England host Ukraine in qualifying on Sunday, when Italy visit Malta. That is all from this live text commentary, until next time!
Italy succumb to their first European Championship qualifying defeat in 41 games, ending a run that stretched back to September 2006. England make their mark in Group C as Southgate's side start their road to Germany 2024, earning a much-needed victory over Mancini's side and exacting a portion of revenge for their Euro 2020 final defeat at Wembley.
England battle to their first victory at Italy since May 1961 after a hard-fought 2-1 win in Naples. Rice's cool opener capped a bright start for the visitors before Kane's penalty saw the striker etch his name in Three Lions folklore as their record scorer, surpassing Rooney. Debutant Retegui's first goal for his country, coupled with Shaw's dismissal, raised the pressure in the closing stages but Southgate's men held on to kickstart their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a win.
90' + 6' FULL-TIME: ITALY 1-2 ENGLAND
90' + 5' Gallagher and Kane both thrash clearances long and the final whistle is moments away.
90' + 4' Tonali swings in a deep cross and Di Lorenzo goes to ground under aerial pressure from Trippier. Referee Jovanovic is not interested in awarding a penalty as Pickford slams a kick high into the Naples sky.
90' + 3' Southgate watches on with his arms aloft as England launch a long ball out of play. Two minutes remain for the visitors to see out for a long-awaited win on Italian soil.
F. Acerbi
Yellow Card
90' + 2' Kane steps in front of Acerbi and takes the pressure off England, who win a free-kick inside their own half. The Italy centre-back goes into the book for a late foul as well.
90' + 1' The fourth official displays at least five minutes of additional time as Kane rages at the assistant referee for awarding Italy a throw-in deep inside their own half.
90' Every England shirt remains inside their own third, desperate to keep Italy at bay. A hopeful Gnonto cross gets headed away and the Three Lions look to break.
89' England want a goal-kick as Acerbi appears to have headed wide at the near post. The referee points for another corner, though, but Tonali cannot beat the first man.
G. Scamacca
M. Verratti
88' Mancini sends on another attacker as Verratti is replaced by Scamacca.
86' Gallagher is immediately involved, edging in front of Verratti inside England's half and winning a free-kick for his side. That is exactly what Southgate will have wanted from the midfielder.
C. Gallagher
J. Bellingham
85' James' Chelsea team-mate Gallagher also comes on at the same time as Bellingham limps off.
R. James
B. Saka
85' Southgate makes a double change to help England see this game out. The first of which sees Saka replaced by James, who will attempt to cover Walker and deal with the dangerous Gnonto.
83' Bellingham continues to limp around the pitch and it looks like Gallagher will soon come on. While play continues, Pickford punches away Gnonto's cross as England deal with more pressure inside their own area.
82' After the game finally calms down, Italy waste the free-kick opportunity and Bellingham drops deep to sling a long clearance down the field. England are set for an incredibly nervy finish.
K. Trippier
P. Foden
81' Just over 10 minutes after coming on, Foden has to make way as Southgate brings on Trippier to cover for Shaw's dismissal.
80' SHAW IS SENT OFF! Italy's protests work as Jovanovic takes his time amid protests from both sets of players. The referee shows Shaw a second yellow card in quick succession and England will have to see out this game with 10 men!
79' Temperatures rise in Naples as Maguire is left down near the halfway line. Shaw brings down Retegui as Italy race to surround the referee and demand the left-back is dismissed for a second booking.
L. Shaw
Yellow Card
78' Shaw becomes the third of England's back four to be cautioned. The referee deems the left-back to be wasting time when mulling over a throw-in inside his own half.
77' Shaw manages a crucial touch as Politano lurks to convert Gnonto's left-wing cross towards the back post. How often can England ride their luck in the closing stages?
76' Italy have won their last 14 European Championship qualifiers, a streak stretching back to September 2015. They have lost none of their last 40 Euros qualifiers (W34 D6) since a 3-1 away defeat to France in September 2006. The Azzurri will have 15 minutes or so to preserve that run here.
75' Gnonto wanders in from the left-hand side but is forced backwards with no shooting option. Tonali then tries his luck but Stones again gets in the way to block before Saka wins a foul inside his own half.
73' Kane buys some more time for England after a heavy challenge from Tonali on the near touchline. Possession soon returns to Italy and the hosts continue to seek an equaliser.
72' Italy and their vociferous home crowd appeal for a Saka handball inside England's area. Referee Jovanovic gestures that the winger has controlled the ball with his foot, however, as Pickford launches a kick long.
