A rampant England got off to a dream start in their clash with Italy, with Luke Shaw volleying home the fastest ever goal in a European Championship final.
Some eyebrows were raised as Gareth Southgate decided to make one change to his side that beat Denmark in the semi-finals, with the Three Lions reverting to a back-three and Kieran Trippier replacing Bukayo Saka in the starting XI.
But any doubts surrounding team selection were immediately silenced as Shaw’s already outstanding campaign reached new heights just 1 minute and 57 seconds into Sunday evening’s showpiece.
The Manchester United star – nicknamed ‘Shawberto Carlos’ as a result of his heroics from left-back – started the hosts’ attack before passing to captain Harry Kane, who found Tripper in acres of space down the right flank.
Trippier ignored Kyle Walker’s overlapping run and instead crossed to Shaw at the backpost and the former Southampton man hammered home England’s opener in emphatic fashion on the volley.
Chus Pereda previously held the record for the fastest goal in the final after his effort in Spain’s 2-1 victory over the USSR way back in 1964.
‘We talked about the formation. The two wing backs… it is pure genius,’ ex-England full-back Dixon said while reacting to Shaw’s stunner on ITV’s commentary.
‘Shaw sets it up, Kane nice and short in that hole he loves to play in, out to Trippier, the overlap gives him time to pick Shaw out and what a chance at the chance at the far post to make yourself a hero and he doesn’t let anybody down.
It’s off his laces, outside of the post, what a start for England!’
from Football – Metro https://ift.tt/2TQaFU5
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