England Match No. 1035 - Italy - 23 September 2022 Report (original) (raw)

Current European Champions Colours Made by Puma - Ignite & Ultra Blue crew-necked quarter design jerseys with green/white/red collar, blue shorts, blue socks
Rank FIFA (25th August 2022) 7th EFO ranking Group 4 ELO rating 9th to 8th
Captain Leonardo Bonucci Manager Roberto Mancini57 (27 November 1964), appointed 14 May 2018.
54th match, W 33 - D 14 - L 6 - F 111 - A 36.
****** Italy Lineup
1 Donnarumma, Gianluigi 23210 days 25 February 1999 GK Paris Saint Germain, France 48 33ᵍᵃ
15 Acerbi, Francesco 34225 days 10 February 1988 RD FC Internazionale Milano, on loan from SSC Napoli 26 1
19 Bonucci, Leonardo 35145 days 1 May 1987 CD Juventus FC 117 8
47th min. for tripping Raheem Sterling as he sped into the area
4 Tolói, Rafael 31348 days 10 October 1990in Glória d'Oeste, Brazil LD Atalanta BC 9 0
2 Di Lorenzo, Giovanni 2950 days 4 August 1993 RWB SSC Napoli 22 2
80th min. for kicking Jack Grealish on the left of the penalty area
18 Barella, Nicolò, off 63rd min. 25218 days 17 February 1997 RM FC Internazionale Milano 40 8
8 Jorginho, off 88th min. 30277 days 20 December 1991in Imbituba, Brazil CM Chelsea FC, England 45 5
16 Cristante, Bryan 27204 days 3 March 1995 LM AS Roma 28 2
3 Dimarco, Federico, off 88th min. 24317 days 10 November 1997 LWB FC Internazionale Milano 5 0
10 Raspadori, Giacomo 22217 days 18 February 2000 RF SSC Napoli, on loan from US Sassuolo Calcio 14 4
9 Scamacca, Gianluca, off 63rd min. 23265 days 1 January 1999 LF West Ham United FC, England 8 0
****** Italy Substitutes
11 Gnonto, D.Wilfried, on 63rd min. (62:22)for Scamacca 18_322 days_ 5 November 2003 CF Leeds United FC, England 5 1
6 Pobega, Tommaso, on 63rd min. (62:46) for Barella 23_70 days_ 15 July 1999 M AC Milan 2 0
scoreline:Italy 1 England 0
20 Gabbiadini, Manolo, on 81st min.(80:17) for Raspadori 30_301 days_ 26 November 1991 F UC Sampdoria 12 2
7 Frattesi, Davide, on 89th min. (88:32)for Dimarco 23_1 day_ 22 September 1999 M US Sassuolo Calcio 4 0
13 Palmieri dos Santos, Emerson, on 89th min. (88:44)for Jorginho 28_51 days_ 3 August 1994in Santos, Brazil LB West Ham United FC, England 28 0
result: Italy 1 England 0
<align="right">unused substitutes:</align="right"> 5-Luiz Felipe, 12-Alex Meret, 14-Alessio Zerbin, 17-Vincenzo Grifo, 21-Guglielmo Vicario, 22-Salvatore Esposito, 23-Alessandro Bastoni.
<align="right"> stadium notes:</align="right"> The announcement to play in Milan was made on 27 May 2022. It is the Italian's sixtieth visit to the stadium (W37 D19 L3) since 1910. Only Rome has held more games (63).
Head Coach Robert Mancini was an unused substitute for Italy in their November 1989 friendly meeting against England.
3-5-2 Donnarumma -Acerbi, Bonucci, Tolói -Di Lorenzo, Barella (Pobega), Jorginho (Emerson), Cristante, Dimarco (Frattesi) -Raspadori (Gabbiadini), Scamacca (Gnonto)
<align="left">Averages (Starting XI):</align="left"> Age 27 years 112 days Appearances/Goals 32.9 2.7
<align="center"> Rank</align="center"> FIFA (25th August 2022) 5th EFO rankingGroup One (4th) ELO rating 12th Colours The Nike 2022 home uniform - White crew-necked jerseys with dark to light blue fury gradient sleeves, fury/void cuffs, blue void shorts,white socks with fury/void thin hoop.
Captain Harry Kane Manager Gareth Southgate, 52 (3 September 1970), appointed caretaker manager on 27 September 2016, appointed as permanent manager on 30 November 2016.
⁴² most goals as captain
49th of 72, W 29 - D 10 - L 10 - F 108 - A 40. P 75th of 102, W 46 - D 16 - L 13 - F 158 - A 50
England Lineup
seven changes to the previous match (Walker, Saka, Bellingham & Kane remain) league position (15th September)
1 Pope, Nicholas D. 30167 days 19 April 1992 G Newcastle United FC (PL 11th) 9 2ᵍᵃ
the 38th United player to represent England
2 Walker, Kyle A., off 72nd min. 32118 days 28 May 1990 RD Manchester City FC (PL 2nd) 69 0
5 Dier, Eric J.E. 28_251 days_ 15 January 1994 CD Tottenham Hotspur FC (PL 3rd) 46 3
6 Maguire, J. Harry 29202 days 5 March 1993 LD Manchester United FC (PL 5th) 47 7
3 James, Reece T. 22289 days 8 December 1999 RWB Chelsea FC (PL 6th) 14 0
8 Bellingham, Jude V.W. 1986 days 29 June 2003 RDM Bsv Borussia 09 Dortmund, Germany 16 0
4 Rice, Declan 23252 days 14 January 1999 LDM West Ham United FC (PL 18th) 33 2
7 Saka, Bukayo A.T., off 71st min. 2118 days 5 September 2001 LWB Arsenal FC (PL TOP) 19 3
11 Foden, Philip W. 22_118 days_ 28 May 2000 RF Manchester City FC (PL 2nd) 17 2
9 Kane, Harry E. 2957 days 28 July 1993 CF Tottenham Hotspur FC (PL 3rd) 74 50
10 Sterling, Raheem S. 27289 days 8 December 1994 in Kingston, Jamaica LF Chelsea FC (PL 6th) 78 19
the 54th Chelsea player to represent England
England Substitutes
scoreline: Italy 1 England 0
15 Grealish, Jack P., on 71st min. (70:58) for Saka 2713 days 10 September 1995 LM Manchester City FC (PL 2nd) 24 12 1
12
93rd min. for remonstrating with the referee for being fouledSUSPENDED
14 Shaw, Luke P.H., on 72nd min. (71:20) for Walker 2773 days 12 July 1995 LB Manchester United FC (PL 2nd) 22 18 2
4
result: Italy 1 England 0
<align="right">unused substitutes:</align="right"> 12-Kieran Trippier, 13-Aaron Ramsdale, 16-Conor Coady, 17-James Ward-Prowse, 18-Fikayo Tomori, 19-Mason Mount, 20-Jarrod Bowen, 21-Trent Alexander-Arnold, 22-Dean Henderson, 23-Tammy Abraham.
<align="right">team notes:</align="right"> This is the first time England have played on this date.England's first return to the stadium since May 1939.Harry Kane is the only player to haveplayed in all seventeen of England's Nations League matches. Nick Pope becomes just the third England goalkeeper to participate in the Nations League, and the 46th different player.Jack Grealish's great great grandfather, Billy Garraty, also played for England in 1903.
<align="right">youth notes:</align="right"> England and Italy have met several times inyouth level matches featuring the participating players.In the February 2016 fixture between the under-16 sides, Phil Foden started, and then Bukayo Saka started in the February 2017 match.Saka was also involved in the under-17 fixtures in August 2017 and the Finals in May 2018. Luke Shaw had already featured at the same level in August 2011 against Italy. Harry Kane started for the under-21s in the June 2015 Finals, and then Foden started the November 2018 fixture.
<align="right">records:</align="right"> Not since November 1991-October 1992 have England not won five consecutive competitive matches (the record is six set in June-November 1958).England have not won in five matches, their worst run of results since June 2014.Eighteenth match against the current European Champions, fourth loss.It is England's fortieth qualification match (WC, EC & NL) that they have failed to score. Raspadori's goal is the thirtieth goal England have conceded at an away venue in themonth of September.
Manager Gareth Southgate played for England against Italy in the Le Tournoi victory in June 1997 (he had been an unused substitute in the friendly four months earlier). He also played in the friendly defeats in November 2000 and March 2002.
3-4-34-4-2- after 72 mins Pope -Walker (Shaw), Dier, Maguire -James, Bellingham, Rice, Saka (Grealish)-Foden, Kane, Sterling
<align="left">Averages (Starting XI):</align="left"> Age 26 years 36 days Appearances/Goals 38.4 7.8

