Bonucci: ‘English fans whistling the anthem increased our motivation’

Luke Shaw scored the opener for England only after two minutes in the

final against

, however, Italy defender

Leonardo Bonucci

was able to score the equalizer to help his side turn the game around.

Although the Azzurri tried to push, they needed penalties to beat the Three Lions and were ultimately able to lift the UEFA Euro 2020 trophy for the second time in their history on Sunday night.

“I was in the right place at the right time,”

Bonucci told Radio RAI 1.

“We lacked that centimeter but from there on we believed in it until we brought it home.

“The dedication goes to those who left us in this year and a half. Among so many champions, as done for [Davide] Astori, I want to make a special dedication to Paolo Rossi, a great man.

“The cup is for him and the Italians who have suffered.”

Italy paraded the trophy in an open-top bus last night, as Bonucci was on the forefront to fight for the green light from the local authorities.

“Today we just tried to give the dream to our fans, who wanted to stop us and had found the bus closed,”

Bonucci said.

“With so many people around, the best solution was to give them these moments.

“Thanks to everyone, from the first to the last Italian.”

Bonucci also revealed that English fans motivated him when they whistled through the Italian anthem.

“They whistled the anthem, they thought they had brought it home,”

Bonucci said.

“This, to me and the old man there [Giorgio Chiellini] did nothing but increase our motivation.

“It was a personal satisfaction for me and Giorgio, who have not always been getting the praise we deserved.”

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