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In a final between arguably the tournament's two best teams, Italy beat England 3-2 in a penalty shootout to win Euro 2020.
After going a goal down as early as the second minute of the game at London's Wembley Stadium, Roberto Mancini's men reacted in the best manner possible. They bossed possession, controlled the ball in midfield and conjured up better scoring opportunities than their opponents. It was no surprise when Italy were back on level terms midway through the second half.
Although England played well to keep their citadel intact for the remainder of the game, they didn't quite look likely to score another. The closest they came was through a John Stones header from a set-piece. When the dreaded penalty shootout ensued, there was a sense of inevitability that England would implode.
And they did just that in spectacular fashion as the weight of an expectant nation lay heavy on a young England team. The Three Lions missed three consecutive spot-kicks after Harry Kane and Harry Maguire had given them a 2-1 lead. Nevertheless, Gareth Southgate's men can be proud of a fabulous campaign and coming within just three spot-kicks of a first European Championship title.
At Euro 2020, there were a few other managers who impressed with their tactical nous and in-game adaptability as well. Some of these men excelled in out-thinking and outmaneuvering the opposition. On that note, here's a look at the five best managers at the tournament.
#5 Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine)
Andriy Shevchenko took over the reins of his national team after a wretched Euro 2016 campaign, where Ukraine had lost all three group games. They also failed to score a goal or garner a point and finished last in the points table.
Since then, the former player's impact on the team has been quite apparent. Shevchenko transformed Ukraine's style of play from a counterattacking outfit to one that plays possession-based football, looking to take the game to opponents.
Although Ukraine failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Shevchenko proved his managerial pedigree by taking his team to the Euro 2020 finals. They even topped their qualifying group which contained reigning champions Portugal.
Ukraine impressed in a five-goal thriller against the Netherlands, where their comeback was cut short by a late Oranje winner. Nevertheless, Shevchenko's men qualified for the Euro 2020 Round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams.
There was more to come from Ukraine as they found a late winner against Sweden to make their first ever Euro quarter-finals.
Ukraine ran out of steam against eventual finalists England in the last eight, but Shevchenko and his men can be satisfied with their performances at Euro 2020.
#4 Luis Enrique (Spain)
Luis Enrique has done a remarkable job with the Spain team since taking charge less than two years ago.
The former Barcelona manager has inculcated an attacking philosophy, employing a 4-3-3 formation at Euro 2020 with impressive results. Just before the tournament commenced, he was unafraid of taking big decisions, ignoring Spain's most capped player Sergio Ramos, who had an injury-plagued 2020-21 campaign.
Enrique also displayed remarkable man-management prowess and an eye for talent, which was evidenced by the impressive Pedri playing in all six Spain matches at Euro 2020. The Spanish coach also backed embattled striker Alvaro Morata after he missed a penalty in the group stage.
At Euro 2020, Enrique was spot-on with his substitutions, displaying his ability to read in-game situations and respond accordingly. The game-winning penalty from substitute Mikel Oyarzabal in the shootout against Switzerland was one such example.
Under Enrique, Spain played a refreshing brand of attacking football, scoring five goals apiece in consecutive games to finish as the tournament's joint-leading scorers with 13 goals. Although Enrique's team succumbed to Italy in a semi-final shootout, Spain have the wherewithal to perform well at the next few major tournaments.
La Furia Roja, though, struggled with their penalties, both during regulation time and shootouts at Euro 2020. This is something Enrique will have to address as soon as possible.
#3 Kasper Hjulmand (Denmark)
Kasper Hjulmand's Denmark provided one of the most enduring stories of Euro 2020.
The Danes lost star midfielder Christian Eriksen in the tournament opener after he collapsed on the field. However, they recovered to become the first team to reach the European Championship knockout rounds after losing their first two games.
Once in the knockouts, Hjulmand's team found higher gears, first thumping Wales 4-0 in the Round of 16. They then edged past the Czech Republic 2-1 to reach their first European Championship semi-final since their unexpected triumph in 1992.
Against England in the last four, Denmark opened the scoring and had reason to feel aggrieved as the Three Lions scored the winner off a contentious penalty in extra time. Nevertheless, Hjulmand's team raised the mood of a downbeat nation with their exuberant performances at Euro 2020.
Hjumland, who idolizes Pep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff, exhibited remarkable tactical flexibility following the loss of Eriksen, switching formations to make up for Eriksen's creativity. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was pushed forward, while the full-backs were given the license to venture upfield. This made the Danish attack multi-dimensional and, as a result, unpredictable.
After the 4-1 win over Russia, which confirmed Denmark's place in the Round of 16, captain Kasper Schmeichel credited Hjulmand's tactical nous, saying:
“The players are rightly getting a lot of praise, but there is one person we shouldn’t forget, and that is Kasper Hjulmand.”
#2 Gareth Southgate (England)
It goes without saying that Gareth Southgate was one of the most impressive managers at Euro 2020.
Despite boasting an array of attacking talent at his disposal, the former player sacrificed flair for defensive solidity. That tactic meant England did not play the most attractive football at the tournament. But the Three Lions commenced their Euro 2020 campaign with five consecutive clean sheets, a first by any team in European Championship history.
Since assuming the reins of the English team after Euro 2016, Southgate has not shied away from taking tough calls. He has taken unpopular decisions like moving forward from record goalscorer Wayne Rooney and endured the resulting criticism extremely well.
The former player led his team to an excellent run at the FIFA World Cup 2018 as they reached the semi-finals in Russia. However, he was quick to admit at the time that his team were not one of the best four in the world. Three years later, England had improved by leaps and bounds, so much so that their run to the Euro 2020 final was no longer considered a surprise.
In the title match, though, Southgate displayed his tactical naivety by not looking to capitalize on his team's early lead. Instead, his side allowed Italy to dominate the game and eventually bag the equalizer. The three late substitutions he made, bringing on Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, backfired as well. The latter two were seemingly made with an eye on the shootout, but all three players failed to score from the spot.
Nevertheless, England have reason to believe they can scale greater heights under Southgate. They can be incredibly proud of an impressive campaign at Euro 2020, even if they stumbled at the final hurdle.
#1 Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Roberto Mancini has transformed Italy's fortunes after taking charge of the team following a failed campaign to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Missing out on the World Cup was an embarrassment of epic proportions for a team of the Azzurri's stature.
Nevertheless, Mancini set about identifying the right personnel, finding the right blend of youth and experience and overseeing a perfect Euro 2020 qualification campaign for Italy. It was a first for the Azzurri in Euro history.
In the Euro 2020 finals, Mancini's men came in as dark horses but displayed a refreshingly attacking outlook while not sacrificing their traditional defensive resilience. The likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Federico Chiesa and Jorginho impressed throughout the tournament. Leonardo Spinazzola (until he got injured), Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci were also among the star performers during their triumphant campaign at Euro 2020.
The Azzurri responded brilliantly to conceding a goal inside two minutes in the final. They took control of the midfield battle, dominated possession and camped in the England half. Mancini's men always looked the likelier team to score as the match wore on and displayed superior game management and composure, especially in the shootout.
Following their Euro 2020 triumph, the Azzurri are now one game away from matching Spain and Brazil's record of 35 unbeaten games, the longest unbeaten streak in international football.
