The man who turned Italy from rock bottom to Euro champions

LONDON: Italy manager Roberto Mancini said watching three years of hard work come to fruition with Euro 2020 glory on Sunday reduced him to tears at Wembley after his side edged England on penalties.

It marked Italy's first European Championship title since 1968 and was the result of Mancini's intelligent rebuilding of the national team following their humiliating failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Asked about the tears he shed at full-time, Mancini said: "That was the emotion that happens after achieving something incredible, of seeing the guys celebrate, the fans celebrating in the stands.

"It was seeing everything we have managed to create, all of the work we have put in over the last three years and specifically in the last 50 days, which have been very hard.

"We have got on very well, there have never been issues and the players deserve credit for that. Not just on the pitch, they did a brilliant job there, but I think it is the fact we have been able to forge this team spirit.

"They have created something that can never be separated going forward. They will always be synonymous with this triumph because they have so much respect for one another." Agencies

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