Euro

Jubilant Italy fans celebrate victory over England

The team were given a hero's welcome as they arrived back in Rome on Monday.

Crowds cheered as Captain Giorgio Chiellini held up the trophy, won only once before by Italy in 1968.

The BBC's Mark Lowen in Rome says the victory has brought joy back to Italy after the hell of the pandemic.

The star of what they're calling an Italian miracle is coach Roberto Mancini, transforming a national team from the shame of failing to qualify for the last World Cup to a side unbeaten now in 34 games.

France stronger after Euro adventure, says Varane

Les Bleus take on Italy in a friendly on Thursday before their World Cup qualifying campaign gets under way against Belarus next week, and Varane is expected to captain the side in the absence of injured goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

The Real Madrid centre-back missed Euro 2016 due to a thigh injury and could only watch on as his countrymen fell short on home soil in the showpiece against Portugal, but he offered a positive assessment of Didier Deschamps' young squad ahead of their return to action in Bari.