It was a frantic opening to the match in Italy, with both sides going hell for leather, trying to shut down any service from the midfields. Italy were the first to show, in the 4th minute, as Nick Pope dived to push away a shot. The whistle had blown though for an offside decision. Gianluca Scamacca then had a shot from a narrow angle, which Pope scrambled onto a post before Harry Maguire cleared. On eight minutes England won a free-kick when Jude Bellingham was brought down, one of many tough challenges dished out in the game. However, as so often happens with England recently, the free-kick was wasted. Italy were closing England down quickly and the visitors could not find a rhythm, especially as the closing down was accompanied by numerous fouls. Raheem Sterling broke well but was soon brought down as danger threatened, a typical Italian approach we have seen so often in the past. England began to settle a little though, and Maguire had a header at goal, easily saved by the goalkeeper. Two minutes later another promising break by Sterling ended when Harry Kane's cross was cleared. Bukayo Saka, who was struggling to understand what his role in the team was on this day, was pulled up for a foul on Nikolo Barella, and the Italians won a corner from the free-kick, but the corner was cleared as a foul was given against an Italian forward. Bellingham was then brought down again, and the referee had his work cut out, so often having to blow his whistle. As the clock ticked past 20 minutes play became very scrappy from both teams, and it was a poor quality international. Italy were no great shakes, but sadly England matched them mistake for mistake! Passes were misplaced by both sides and Italy have mastered the push in the back to perfection, always crestfallen if the referee dares to punish such a challenge. England, meanwhile, love to win the ball well, upfield, only to then shepherd the ball back to Pope, what is that all about? You can tell my frustrations at watching this match by my words, can't you. It comes to something when the England highlights of the first-half amount to the tints in Reece James's new hairdo!

