Alessandro Florenzi believes Italy winning the UEFA EURO 2020 trophy at Wembley against England ‘proves once again we are a special people’ and dedicates it to Italians all over the world.
The Azzurri had gone behind in a fiery atmosphere to Luke Shaw’s goal within two minutes of the Final, but Leonardo Bonucci bundled the ball over the line for the equaliser.
It went to extra time and had to be decided on penalties, Gianluigi Donnarumma making two saves.
“We dedicate this to all the Italians all over the world, because we proved once again, if it should’ve been needed, that we are a special people,” grinned Florenzi on RAI Sport.
“It’s coming Rome, they got one letter wrong… There’s no victory without a group, and I think we showed from start to finish that we are a group and people recognise themselves in us too.”
Florenzi had been out of action since limping off with an injury during the group phase, replaced at right-back by Giovanni Di Lorenzo, but he returned during extra time this evening.
“After the equaliser, we realised that we could win and have our chances to at least get it done before penalties. We had to go to the shoot-out, Gigio and the penalty takers did well. I was going to take the sixth penalty, if it went that far.”
The Nazionale had only won the Euros once before, in 1968, losing the Final in 2000 and 2012.
“It had been too long, but now we will enjoy this fully with all Italians.”
As he gathered his gold medal in the trophy ceremony, Florenzi held it up to the camera and shouted: “Look Mother, look what I got!”
Florenzi also dedicated Italy’s win to Gianluca Vialli: “He is going to hate me for this, but I say it anyway. He is an example who shows us how to behave, anytime and in any circumstance,” he told Sky Sport Italia.
The former PSG man also confirmed England’s ‘It’s coming home’ motivated the Azzurri: “It will be thrilling to return home with the cup. The English made bricks without straw, they misspelt it’s coming home, because it’s coming Rome.”