Italy 1-0 England
It’s goodbye to the likes of Spain, Germany and France and hello to Albania, Finland and Montenegro for Gareth Southgate’s England, because they have just been dumped by Italy into League B!
UEFA Nations League: Italy vs England was the coming together of two teams in need of a confidence boost – it seems a long time since the Azzurri and the Three Lions were battling for the European crown at the final of Euro 2020; but it was only a year ago. Since them Roberto Mancini’s Italy have failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and Gareth Southgate’s England have hit the skids in the Nations League.
The Italy vs England betting odds reckoned this would be a very tight game and so it was, with the Azzurri just about deserving the three points thanks to Giacomo Raspadori’s excellent strike, which gives them a chance to win the group.
Highlights of the game
With no World Cup to look forward to Italy had a huge incentive in this match and they opened up with plenty of intensity. And West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca came close to scoring on five minutes when he met a cross from Giovani Di Lorenzo at the far post and saw England keeper Nick Pope turn his header onto the bar. A couple of minutes later Scamacca was again allowed too much space but he screwed his shot wide.
While England passed the ball around with care and accuracy there was little tempo to the Three Lions’ play, and it was Italy who looked the more likely to break through with Federico Dimarco making good progress down the left. Pope had little work to do in the first half, other than catching crosses and trying to improve his kicking, the only feature of goalkeeping of which he lags behind Southgate’s favourite Jordan Pickford.
At the other end England finally had a shot, on 35 minutes, when Reece James saw his effort deflected wide and, before half time was called, skipper Harry Kane let fly from 25 yards but his shot flew wide.
There was action at both ends at the start of the second half. First Eric Dier made a brilliant interception to clear a Di Lorenzo cross and then Raheem Sterling ran deep into the Italy half before being tripped by Leonardo Bonucci. James got the free kick horribly wrong and it sailed high and wide.
Italy carved England open on the hour but Raspadori slid the ball wide and though the offside flag went up it was a very tight call. Then 18 year old Wilfried Gnonto, who had just come on as a substitute, hit a fierce drive which Harry Kane headed over the bar. And then the Italian pressure paid off, with devastating effect.
A ball over the top was brilliantly controlled by Raspadori on the left side of the penalty area and he took a superb first touch before hitting a clinical finish into the far right corner. It was the Napoli striker’s fourth goal for Italy and he gave Pope no chance.
England needed a goal and Kane tested Gianluigi Donnarumma but the Italy stopper stood firm and when Reece James and Jude Bellingham had chances they were both off target. And then, as England became stretched Dimarco hit the post with a cross shot and Bryan Cristante missed a great chance as the Azzurri finished brightly.
Key statistics
The Italy vs England highlights told a story of a pedestrian Three Lions who had a flurry when it was too late and an Italy side which had enough about them to take advantage.
The first half was a pretty uninspiring 45 minutes with just one shot on target from each side as Italy struggled for quality in the final third and England’s passing was ponderous.
At a SBOTOP price of 2.58 Italy were a good price for this win and while England ended up with more possession and more shots the real moment of quality came from Raspadori.
England last won in Italy in 1961 and they have now gone five games without a win fore the fist time since 2014 and, worryingly, have gone 550 minutes without a goal in open play.
What’s next?
In the final round of a sorry campaign which has yielded just two points the Three Lions will face Germany on Monday before they move on to the World Cup in Qatar where they will meet Iran in their opener.
Italy aren’t going to Qatar, of course, so the Azzurri’s full focus is on their final Nations League game, away to Hungary. And after the Magyars win over Germany tonight, that is a top of the group clash.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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