Marco del Vecchio was 70 seconds away from being Italy’s unlikely hero in the European Championship final against France on Sunday but ended the evening as a footnote in French footballing history.

Ironically, he would probably not have made Zoff’s squad had Christian Vieri not pulled out with an injury on the eve of the tournament.

Delvecchio’s goal was his first for Italy and marked a bitter-sweet end to a tournament in which he had previously only played twice as as substitute.

Asked when he had found out he was in Zoff’s starting line-up, he said: “At about 1730 hrs.”

Champions of the universe’

“Monumentalquot;, “Historic”, “Magic” or simply a giant front page “Bis” same again for their World Cup and European Championship double was how the French media celebrated the country’s Euro 2000 triumph on Monday.

The Sunday paper Journal du Dimanche published a special extra edition right after the evening match dedicated to France’s “fabulous victory” and tracing the team’s progress to the trophy.

“Two years ago, after their victory in the World Cup final, The Bleus appeared to have reached their summit. But what they have managed to do in this Euro…places them higher in football’s historical hierarchy,” sports daily L’Equipe enthused in a front page editorial.

France Soir, whose Monday edition was on the Champs Elysees in the early hours as 400,000 revellers gathered to celebrate the victory, said France are “champions of the universe”.

Liberation’s front page carried little more than the word “Bis” in giant letters and headlined their editorial “winning culture”

It explained the unprecedented success by putting it down to the experience gained by the large number of France’s squad in “the foreign championships, notably Italian and English, where they have acquired a winning culture which they badly lacked.”

It also pointed to “the alchemy of The Bleus, combining an unparalleled physical power and technical virtuosity.”

Accursed minute’

Italian media cursed their side’s bad luck after the defeat in the Euro 2000 final. Newspapers, struggling to put a brave face on things, also blamed bad refereeing and praised the performance of the underdog side no one expected to do so well.

Reflecting the Italian loss to a golden goal by David Trezeguet, Corriere Dello Sport devoted half of its front page to a headline, in giant black letters, reading “What bad luck”.

“We deserved the title,” it added underneath.

“We got into to the final by a stroke of luck because the Dutch deserved to go through,” L’Unita newspaper said in a front-page editorial, referring to Italy’s semi-final victory over the home favourites on penalties. “And we were beaten in the final by a stroke of bad luck. We deserved to win yesterday’s match.”

La Stampa daily, speaking for many Italians, said Swedish referee Anders Frisk “dragged the stoppage time on intolerably”.

“Accursed minute” ran the headline in Il Messaggero daily. Sports bible Gazzetta Dello Sport called it “hateful”.

But commentators consoled themselves with Italy’s improved performance after their ultra-defensive play in the semi-finals.

“What a shame. Italy were great,” Gazzetta’s headline said.

“Thanks anywy, Azzurri,” ran La Stampa’s headline.

Rai state radio commented wrly that Italy were used to winning by playing badly, but not to losing when they played well.

Celebrations turn sour

Celebrations for France’s win over Italy in the final of Euro 2000 at Marseille last night turned sour with several people being injured and arrests being made, an AFP reporter said.

The celebrations in the old port district of the southern French town started after France won in extra-time. But trouble broke out as groups of youths started to hurl objects at police officers.

At least two people were arrested, including one man with a badly bloodied face. One policeman was slightly injured after being hit by an object.

Cameramen filming the incidents were also attacked and their car windows smashed.

Scribes arrested

Police arrested seven Italian journalists after heated scenes with match stewards and law enforcement officers just after the Euro 2000 final last night.

An Italian TV crew working for Rai UNO — six men and a woman — were arrested in the de Kuip stadium for “violence and insults towards stewards and police officers,” according to Anne Geelhaof, the spokeswoman for the Rotterdam police.

The woman was quickly released but the six men were still in custody.

Two journalists from French sports daily L’Equipe were also reportedly arrested in the mixed zone where players and journalists mingle after the match.

Blanc hangs his boots

France’s veteran defender Laurent Blanc confirmed his retirement from international football on Sunday after his country’s heart-stopping Euro 2000 final victory over Italy.

Blanc had announced earlier in the tournament that he would end a glittering career at the top level — his announcement means that the legendary back four of Lilian Thuram, Blanc, Marcel Desailly and Bixente Lizarazu ends its days together undefeated in 27 matches since they first played together in the 3-1 victory over Bulgaria in Euro ’96 at Newcastle.

“With regret I am leaving the team,” said Blanc on TF1 TV channel. “In modern football you have to know when to quit. I have always tried to do my job as well as possible.”

Blanc was a key member of the 1998 World Cup winning squad but missed the final with Brazil through suspension.

France’s skipper Didier Deschamps would not answer questions about his future.

France coach Roger Lemerre had been filmed holding a lengthy and animated conversation with his skipper in the centre circle after the presentation and subsequently told reporters he wanted Deschamps to continue.