East of England: Euro 2020 Final reaction

1. The region reacts to Sunday night's penalty shootout defeat
2. England's spot-kick nightmare returns following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes
3. Manager Gareth Southgate says the defeat was "incredibly painful" but the players gave "everything they possibly could"
4. Italian fans in Bedford celebrate victory with flares and fireworks

Euro 2020: That's all folks!

The final whistle has sounded for our live coverage of reaction in the East to the Euro 2020 final.

Whether you're an England fan or an Italy supporter, or neither, enjoy the rest of your day, and, like Gareth Southgate and Roberto Mancini and the rest of the players, start preparing for the World Cup.

In the words of John Barnes: "You’ve got to hold and give, but do it at the right time."

Maybe the right time will be Qatar 2022?

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'I need a rest,' says Southgate says before leaving Hertfordshire hotel

England manager Gareth Southgate has left the Grove Hotel in Watford where he and some of the team returned after last night's defeat.

PA Media

Before he left, Southgate gave a press conference where he was asked about the possibility of signing a new contract.

"I don't think now is an appropriate time to be thinking about it. We have to qualify for Qatar. I need time to go away and reflect on Euro 2020. I need a rest," he said.

"To lead your country in these tournaments takes its toll.

"I don't want to commit to anything longer than I should. It's not a financial thing.

"As I sit here today. I would be wanting to take the team to Qatar."

Meanwhile, the team's tactics boards are also being removed from the hotel. It's assumed that something was actually written on these - otherwise it could explain a lot!

PA Media

Euro 2020: Evening was 'relatively peaceful', Bedford police say

Many of Bedford's 14,000 - or thereabouts - Italian population partied in the town after their win against England.

Bedfordshire Police said three arrests were made in the town last night in relation to the football, but the evening "passed off relatively peacefully".

Euro 2020: Italy fans celebrate on streets in Bedford

Euro 2020: 'We're gutted'

From the celebrations after just two minutes when England's Luke Shaw scored, to penalty shootout despair, fans who gathered at Soham Town Rangers FC in Cambridgeshire showed the full range of emotions.

Euro 2020: Fans' despair as England hopes dashed

Euro 2020: Italy and England fans enjoy the match in Peterborough

Like Bedford, Peterborough has a large Italian population and members of its Italian Community Association sent us photographs of them preparing for the match with fellow Italian supporters and the England fans in their families.

Needless to say, it was the Italians who were still smiling at the end of the night!

Caterina Banks

Massimo Sarro

Vince Quarizzo

Elina Petruzziello Rocchio

Anna Russo

Elisa Lucia Perna

Amanda Hunnybun

Anna Casso

Euro 2020: 'London was terrible, Bedford fantastic'

Alex Pope

BBC News, Bedford

Back to Bedford, now. Alfonso Bravoco runs Mamma Conchetta's pizzeria but decided to go to London to watch the game from his cousin's house, to support Italy, with his English wife, Joanne.

"It was a lovely experience to have half English and half Italians there," he said.

When they returned to their London hotel, "he was shocked", however.

Alfonso Bravcoco

"The staff at the door were checking people in and telling them to stay in their rooms and order in as the bar was closed.

"There were scenes of carnage around central London - it was terrible.

"I didn't feel safe. We wanted to walk around London but we decided not to as I wouldn't have been able to put my Italian top on.

"But Bedford, everyone was ringing me me saying 'Are you coming back?'."

"I asked how things were there and they said it was absolutely fantastic and English and Italians were having a wonderful time.

"I've seen videos and it was just like any other Italian celebration in Bedford this week."

Euro 2020: Eye in the sky at the Arena

Martin Barber

BBC News, Norfolk

Here's a bird's-eye view of the Arena at Sprowston, near Norwich, where more than 400 fans watched last night's match.

BBC

There was joy as England took the lead early on with a Luke Shaw goal, and as Harry Kane and Harry Maguire put their penalties away and Jordan Pickford made his heroic saves, but it soon turned to despair as England missed three spot kicks to hand Italy the victory.

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Euro 2020: 'It's been really positive'

Alex Pope

BBC News

It is quiet in Bedford after the night before.

Rebecca Toms, the landlady of the Devonshire Arms, on Dudley Street, said there were "no issues" in the area.

Her pub is not far from The Embankment where Italy fans celebrated on Sunday night.

"The whole thing has been really positive, after such a horrible year and a half," she said.

"I feel the pressure cooker lid has been taken off and we are now edging towards normality.

"It's been really positive for the town. Bedford is the winner here.

"Most people have embraced it and I am just happy for my Italian friends."

BBC

Euro 2020: Barry Fry returns to Wembley

As defeat sinks in for England fans, thoughts return to joyful moments from Sunday's final.

