For newspaper editors it will have been literally a case of “hold the presses” last night as they waited for the nail-biting conclusion of Euro 2020 before putting together their front pages.
As England crashed out in heartbreaking style there would have been minutes to decide how to encapsulate the story of the night.
One picture said more than any headline, and featured on most of the UK national newspaper front pages -used most effectively by the Telegraph which plastered it across every millimetre of its broadsheet front page.
Euro final newspaper front pages: Telegraph
Taken by Laurence Griffiths for agency Getty, the shot encapsulated a 25-year story.
England manager Gareth Southgate was 25 when his penalty attempt was saved leading England to lose in the semi-final of Euro 1996.
Last night he charged 19-year-old Bukayo Saka with taking a penalty for England and it proved to be one of three which failed to hit the net – leading to Italy winning the tournament. The picture showed Southgate consoling this player, displaying the caring and emphatic management style which has endeared him to his players and the public.
Metro went for the same pic with the headline: “Lions did us proud.”
Euro final newspaper front pages: Metro
The same picture was used by The Times, but without removing the rest of the usual front-page furniture.
Euro final newspaper front pages: The Times
The i went for the same pic with the simple headline: “Heartbreak.”
Euro final newspaper front pages: The i
The same picture was used in The Sun, with the headline: “Pride of lions”.
Euro final newspaper front pages: The Sun
The same moment, but captured from a different angle led the front pages of the Daily Mail and The Guardian.
Euro final newspaper front pages: Daily Mail
Euro final newspaper front pages: The Guardian
Only the Daily Mirror and Daily Express went for different images to capture the story of the night.
The Daily Mirror went for “Heartbreak”.
Euro final newspaper front pages: Mirror
And the Daily Express opted for: “It hurts…but we’re so proud of you.”
Euro final newspaper front pages: Daily Express
The Daily Star, in its usual style under the current regime, opted for something completely different.
Euro 2020 final: Italian newspaper front pages
Italian editors had an easier job last night with the picture of an ecstatic team lifting the trophy the obvious choice.
“E Nostra (it’s ours)” proclaimed Corriere dello Sport as Italy celebrated winning the Euros for the first time.
Euro final newspaper front pages: Corriere dello Sport
la Repububblica went down a similar route for its print front page.
Euro football front pages: la Repubblica
But online, this morning, la Repubblica went for an English headline to accompany a photo of manager Roberto Mancini and captain Giorgio Chiellini hoisting the trophy shortly after touching down at Rome’s Fiumicino airport.
Tapping in the journalism equivalent of an open goal, the Italian daily said: “It’s coming home Rome.”
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