Kane does well – he’s out on the right flank and wins a free-kick, which, you suspect, was his aim – to take a bit of time out of the game and play it at England pace, not the hosts’.
The two Italy subs make an instant impact as Gnoto and Tonalli combine well on the left before the Leeds man delivers a low cross that England manage to deal with well. But it’s still all Italy – England are yet to have a shot this half – they are just searching for a bit of composure. The pace of the game is being dictated by the hosts.
Changes: Southgate brings on Foden for Grealish. Meanwhile, Leeds’ Gnoto is on for Pellegrini and Tonalli for Jorginho.
Great play from Saka who is patient, patient, patient on the right before delivering a peach of a cross to the back post. Alas, for him and England no team-mate gambled on hitting that space.
England could do with some possession if only to take some of the sting out of this Italian resurgence. Phillips is looking tired out there and it might be an idea to take the Man City man, lacking in minutes this season, off.
Meanwhile, the Italy pressure continues, they move the ball around waiting for the opportunity to create the vital chance, England are chasing shadows at the moment but they are keeping their shape and compressing the play well.
Verratti has been impressive this half – he’s pulled the strings for Italy and again he’s at the heart of things as his long shot is well blocked.
This is very much game back on – the crowd have gone up a decibel or 1,000 and this now needs a few of the old heads in the England side to manage the game well and weather this storm.
Italy 1-2 England (Retegui)
Good finish from a good move – Italy play through the lines through Verratti and Pellegrini before setting up Retegui is free in the box. It’s his Italy debut but he’s displays nerves of steel as his shot finds the left-hand bottom corner.
Italy are dominating possession at the moment – but everything is in front of England, it’s easy to defend and they are forced, through Retegui, into a very hopeful shot from all of 40 yards…
More Italy possession in the final third but England are defending well and the hosts are forced to lump in a hopeful ball that Pickford comes to claim without too many problems – ‘an early shout sorts it out’ as Home Under the Hammer’s Dion Dublin says on C4 commentary.
Warning signs from the hosts – Verratti is in the centre 25 yards out, feeds Pellegrini but his snatched shot goes just wide. He was well dealt with by Walker but promising signs nonetheless from Italy.
Italy have started the second half in much the same way they did the first, with intensity and purpose. England weathered the first storm and are doing the same here.
Early corner for the hosts, a chance to get back into this match. It’s a great delivery and they earn another corner from the other side this one winds Kane who is now a hero in pain. Is there nothing he won’t do for his country?!
Italy are unbeaten in 40 European qualifiers but it’s hard to see how they don’t lose this – they were second best in everything during the first 45 minutes.
What a half for England, what a half for Harry Kane. After a worrying opening five minutes the visitors have been well on top. They’ve been solid at the back and menacing in attack. They are more than worth the two-goal lead, which could (should) be more with that Grealish chance.
Kane now has 54 goals in 81 appearances, what a player. He scored from the spot just 103 days after the miss in the World Cup quarter-final, only idiots would have doubted him.
It should be 3-0, England go down the right-hand side with Saka, plays in England’s new record goal-scorer who crosses low to the back post and it looks for all the world as though Grealish is going to hit it into the back of the net. He’s unmarked but scuffs his attempt, not even getting it on target. A scoreline of 3-0 at the break wouldn’t flatter the visitors.
Italy 0-2 England (KANE)
So 103 days after THAT missed penalty against France Kane scores from the spot to put England 2-0 up and BREAK THE RECORD. His 54th goal for England – the most ever for England.
The ball is delivered to the back post and Harry Kane – Di Lorenzo is back-tracking and in doing so it looks as though the ball has hit his arm preventing Kane getting in a half-chance. He wasn’t lookign at it but after the referee looks at the monitor he points to the spot. Harsh, I think, BUT IT GIVES KANE A CHANCE TO BREAK THE RECORD FROM THE SPOT….
Decent chance for the Italians as Retegui gets a shot away only for Stones to get an excellent block in. England would be better served moving to the ball a bit quicker here. That’s how they created the goal but the foot has been taken off the gas a touch here.
Verratti is getting on the ball a shade more now and that’s showing in better Italy work. They are much more up with the pace of the game now, and perhaps even dictating it. England look to take the sting out of the game with Stones and Maguyire occupying possession at the back.
The noise picks up around what has been an unusually quiet Stadio Diego Armando Maradona so far this evening. Italy come forward down the left but Spinazzola’s cross is overhit. More frustration for the hosts.