K. Walker
Yellow Card
71' Referee Jovanovic deems Walker to be wasting time and brandishes another yellow card.
70' Two substitutes combine as Tonali and Gnonto exchange passes on the left flank. As has been the case for most of the game, Rice is in the right place at the right time and intervenes.
W. Gnonto
L. Pellegrini
69' Mancini makes another double the change, the first of which sees Leeds United teenager Gnonto – Italy's youngest scorer – replace Pellegrini.
S. Tonali
Jorginho
69' Milan midfielder Tonali is also introduced as Jorginho, who was on a caution, gets brought off.
P. Foden
J. Grealish
69' After voicing his frustrations with the referee, Grealish comes off for Manchester City team-mate Foden.
68' Grealish demands a free-kick after passing the ball out of play for an Italy corner when under heavy pressure from Politano. The officials are uninterested, though, before Maguire deals with the resulting set-piece.
66' Rice rushes at a clearance as Verratti looks to slip inside for Spinazzola. England are readying their first change on the touchline as the visitors attempt to wrestle back control of this clash.
65' Southgate has won 49 of his 81 games in charge of the Three Lions (D18 L14) and could become only the third England boss to win 50 games, after Alf Ramsey and Walter Winterbottom. Ramsey reached the total in 79 matches, while Winterbottom took 82.
64' Credit to England, they still press high despite the momentum swinging heavily in Italy's favour. Grealish falls over his own feet, though, before Saka wins a throw-in on the right flank to buy the Three Lions a breather.
B. Cristante
N. Barella
62' Barella also makes away as Cristante takes his place in midfield.
M. Politano
D. Berardi
62' The home crowd in Naples are on their feet as Mancini introduces Napoli favourite Politano, who replaces Berardi.
Jorginho
Yellow Card
61' Verratti dances around the incoming Rice and takes aim with his left foot. Stones is there to block before Kane draws a foul from Jorginho, who goes into the referee's book for that tackle.
60' A double change awaits for Italy on the sideline as the momentum remains firmly with Mancini's men. Can England hold off against this Azzurri storm?
59' The Italian home crowd are in fine voice as Retegui delivers on his debut for his new nation. The Argentine-born forward had just snatched at an ambitious attempt moments before but showed the killer instinct just a minute later with a finish that Mancini's side have been crying out for.
H. Maguire
Yellow Card
57' After Retegui's goal, Maguire goes into the book for a late foul on Barella in the build-up.
L. Pellegrini
Assist
56' Mancini's hosts break quickly and punish England. Pellegrini shows a cool head to roll in Retegui, who makes no mistake to net his first goal in his maiden game for Italy.
M. Retegui
Goal
56' GOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLL! ITALY PULL ONE BACK! Retegui scores on his debut to drag the Azzurri back into the game. Pellegrini slides the forward in on the right of the area and the debutant makes no mistakes as he slides a cool right-footed strike into the bottom-left corner. 2-1 in Naples!
55' Rice must be careful now, already on a booking and perhaps one foul away from receiving his marching orders. The England midfielder has been exemplary on the ball, though, embodying the Three Lions' possessional dominance and assured performance thus far.
G. Di Lorenzo
Yellow Card
53' Di Lorenzo protests after Rice's foul but the Italy defender ends up being shown a yellow card.
52' Italy players surround the referee after Rice and Maguire clash in an aerial duel with Barella. The hosts want the midfielder dismissed for a second bookable offence, but the referee will not give in to their protestations.
51' CHANCE! Verratti dictates play in the middle and works it out to Pellegrini on the left of the area. The Roma forward slashes at a left-footed attempt when under pressure from Walker, and Pickford remains untroubled as the effort sails high and wide of the target.
49' Kane's near-post clearance appears to have taken the wind out of the striker. The England captain eventually makes his way back to his feet and Pickford punches away a third Italy corner in quick succession.
48' Pickford seems to get caught out by Spinazzola's inswinging corner but manages to push away for another set-piece. Pellegrini whips this one in and Kane turns behind at the near post.
47' Italy beat England 1-0 at San Siro last September in the Nations League, last registering consecutive wins over the Three Lions in November 2000 and March 2002. It appears a wait for back-to-back wins will have to go on though, unless the Azzurri can bounce back in the second period.
46' Referee Jovanovic gets the second half underway as a disgruntled Italian home crowd await a response from the Azzurri!
Mancini lauded debutant Retegui as Italy's answer to Serie A legend Gabriel Batistuta but the forward has lacked service so far. The Azzurri striker has had three of the hosts' five touches in the opposition box, characterising a timid showing that has been duly punished. Can England be stopped in the next period?
