Open Thread: July 12, 2021

The Open Thread/Daily Merengue is a place where you can discuss anything and everything related to football. Feel free to discuss the topics presented here, or start your very own discussions! The Open thread will be posted every day by one of the mods: Valyrian Steel, Felipejack, YoSnail, Ezek Ix or NeRObutBlanco.

Italy are Euro 2020 Champions!!

Italy won the European Championship for the first time since 1968 as Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two England penalties en route to a 3-2 shootout win after the teams had fought out a 1-1 extra-time draw at a raucous Wembley on Sunday. The giant keeper saved from Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after Marcus Rashford hit a post, as Federico Bernardeschi, Leonardo Bonucci and Domenico Berardi all scored for the Italians

Luke Shaw had given England a dream start with a superb goal after two minutes but Italy, who offered almost nothing in response in the first half, gradually took command as the hosts sat back and levelled through Bonucci after 67 minutes.

It was the first final to be decided on penalties since Czechoslovakia beat West Germany in 1976 and will be wildly celebrated in Italy after they lost in the final in 2000 and 2012. Italian football’s redemption story is complete. It was less than four years ago that the Italians plunged to the lowest moment of its football history by failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in six decades.

Now, they are the best team in Europe and on a national-record 34-match unbeaten run under Roberto Mancini, their suave coach. England’s painful half-century wait for a major title goes on.

Violence and Racism rears its ugly head once again.

The thrilling finale was overshadowed by scenes of violent disorder ahead of the historic game in London and racist abuse on social media against some England players following the team’s defeat.

Numerous videos emerged online of security staff seen “rugby tackling people to the ground” both inside and outside the venue.

On another sour note, racist trolls on social media targeted Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka. All 3 England players had missed their spot-kicks. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson slammed the “appalling” racial abuse against England’s Euro 2020 team.

Full List of Individual Awards from Euro 2020 and Copa America 2021.

For those of you that would like to compare against your initial predictions, here are the final results from the two international tournaments:

Euro 2020

Best player of the tournament - Gianluigi Donnarumma

Golden Boot - Cristiano Ronaldo

Young Player of the tournament - Pedri

Star of the final - Leonardo Bonucci

Copa America 2021

Golden Boot (Top Scorer) Award: Lionel Messi

Golden Glove (Best Goalkeeper) Award: Emiliano Martinez

Golden Ball (Best Player) Award: Lionel Messi

Best Player of final: Angel di Maria

Varane wants Alaba money.

As reported by Lucas Navarrete, Varane wants €12 million/year to sign extension with Real Madrid while The club is offering him €7 million per year. It seems like the player might be on his way out of the Bernabeu as both parties seem far apart. It will be also interesting to see if there’s any club on the market that will offer Varane the salary he is looking for.