Euro 2020: Gianluigi Donnarumma: Italy goalkeeper explains why he didn't celebrate saving Bukayo Saka penalty

ByEurosport

Published 13/07/2021 at 13:28 GMT

Gianluigi Donnarumma was the hero for Italy in the Euro 2020 final as the Azzurri beat England 3-2 on penalties after both sides were locked at 1-1 after extra-time. The 22-year-old says he was not aware that Italy had won the tournament when he saved Bukayo Saka's penalty and thought they had lost when Jorginho missed his just moments earlier.

Gianluigi Donnarumma says the reason he did not celebrate after saving Bukayo Saka's decisive penalty was because he did not realise Italy had won Euro 2020.

Following a 1-1 draw after extra-time at Wembley Stadium on Sunday night, Donnarumma saved a penalty from Jadon Sancho before denying Arsenal winger Saka to ensure Italy won the tournament 3-2 on penalties.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper did not celebrate until his teammates sprinted over to hug their hero because he had lost track of the score and did not think the shootout was over.

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"I didn't celebrate on the penalty because I didn't realise we had won," he told Sky Italy.

"I was already down after Jorginho's missed penalty and I thought we had lost, but instead I had to continue.

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"Now, with VAR, they always look at your feet because you can't be in front of the line, so I turned to the referee to see if everything was okay.

Then I saw my team-mates coming towards me and everything started from there. I didn't understand anything!

Paris Saint-Germain's new signing Donnarumma was UEFA's player of the tournament and features in the official team of the tournament alongside four other Italy players.

Leonardo Bonucci, Leonardo Spinazzola, Jorginho and Federico Chiesa also made the XI.

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