Southgate could not have asked for a better start to England's Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. The Three Lions lead 2-0 at the break against Italy, Rice opening the scoring before Kane's penalty etched his name into history for his country. Mancini's side were way off the pace and have a mountain to climb in the second half.
45' + 3' HALF-TIME: ITALY 0-2 ENGLAND
45' + 2' That would have been England out of sight in Naples if Grealish had converted there. Half-time beckons in this qualifying clash with three minutes of added time indicated at the end of the first half.
45' + 1' GREALISH HAS TO SCORE! Kane turns creator as he reaches the byline on the right before putting the ball on a plate at the back post. Grealish has the goal at his mercy but miscues a right-footed effort, slicing wide as a glorious chance goes begging for the visitors to make it 3-0.
45' Mancini's side have a long way to get back into this game after an impressive England start to this qualifying campaign. Kane has his record, sitting clear in the all-time scoring records for his country, and Southgate's men are flying!
H. Kane
Penalty Goal
44' KANE BECOMES ENGLAND’S ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER! The Italians do their best to delay the spot-kick after remonstrating about the decision for the Di Lorenzo handball. Kane eventually steps up, firing into the top-right corner for his landmark moment to make history for the Three Lions! Wayne Rooney’s 53-goal record gets broken and England are 2-0 up in Naples!
43' PENALTY TO ENGLAND AFTER VAR CHECK! Kane and England feel Di Lorenzo has handled the ball when defending at the back post from Saka's corner. Referee Jovanovic consults the touchline monitor and takes a long look before awarding a penalty to the Three Lions!
41' A looping Grealish cross forces Spinazzola to head behind for another England corner. Sakes takes it again from the right-hand side and Kane attempts to chest down. The England players think they have a shout for a penalty after a Di Lorenzo handball though, and the VAR is going to take a look.
39' Retegui has a first sight at goal but gets crowded out on the left of the area. The ball falls kindly for Spinazzola before Saka races back to do his defensive duties as England protect Pickford's goal in valiant fashion.
38' As soon as Mancini's hosts start to find their rhythm, Shaw steps in and England remain patient in possession to temper the pressure.
36' Bellingham runs into traffic in the middle of the pitch, with Italy looking to launch a quick counter-attack. Spinazzola has the chance to cross from the left flank but his delicate attempt is poor and races out for a goal-kick.
34' This qualifier has somewhat resembled the Euro 2020 final so far, England dominating possession and controlling the game. Unlike the Wembley showpiece, Southgate's men must capitalise on their advantage to put the game out of reach before Mancini's hosts respond.
32' WIDE! Bellingham nips in to dispossess Jorginho in midfield. The loose ball falls to Phillips, who aims for the bottom-right corner with a right-footed attempt. Donnarumma looks beaten but the midfielder's effort falls just the wrong side of the post for England.
31' Southgate's visitors continue to work possession in a methodical fashion, refusing to let the Italians settle in their press. The Three Lions will be delighted with their opening half-hour showing so far.
D. Rice
Yellow Card
29' Referee Jovanovic brandishes the first caution of the game after deeming Rice to be wasting time. It appears harsh as England mulled over a short free-kick near the halfway line.
28' Rice makes a well-timed tackle to deny Barella just as the midfielder looks to pull the trigger. The West Ham star stepped in at the perfect time there, ensuring Pickford was not tested from a decent Italy opening.
26' England have won 17 of their last 18 European Championship qualifying games, losing the other 2-1 away at Czech Republic in October 2019. Across those 17 wins, they have scored 67 goals and conceded just seven. At this rate, they are on course for extending that impressive record.
24' Trippier gets a warning from the fourth official after holding onto the ball as Italy rush to take a quick throw-in. The England substitutes bench do not appear too bothered though, as the game continues at an enticing pace.
23' England work it patiently around the back, with Rice the orchestrator in the middle of the park. Italy soon press, though, and force a throw-in high on the right-hand side.
21' In typical Kane fashion, the striker progresses towards the byline and fires across the face of goal. Bellingham throws himself at the cross but cannot get the required touch as the ball races out of play.
20' Bellingham once again glides through the middle and offloads for Saka, whose clipped pass for Grealish into the area gets blocked. England appeal for a handball but referee Jovanovic waves play on.
19' Saka awaits at the back post as Shaw angles a low cross in from the left-hand side. Donnarumma reads it well, though, and collects the ball to avert any potential danger inside his own six-yard area.
