England outclassed Italy with a five-star performance away from home to avenge Euro 2020 final loss and opened Euro 2024 qualifiers with victory.
It was a clash of the titans as the Three Lions hit the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Italy on Thursday night, March 23.
Both sides lined up an attacking formation, parading four defenders, three midfielders, and three attackers.
Roberto Mancini lined up Toloi, Lorenzo, Spinazzola, and Acerbi at the defense while his three-man midfielders include Barella, Jorginho, and Verratti.
Leading the attack for the home side were Berardi, Retegui, and Pellegrini while Donnarumma manned the goalpost.
Gareth Southgate paraded the best Premier League stars with Newcastle’s Nick Pope starting for the Three Lions at the goalpost.
The defense line was manned by the best legs from the two Manchester clubs in England. Manchester City pair Kyle Walker and Johnstone joined Manchester United duo, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire.
At the middle of the park, Manchester City’s Kalvin Philips, Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, and West Ham’s Declan rice were lined up by Gareth Southgate.
Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, and Bukayo Saka led the attack
Great start for Italy but poor finishing
The Italians left no stone in galvanizing on the home advantage to rack up early dominance.
Nice movements upfield, perfect possessive play but couldn’t reckon with England’s experienced back four.
While controlling the game, they fell short of breaking the brink wall defense of the Three Lions.
Harry Maguire and Johnstone’s brought their experience to bear with the Manchester United captain once again proving his strengths despite his dwindling fortunes under Erik Ten Hag at Old Trafford.
England nets opener against the run of play
While playing second fiddle to the Italians, the Three Lions capitalized on their first early chance to take the lead against the run of play.
West Ham playmaker Declan Rice marked his 40th appearance for the Three Lions in style, clearing Harry Kane’s rebound with a left-foot strike to send the Three Lions into the lead just 14 minutes into the game.
Italy were punished for poor defending. After trailing by a lone goal, they made frantic efforts at a comeback but it was an awry tactical summersault by Roberto Mancini.
Italy rein in the Three Lions with a good swath of the possession but were blundering upfront, largely clueless on how to get pass the four-man England defense. The Three Lions were more clinical despite having less of the ball and were quick and effective in breaking out with attacks.
At the stroke of the first half, Italy conceded a penalty and Harry converted it to double the lead and overtook Wayne Rooney with his 54th goal for Three Lions.
Gareth Southgate had a perfect grasp of proceedings in the game before the first-half break taking a commanding 0-2 lead into the break.
Italy got a lifeline strike from debutant Mateo Retegui
What a great way to make a debut for one’s national team registering a goal to restore comeback hopes for the Italians.
Retegui halved the deficit after Pellegrin set him up with a no-look pass. He touched it before firing pass Nick Pope to make it 1-2.
The Three Lions slips off momentum and were under pressure after Italy’s opener.
Luke Shaw saw Red
With 10 minutes left into the game, the Three Lions were reduced to 10 men.
Manchester United right-back Luke Shaw fouled Barella and was issued a yellow card for the second time and sent off.
Despite losing one man, England held on to defeat the Italians and avenge Euro 2020 final loss, running away with a 1-2 opening victory from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Video Highlights
