Leonardo Bonucci has said that the ‘football’s coming home’ chant motivated Italy to win Euro 2020.
The famous ‘Three Lions’ hit, originally released by David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and the Lightning Seeds ahead of England’s hosting of Euro 96, has been regularly heard across the country during the past month.
Its chorus, which contains the phrase ‘football’s coming home’, has been chanted almost everywhere you look – including at Wembley following England‘s victory over Denmark in the semi-final.
Gareth Southgate‘s side would go on to lose the final to Italy, who triumphed via a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra-time.
Bonucci says that the chant gave Italy motivation to go on to lift the trophy.
He said: “We heard it day in day out ever since Wednesday night, since the Denmark game, that the cup would be coming home to London.
“Sorry for them but actually the cup will be taking a nice flight to Rome and that way Italians all over the world can savour this competition.
“It is for everyone else, we said it from day one it was for them and us.”
The defender played a leading role in the final. He earned the Star of the Match award.
He equalised for Italy on 67 minutes, before then scoring his penalty in the shootout.
Mancini reacts to Euro 2020 triumph
It is the first major trophy that Italy manager Roberto Mancini has won since lifting the Turkish Cup with Galatasaray in 2014.
And he reflected on an “incredible” achievement for a nation that didn’t even qualify for the World Cup in 2018.
He said: “It was impossible even to just consider this at one stage, but the guys were just amazing. I have no words for them, this is a wonderful group.
“This was a difficult game made a lot harder after their early goal. Apart from that early spell, we dominated the match.
“We are delighted for people and the Italian public because they really deserve this after what has been a trying period. This is great joy for us.
“Winning the European Championship for the first time since 1968 and bringing home the trophy, I do think it is something incredible.”
Featured Image Credit: Getty