Former Peterborough United manager Barry Fry was at Wembley in 1966 for the World Cup final, the last time England's men's team reached a major final.

"Fifty-five years later I’m here again with my three boys," he said.

Barry Fry

Euro 2020: Blissett says racist abuse 'must be dealt with properly'

The England team have said they're "disgusted" after Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho, who failed to score penalties in last night's final, were subjected to racist abuse online.

The Metropolitan Police is investigating and has joined the Football Association in saying such behaviour will not be tolerated.

Former England player and Watford FC legend Luther Blissett has told the BBC that this behaviour has "got to be dealt with properly".

BBC

"Too much is allowed to slide and people get away with it, and if they get away with it once they think it's OK," he said.

"It's been an amazing three weeks of a tournament where we've seen some amazing performances and some amazing goals... everything that we all love about the sport of football has all been on show.

"It's brought us all together in something that we love and we should not be allowing these few people who feel they can just do as they please [to] ruin what has been a fantastic coming together of all the population."

Euro 2020: 'Bedford was fantastic'

Daniella Galletta from Bedford has sent us some pictures of her and her family enjoying the celebrations along the town's Embankment.

It looks like it was a long night and she has done well to send them in so early!

Daniella Galletta

"OMG what an immense game!" she said.

"England had us in the first few minutes but we knew we'd wake up and come out on top in the end!

"Bedford was fantastic with all the fans celebrating until the early morning and we even had some England fans join us for celebrations."

Daniella Galletta

Daniella Galletta

Daniella Galletta

Daniella Galletta

Euro 2020: Watford disorder reported

While many England fans returned to their homes to quietly reflect on defeat, others did not.

The Watford Observer has reported how crowds attacked police vehicles in Watford town centre after the England defeat.

Euro 2020 final: Football clubs react

Local football clubs have been reacting to England's defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final with Luton Town saying the club was "nothing but proud".

Meanwhile Cambridge United commiserated but, on a brighter not, urged fans to look ahead to the start of the League One season in just 26 days.

Ipswich Town also tweeted.

Euro 2020: 'A win is a win'

David Zita, 59, from Bedford, whose has Italian parents, said he was "absolutely ecstatic" about Italy's win.

He said his English wife was "on edge" when Italy scored and when it got to extra time and penalties, it became "very, very tense" at home.

"It's a shame that we won the way we won, but in the end a win is a win," he said.

BBC

'We'll be back'

Martin Barber

BBC News, Norfolk

More than 400 fans gathered at The Arena fan park at Sprowston, near Norwich, to watch the Euro 2020 final.

BBC

It was a rollercoaster night for them. As Italy claimed victory Andrew Kinder said: "What can you say?

"You wait so long and you know, it's a lot to take on. We played OK, we got lucky with an early goal. There were bad substitutes and it's going to be a long painful night, but we'll be back."

Euro 2020: 'Italy took over'

Here's another happy fan. Italian-born Pasquale Iantosca, 74, was up and about in Bedford this morning and said he was "feeling brilliant".

"[I've] never felt better in my life," he said.

"England played well for about 10 minutes and then Italy took over and that was it really, and then on penalties Italy were better."

BBC

Euro 2020: Italian fans celebrate win in Peterborough

While England fans were devastated, there was jubilation among Italian supporters. Peterborough is another place in the East with a large Italian population.

Pasq Chiarizia was at home with "Nonno and Nonna and my English brother-in-law" when Bukayo Saka missed his a penalty to give the Azzurri the championship.

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'I feel like I want to cry'

Martin Barber

BBC News, Norfolk

You could feel the disappointment in the air as the penalties were taken and it became all too clear that England's dreams of winning the Euro 2020 championship were over.

Ellie-May Knowles was one of the 400-plus fans at The Arena fan park at Sprowston, near Norwich.

BBC

"It's horrific... I feel like I want to cry. I'm really proud of them, I'm really happy about the way we've come," she said.

"It's a shame about the penalties but we need to celebrate where we are and I'm proud of England."

'It was almost written in the stars'

Hundreds of fans gathered in front of a giant screen near Norwich as England lost the Euro 2020 final to Italy on penalties.

The Arena, in Sprowston, hosted 450 people, with initial cheers making way for tears as England missed three spot kicks.

Afterwards, fan Tom Mee said: "With English football it's always been penalties. It was almost written in the stars how this was going to end."

Euro 2020: Hundreds of England fans gathered at the Sprowston fan park

The park raised money for a defibrillator to be installed for the local community following the collapse of Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen.

The morning after 🥴

Sorry to tell you this when you might already feeling a bit delicate in so many ways but "hair of the dog" (indulging in a supposedly 'remedial' pint or two)... doesn't work... but here are a few things that do.

England fans - at least that's one good result this morning!