épica en el estadio de Maracaná entre dos de los equipos más poderosos del continente, Argentina y Brasil. La espera ha merecido la pena, ya que los aficionados de todo el mundo han podido seguir de cerca a algunos de los jugadores más interesantes del planeta.
Following the Euro 2020 final where Italy narrowly defeated England on penalties, both sides displayed the true highs and lows of soccer.
Italians were put on top of the world as they secured just their second-ever European Championship and first since 1968. From their fans pouring onto the streets and erupting in joy to Italy’s team stripping down to tighty whities, Italians made sure to properly celebrate the moment.
But the spectrum of reactions following the Euro 2020 final from both squads and their fans couldn't have been further apart.
When Brazil was preparing to take on Argentina in the Copa América final, it was widely acknowledged that while many Brazilians were tacitly supporting the Seleção, they’d also partially warmed to the idea of Lionel Messi finally reaping from what he’d painstakingly sown over the last 16 years with the Albiceleste — so much so that Neymar felt compelled to issue a stinging rebuke on Instagram that told those Brazilians to “go to hell.”
UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings and charged England's Football Association (FA) for disturbances during Sunday's Euro 2020 final against Italy at Wembley, Europe's soccer governing body said on Tuesday.
UEFA also said it had appointed an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to conduct a separate investigation into the "events involving supporters which occurred inside and around the stadium".
The final, which Italy won in a penalty shootout, was marred by clashes between fans and officials in and around the stadium.
I’m not going to lie, it’s not easy to go from watching the Euro and Copa América finals to blanky staring at Costa Rica fight off Guadeloupe 3-1 in the Gold Cup. Concacaf’s skill level might not be that of UEFA and CONMEBOL, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t entertainment.
Hace un par de semanas había alegría en la Federación Mexicana de Fútbol. En un amistoso ante la selección de Panamá, la afición del Tri se había portado súper bien y Guillermo Ochoa hasta felicitó a los espectadores por no recurrir al "¡eh, puuuto!" que tantas sanciones le ha significado al balompié azteca. Sin embargo, esa alegría apenas duró un par de partidos.
ROME - After 18 months of pandemic hell, Italy reveled in some soccer heaven on Monday after its national team brought back the European Championship trophy for the first time since 1968 following victory over England at Wembley.
Led by coach Roberto Mancini, the players landed shortly after dawn to find many fans were still celebrating in the early morning cool, with the smell of fireworks lingering in the streets and flags flapping out of car windows.
LONDON - The old guard, once again, came good for Italy, this time steering the Azzurri to Euro 2020 glory, but wily defensive stalwarts Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini cannot go on forever.
One experienced defensive head is guaranteed to remain, however, to guide an exciting Italy team into the future, despite still being a boy himself. The unflappable Gianluigi Donnarumma is almost certainly going to go on to break all kinds of appearance records at club and international level.
Roy Keane said England teenager Bukayo Saka should not have been given the task of taking their crucial fifth penalty in Sunday's shootout defeat by Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
Saka, 19, had to score to send the shootout to sudden death but his kick was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Italian goalkeeper had also saved from Jadon Sancho after Marcus Rashford had hit the post.
DONNARUMMA SAVES THE PENALTY!
LONDON - Black players in the England soccer team have been subjected to a storm of online racist abuse after their defeat in the final of Euro 2020, drawing wide condemnation from the squad's manager Gareth Southgate along with royalty and politicians.
Marcus Rashford, 23, Jadon Sancho, 21, and Bukayo Saka, 19, were the targets of the abuse after they missed spot-kicks in a penalty shootout with Italy which settled Sunday's final after the game finished as a 1-1 draw.