Nerves jangled, fulltime came and went. The spectre of a dreaded shootout loomed, and then in the 104th minute Sterling went down under the lightest of challenges and up stepped Kane to propel England into their first final since the 1966 World Cup.
England have the chance to reach a first major final since their 1966 World Cup triumph when they take on Denmark at Wembley in Wednesday's Euro 2020 semi-final, but they will need to banish a history of stumbling at this stage.
The tears of England's losing players at Wembley were replicated across the nation on Sunday night, mixed in with disappointment and alcohol, after Italy beat Gareth Southgate's young side in a penalty shootout to win Euro 2020.
Despite going down to the fastest goal scored in Euro history in front of a packed Wembley stadium, the Italians held their nerve and worked their way back gradually into the game.
Unbeaten England finished with seven points, comfortably ahead of Croatia, who were second with four after beating Scotland 3-1 in Glasgow.
The Euro 2020 Championship final will be played between Italy and England from 00:30 am IST on July 12 at the Wembley Stadium in London.
Marcus Rashford continued his fine season as he scored again to help Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 in their League Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
Saka, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden -- the three youngest players in the England squad -- have been described as "generational talents", but the Arsenal player said they had learned to tune out the noise, be it compliments or criticism.
Gianluca Vialli, who earned 59 caps for Italy and enjoyed a stellar club career with Sampdoria, Juventus and Chelsea, has died from cancer at the age of 58.
England and Denmark were 1-1 at half-time in the second Euro 2020 semi-final at Wembley on Wednesday.
Cristiano Ronaldo continued his record-breaking form for Portugal as he grabbed two more goals in his country's 6-0 thrashing of Luxembourg in a Euro 2024 qualifier on Sunday.
Although British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has delayed the full reopening of England's economy until July 19, a week after the final, people can still gather in bars and pubs. Jubilant fans were pictured packing bars, streets and even clambering on top of a London bus in the aftermath of England's extra-time 2-1 victory over Denmark, with fan-zones highlighted by some as a particular risk for transmission.
Italy won the European Championship for the first time since 1968 as Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two England penalties en route to a 3-2 shootout win after the teams had fought out a 1-1 extra-time draw in Wembley on Sunday.
Hamza Choudhury showed solidarity with Palestinians after his club Leicester City won the FA Cup.
Scaloni has helped get one over the Dutch Master at least once before when he was at Deportivo, who pipped Van Gaal's Barcelona to the 1999-2000 La Liga title.
Foden caused a stir on social media before the tournament when he shared a picture of him dyeing his short black hair
England's Chilwell, Mount in isolation after contact with Gilmour
Chelsea's Thomas Tuechel was voted men's coach of the year and Barcelona's Lluis Cortes took the trophy for women's coach.
Harry Kane scored twice as England stormed into the European Championship semi-finals for the first time in 25 years thrashing Ukraine 4-0 on Saturday to book a clash with Denmark.
Italy set up a Euro 2020 semi-final with Spain after first half goals from Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne led the Azzurri to a 2-1 victory over Belgium on Friday in an entertaining encounter in which both sides created a number of chances.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's brace guided Arsenal to beat an injury-plagued ten-man Chelsea 2-1 at the Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
The British Govt amended the Special License enabling Chelsea FC to sell tickets to select competitions to fans
Fulham made an immediate return to the English Premier League as two extra-time goals from full-back Joe Bryan gave them a 2-1 win over Brentford in the Championship playoff final at an empty Wembley Stadium in London on Tuesday.
Liverpool held their nerve to win an astonishing penalty shoot-out 11-10 and edge out Chelsea in the English League Cup final on Sunday after a rip-roaring contest had somehow ended 0-0 after extra time at Wembley.
Former Scotland midfielder Graeme Souness said FIFA needed to be more transparent over VAR decisions.
A late Leon Goretzka goal salvaged a 2-2 draw for Germany against Hungary on Wednesday night, in a whip-saw contest that sets the Germans up for a June 29 Round of 16 match against England at Wembley.
England forward Chloe Kelly reacted quickest to a loose ball from a corner and poked in the winner.
Cristiano Ronaldo tucked away a penalty and slammed home a free kick as he set a new record for the most international caps
Blessed with silky technical skills, vision, anticipation and an eye for goal, Phil Foden offers coach Gareth Southgate several options, either wide in a three-pronged attack, a more orthodox central midfield role or even as a "false nine".
The race to replace Boris Johnson as the Conservative Party leader and the British prime minister entered the final countdown stage on Friday, when voting officially closes for Tory members to choose between former chancellor Rishi Sunak or Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
India's badminton great Prakash Padukone will receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award this year from the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Didier Deschamps of France and Argentina's Lionel Scaloni should avoid the temptation to throw on a 'penalty specialist'
Italy beat England 3-2 on penalties after the Euro 2020 final ended 1-1 following extra time at Wembley
Two-time Olympic gold medal-winning hockey legend Keshav Datt died on Wednesday due to age-related ailments, marking the end of a glorious era in the sport.
The winners will play either Belgium or Portugal in the quarter-finals next Friday in Munich.
'I am proud of this England team and how we have united the whole nation in what has been a difficult 18 months for so many people.'
'When April arrives we have to be ready and to fight for the trophy'
A round-up of Saturday's action in the Nations League.
While Sunak has maintained a dignified silence over the recent crisis, his supporters have not lost any opportunity to point out how the former finance minister had got the economic forecasts right.
Roberto Mancini was overjoyed with his Italy team after they withstood a late onslaught from top-ranked Belgium to win 2-1 and set up a Euro 2020 semi-final clash with Spain.