17' England’s last away win against the Azzurri came way back in May 1961 in a friendly at the Stadio Olimpico, winning 3-2 with a brace from Gerry Hitchens and a Jimmy Greaves goal. Could they finally end that run here?
15' Italy look to hit back straight away but Spinazzola's cross sails into the hands of Pickford. The visiting England fans are in fine voice as the Three Lions enjoy an early advantage at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
D. Rice
Goal
13' GOOOOOOALLLLLL! 1-0 ENGLAND! Saka’s inswinging corner falls to Kane at the back post and the striker sees his shot blocked. Rice is ready and waiting in the middle, pouncing to drive a bouncing volley into the back of the net from close range. The Three Lions lead after 13 minutes!
12' CHANCE! Grealish works his way through the middle and finds Bellingham. The England teenager takes a touch out of his feet before unleashing a right-footed piledriver, which Donnarumma tips over the bar for another Three Lions corner.
11' Shaw's deep free-kick finds Maguire, whose header gets turned behind by Acerbi for England's first corner of the game. Saka whips in the set-piece from the right but Donnarumma punches away, before blowing for a foul on the goalkeeper inside his six-yard area.
10' Bellingham shows all of his quality to drive through two Italians on the near touchline. Acerbi decides enough is enough, dragging down the Borussia Dortmund midfielder to offer England a free-kick.
9' SAVE! Saka dribbles through the right flank and into the area after a pass from Bellingham, eventually taking aim with a low left-footed shot. Donnarumma sees it all the way, though, as he thwarts a timid shot from the Arsenal and England winger.
8' Grealish goes down appealing for a foul from Di Lorenzo but the referee waves away claims for a free-kick. Down the other end, Stones regains possession as Grealish and Southgate continue to remonstrate with the officials.
6' Retegui has a free header from close range after escaping Phillips from the corner but the debutant heads far off target from a presentable opportunity.
5' Phillips wanders into a strong challenge from Verratti and, after the Azzurri work it down the left, Stones is forced to turn behind for the first corner of the game.
4' England get away with an early warning by Italy as Di Lorenzo wastefully miscues a volley well wide from Pelligrini's outswinging free-kick.
3' Italy press high and force Shaw into conceding possession inside his own half on the left-hand side. Barella then goes down after an arm from Bellingham and Mancini's hosts have a free-kick to swing in from the right flank.
1' After the national anthems are over and done with, referee Srdjan Jovanovic gets proceedings started in Naples!
England have failed to win any of their last six away games against Italy in all competitions (D2 L4), scoring just once in that run, an Andros Townsend strike in a 1-1 draw in March 2015.
Kane leads the line for Southgate’s side as he aims to become England’s all-time leading scorer. Despite a lack of minutes for Manchester City, Kalvin Phillips gets the nod in midfield for England, operating alongside Rice and the in-demand Bellingham. The Three Lions revert to the usual type in defence, with Shaw and Walker at full-back alongside familiar centre-back pair Stones and Maguire.
Mancini offers the Argentine-born and Argentine-raised Retegui his first Italy start. The striker has scored 28 goals in 48 Argentine Primera Division games for Tigre, can he make an instant impact for the Azzurri here? He will not be short of chances, one would assume, with the hosts boasting a midfield combining Jorginho, Barella and Verratti.
ENGLAND SUBS: Aaron Ramsdale, Fraser Forster, Kieran Trippier, Jordan Henderson, Eric Dier, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Marc Guehi, Conor Gallagher, Phil Foden, James Maddison, Ivan Toney.
ENGLAND (4-3-3): Jordan Pickford; Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, John Stones, Kyle Walker; Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips; Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka.
ITALY (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Leonardo Spinazzola, Francesco Acerbi, Rafael Toloi, Giovanni Di Lorenzo; Marco Verratti, Jorginho, Nicolo Barella; Lorenzo Pellegrini, Mateo Retegui, Domenico Berardi.
England impressed on the global stage in the Middle East at the unprecedented mid-season World Cup, falling in the last eight to eventual finalists France. The Three Lions have breezed through qualification for the past three European Championships. Indeed, Gareth Southgate’s side were defeated by Mancini’s Italy on penalties in the final at Wembley in the last edition of the tournament in July 2021.
Roberto Mancini’s side failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar after suffering play-off heartbreak to North Macedonia. The Azzurri last played back in November, defeating Albania and losing to Austria in a pair of friendlies. Italy did, however, defeat England 1-0 in the Nations League before that on September 23 in Milan.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Euro 2024 qualifier between Italy and England in Group C.
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