As the half progressed, England forced a couple of fruitless corners, and the scrappy nature of the play continued. Neither side seemed capable of creating a worthwhile chance. On 42 minutes Kane moved forward to try his luck from distance, but his shot flew well over the crossbar. Saka continued to be knocked off the ball too easily, and although Declan Rice, Phil Foden and Bellingham worked hard, there was little end product forthcoming. But this was Italy we were playing against, and they do not often give goals away.

Now, believe it or not, as I took my notes at half-time I wrote, "This match has Italy 1 England 0 written all over it!" Wish I could be so accurate picking my lottery numbers.

England did start the second-half a little brighter, and for a while Italy looked nervous as England tried to up their game. Sterling was through until Leonardo Bonucci tripped him on the edge of the area, A free-kick in a great position, but sadly, James's awful attempt at goal matched his hair! Kane then won a corner, only for the forward to suffer a head injury as he clashed with Rafael Toloi. Then on 57 minutes Italy had a chance only for the offside flag to go up. Just as well for Barella, who missed a sitter when the cross came in. Meanwhile, Saka continued to struggle with his role, not knowing when to attack or defend in his wing-back position. This tended to leave Maguire exposed, but to be fair to the much-criticised Manchester United man, he coped pretty well with all he had to do. At this stage England probably looked the more likely to break the deadlock, as Kane saw a shot deflected for another corner and then Foden was caught offside as England threatened again. Bellingham was flattened by Barella and the latter was immediately substituted, lucky to go off without a booking. An Italy attack saw Pope save from Giocomo Raspadori, and then Kane headed the ball away from another cross. Tempers were beginning to fray, but then on 68 minutes the breakthrough came.

Kyle Walker was caught the wrong side of his man by a long high ball. Raspadori took possession well, cut inside to his favoured right foot, and fired a splendid shot into the far corner, with Pope well beaten. It was poor defending from England and Walker in particular, and it gave Italy just what they wanted.

Jack Grealish and Luke Shaw were sent on for Saka and Walker, and Grealish was soon the target of the Italian defenders. Kane almost robbed the dawdling keeper, and then in another England attack, Kane had two fierce shots in rapid succession, both beaten away by the goalkeeper at full stretch. In the remaining ten minutes, Giovanni De Lorenzo received a yellow card for clobbering Grealish, Bellingham shot wide and then at the other end Frederico Dimarco hits a post with a shot across Pope. That was close, and on 90 minutes Rice shot low but straight at the keeper. Grealish was then booked for protesting about something or other, and in the 95th minute Bellingham had a clear headed chance from a Kane cross. Alas, the ball again missed the target flying over the bar. And that was it. What did I say at half-time? To be honest, England rarely looked remotely like scoring in this match, not for the first time in recent games, so manager Gareth Southgate needs to have a complete rethink. It doesn't auger well for the matches ahead.

Still, at least Reece James made us smile.