England are keeping the ball well here. They are patient and waiting for the opening. They pass it around the back, moving it up on the right before Saka loses it. But Italy are very much second best at the moment.
Great in attack and defence: He’s called Declan Rice. Barella drives towards the England box and just when it looks as though he’s about to pull the trigger Rice gets in a brilliant sliding tackle. Just what The back four and Pickford want from the sitting midfielder who, like most of his team-mates, has had a great first opening half hour.
Clever centre-forward play from Kane wins England a throw in the final third on the right. Alas the visitors are unable to create much from it, but yet more good signs. Italy need to get a foothold in this game, they’re being overrun and dominated by England at the moment – Rice and Phillips are doing their job and that’s allowing the attacking threats of Saka and Bellingham to play front-foot football.
We’ve not really seen Italy as an attacking force since about the fourth minute and as I type Shaw deals with the threat of Barella well.
Since that poor opening few minutes England have been well on top. They are playing with vim and vigour and causing problems for Italy. Saka, Bellingham are playing well and asking questions of the hosts’ backline. As I type Kane is free on the right before delivering a fine low cross that Bellingham nearly gets on the end of. Promising, enterprising stuff this from Southgate’s side.
England’s bright opening continues as Shaw gets beyond Grealish, not for the first time tonight, and gets in a low cross that forces Donnarumma into yet more action in the Italy goal.
Italy 0-1 England (Rice)
And the visitors have been rewarded for the bright start. Saka takes the corner, it goes deep where Kane is lurkign with intent. He gets in a shot but rather than find the back of the net, allowing him to break the record, it defects to Rice whose attempt puts England one goal to the good.
Saka, Kane and Bellingham combine well before the latter drives towards the box and unleashes a fierce shot – Donnarumma saving well and conceding a corner.
After a dodgy opening England have come back well.
England’s first corner of the game – can they create something from this? ‘Very nearly’ is the answer as Saka delivers a curling ball that Donnarumma punches clear just a yard off his line. But the Italian keeper is adjudged to have been fouled – the ‘you can’t even breath on a keeper without getting penalised these days’ brigade may have a point with that one.
It’s been an action-packed opening as Grealish goes under from a challenge on the edge of the box, but the ref waves play on. A minute later England attack down the other flank. Saka collects the ball from Bellingham works his way into the box and shoots – Donnarumma saving low to his right.
Good start from Italy, poor start from England. Phillips is caught dwelling on the ball for too long, is dispossesed and Italy attack down the left until Maguire is alert to the danger and concedes the corner. From the set piece the ball goes right across the box and England, again, breathe a sigh of relief.
Another early warning for England – it’s a free-kick for Italy on the right in the final third. It’s delivered into the box – nothing fancy, a regulation set piece – and Verratti, I think, is unmarked just 12 yards out. Luckily for the visitors his attempt is poor and trickles wide. That’s worrying from England.
Spinazzola starts well and goes on a rampaging run down the left which is ultimately well dealt with by the visitors. He’s a dangerous attacker from deep and England have already been warned.
They’re under way at the iconic Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Can england get their first win over Italy in Italy since 1961, can Harry Kane break the scoring record? We’re about to find out…
Two contrasting numbers here – England’s ‘God Save the King’ is a bit downbeat, the singer was behind the music and it was all a bit awkward. Then the hosts had some upbeat, modern take on their anthem, almost like a dance number. Interesting…
Simple but moving farewell to Gianluca Vialli in the stadium in Naples – “Ciao Luca” – and lots of good footage of him as an assistant to his old friend Roberto Mancini at Euro 2020.
On England’s task tonight…
“We haven’t got a great record [in Italy] and tonight is chance to put that right.”
On starting Kalvin Phillips…
“[Jordan Henderson] was big part of the World Cup but has not been able to train fully, so we’re keeping him back. Kalvin has played well for us, he’s at a big club and hard to get in the starting XI, but he’s more than capable of doing the job for us tonight.”
On starting Jack Grealish…
“He’s a in a good moment with his club, full of confidence and this is a game where we need to keep possession and get in behind and stretch their defence.”
On what victory would mean tonight…
“We have to look at qualification over eight games – win here is a great start. That is the objective.”
Can’t have a big match without one now…
Isn’t anything to write home about. They’ve not won since May, 1961 and the overall record is two wins in 17.
As Southgate has said: “This is the type of game we need to start winning.”
It might be quite tough, though.
