Summary

  • The region reacts to Sunday night's penalty shootout defeat

  • England's spot-kick nightmare returns following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes

  • Manager Gareth Southgate says the defeat was "incredibly painful" but the players gave "everything they possibly could"

  • Italian fans in Bedford celebrate victory with flares and fireworks

  1. Start your day with a good breakfastpublished at 09:31 British Summer Time 12 July 2021

    Let's face it - many of us started last night drinking in celebration and excitement of what we hoped was going to be victory... and it ended for England fans in disappointment and perhaps a few beers to drown sorrows.

    If you're feeling a bit ropey this morning, some breakfast will help. Here's a guide to some of the best from BBC Food.

    Full English breakfastImage source, Getty Images
  2. Things go 'smoothly' in Bedfordpublished at 09:10 British Summer Time 12 July 2021

    Dave Hodgson, the elected mayor of Bedford, has been giving his verdict on last night's match, and the celebrations by the town's sizeable Italian community.

    Mayor Dave HodgsonImage source, Dave Hodgson

    "Obviously gutted that England didn't win; delighted for Italy," he said.

    "I thought it was a really, really tense match - I think I lost several years of my life with the tension - but I think England did really well to get to the final and hopefully in the World Cup next year we'll do one step better.

    "A lot of eyes have been on Bedford. I think it went smoothly - people were jubilant, of course, and disappointed in equal measures but it seems to have gone reasonably smoothly, from what I've been told so far."

  3. Bedford: The clean up begins...published at 08:24 British Summer Time 12 July 2021

    All is quiet in a soggy Bedford town centre this morning, except for those cleaning up after a night of celebrations.

    Bedford
    Bedford
    Bedford
  4. Euro 2020: Bedford celebrations go on into the early hourspublished at 08:12 British Summer Time 12 July 2021

    In Bedford, a town dubbed "Little Italy" due to its large Italian population, fans were celebrating Italy's win well into the early hours.

    Tim Linton-Willoughby joined the festivities with his Italian fiancée and sent us footage from the Embankment where flares and fireworks were going off until well after midnight.

    Italian fans in BedfordImage source, Tim Linton-Willoughby
  5. Police warn people 'not to risk driving'published at 08:00 British Summer Time 12 July 2021

    Thames Valley Police, external are warning people who were drinking while watching the match last night to think before they get in a car this morning.

    They have revealed that the force already has one person in custody for being over the limit in Stoke Mandeville just after 06:00 BST.

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    They have also posted a helpful guide so you can gauge whether or not you should be on the road.

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  6. How the media reported itpublished at 07:30 British Summer Time 12 July 2021

  7. Council says team 'made the nation proud'published at 07:15 British Summer Time 12 July 2021

    Watford Council, which had earlier tweeted images, external of the England squad leaving the town's Grove Hotel, said the team had "made the nation proud and there is plenty more to come".

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  8. Euro 2020 final: Sporting stars give reaction to defeatpublished at 07:07 British Summer Time 12 July 2021

    Professional sportspeople have been tweeting their reaction to England's defeat, focussing on the team's youth and hope for the future.

    Adebayo Akinfenwa, who has just signed a new one-year contract for Wycombe Wanderers, said that at 19 years old, Bukayo Saka, who missed his penalty in the shootout, "showed so much bravery to step up at such a young age".

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    Milton Keynes' former Olympic champion long-jumper Greg Rutherford reminded people that it took "10 major champs to win my first in 2012" and the "young boys will go on to greatness".

    He also said "no one remembers the losses" - well - time will tell on that one...

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  9. Welcome to our live updatespublished at 07:00 British Summer Time 12 July 2021

    England's players lose the penalty shootout v ItalyImage source, PA Media

    England have lost the penalty shootout that would have secured them their first major trophy in 55 years.

    With the score at 1-1 after extra-time, Italy won Euro 2020 as England missed three of their five spot-kicks.

    Welcome to our live updates page featuring reaction from across the BBC East region.

    If you have any photos or stories you wish to share with us email us here.

    Italy with the European Championships trophyImage source, Getty Images