Three years on from a World Cup semifinal exit, losing a European championship final in a penalty shootout is something no one would have predicted when Gareth Southgate took charge. The celebrations in the GTA when Italy win a major tournament are unforgettable. The 2010 World Cup and Euro 2016 were two of the most forgettable tournaments in recent memory because of how few matches were actually enjoyable to watch. Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia was treated as the apocalypse in the soccer-mad nation. Toronto Star contributor Brendan Dunlop is host of “Headers and Footers,” the nightly UEFA EURO 2020 recap podcast.

Source: thestar July 13, 2021 00:11 UTC