Kick-off is at 7.45pm and you can watch on Channel 4.
On the side’s first match since the World Cup exit…
“It’s been a quick turnaround. There’s been a bit of reflection from the World Cup.”
On emotions in the camp…
“The lads are confident and looking forward to playing in an amazing fixture.”
On playing alongside Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice…
“I’m really looking forward to it. Two quality players. The good thing about all of us is we have different attributes so we need to show that and hopefully create some chances. Every midfield battle helps to sway the tide of the game. It’s important we get on the front foot and try to take control.”
ITALY XI TO FACE ENGLAND: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Acerbi, Toloi, Spinazzola, Barella, Jorginho, Verratti, Berardi, Retegui, Pellegrini
Subs: Falcone, Meret, Darmian, Gnonto, Scamacca, Pessina, Emerson, Scalvini, Cristante, Politano, Tonali, Romagnoli
Arsenal’s Jorginho starts for for the hosts with another pair of Premier League players – Wilfried Gnonto of leeds and West Ham’s Gianluca Scamacca – on the bench.
ENGLAND XI TO FACE ITALY: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Rice, Phillips, Bellingham, Saka, Grealish, Kane.
Subs: Trippier, Ramsdale, Henderson, Dier, Maddison, Chilwell, James, Guehi, Gallagher, Foden, Forster, Toney.
The main news is that despite his lack of minutes this season Kalvin Phillips starts. His Manchester City team-mate Jack Grealish also starts – pipping Phil Foden for a place.
It’s also about whether we’ll see Harry Kane break Wayne Rooney’s England scoring record.
Here’s a fine list of England greats to look at.
Have to say, I agree with Sam – it doesn’t look right, it’s not simple enough, easily the worst Italy kit of my lifetime. Harsh, but true…
As reported by the Daily Telegraph yesterday, Gareth Southgate has brought in Kalvin Phillips and Jack Grealish into his team for the Euro qualifier against Italy.
Players have already been out to inspect the pitch at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium and will return for the warm-up, with Southgate sticking with the 4-3-3 formation that served him at the World Cup.
The back four will be the same as against France in the quarter-finals in December, with Phillips brought into the midfield in place of Jordan Henderson.
…of the type Sam was talking about (ie. not by Adidas).
Sorry to report that Italy have switched kit manufacturer to Adidas and having just spotted the shirt in a concession store at the stadium, it just doesn’t look right. No more Puma, or indeed Le Coq Sportif or Diadora or Kappa, of the great Azzurri shirts of old. The home shirt now looks like a Sweden away or a mediocre France home with the blue sleeves interrupted by the white lines. The internet tells me that Italy wore Adidas between 1974 and 1978, although the pics from then suggest they kept it simple.
Tonight sees England play in their first match following their World Cup quarter-final exit to France. It was a tournament which promised much, but ultimately ended – as it so often does with England – in glorious failure. You know the script, the Three Lions march to the latter stages of a tournament, play well (some say dominate) the match against fancied opposition but come out on the wrong side of the scoreline.
Although, such has been the amnesia surrounding the state of England pre-Southgate (remember Euro 2012, and Iceland 2016?) that many consider the supposed failure of losing to a fine France side in a World Cup last-eight clash to be less than glorious. They consider Qatar 22 another lost opportunity for the side to get its hands on deserved silverware, to remind the world that England created the game and that they’d do well to remember that.
Gareth Southgate is perceived as a the man responsible for this and that is doubtless due to two things: (i) he’s the England manager so any criticism, not without reason, tends to be thrown at his door, and (ii) his perceived ‘wokeness’.
Anyway, all of the issues people have with Southgate – that he’s too defensive, unable to unleash some remarkable attacking talent (not exactly without merit) – cloud one key thing: that England under him have gone from sick man of European football to continually qualifying for and being key factors in major tournaments. The fact that expectation is so high when England play now is partly down to him turning the side around. It’s not as though England have been historically ladened down with silverware and that his reign has been a huge anomaly.
Tonight, he and his side get their qualification for next year’s European Championships under way with a tricky tie against Italy in Naples. Tough team to beat in a tough place to go (more on that later). They may well lose in a country they haven’t won in in 62 years, but in a group with Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta (as well as tonight’s hosts) where two go through it’s hard to see Southgate and Co fail to make it to Germany next summer. And yet another trip to a major tournament is nothing to turn your noses up at.
Stay here for all the team news, pre-match build-up and action, witch kick-off set for 7.45pm.
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