Champions Italy gets rousing welcome in Rome

The victorious Italian footballers received a huge welcome as they arrived in Rome on Monday after winning the Euro 2020 title.

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 in Wembley on Sunday.

The European champions were greeted by elated fans who had gathered at their team hotel in Rome to celebrate the famous triumph.

It is the first major international success for Italian soccer since the 2006 World Cup victory. The Azzurri have suffered repeated failures since then, including a crushing defeat against Spain in the Euro 2012 final.

Joy erupted in cities from the north to the south of the country after the final save by Donnarumma from England's Bukayo Saka. Fans filled the central Milan Duomo square and cars beeped their horns in Naples.