Match Summary

England Team

Italy Team

After the success in Holland, manager Gareth Southgate went with largely the same team in this home game with Italy.  It wasn't as convincing as the performance in Amsterdam, but there were still plenty of positives to be gained, and but for a strange decision at the end, another win would have been recorded.

With the VAR system in operation for this match England began very sloppily and in the third minute John Stones so nearly gave a goal away.  He dawdled on the ball, lost his footing, and possession, as Ciro Immobile challenged.  Luckily for the Manchester City player Immobile was not as decisive as an Italian normally is and Stones recovered to block the shot.  It was a near miss and gave food to those who don't always enjoy this playing the ball out at the back when under pressure.  The home side gradually snapped out of their lethargy though and four minutes later a corner was won at the other end.  This time Stones headed over from the kick.

The Italians were stroking the ball around the turf well and England's pressing in the early stages of the game was nowhere near as sharp as it had been against Holland.  But a great through ball then so nearly released Jaime Vardy, only for a fine saving tackle to end the attack.  Raheem Sterling looked very lively when England pushed forward and the Italians struggled to cope with his pace.  Both sides were looking to play balls over the top for the forwards to run onto, but most of the passes were over-hit or intercepted.  Italy should have been in front on 16 minutes when a cross from the right found Immobile on his own in front of goal.  Once again though the forward messed up the chance and this time he headed over the bar.  At this stage of the game Italy seemed to be winning most of the loose balls, and most of the headers.  Eric Dier did manage one header at goal but could not generate enough power and it was easily saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

After 22 minutes, and with England showing signs of improvement, they created their best chance so far.  Sterling was fouled as he ran, but he kept going and fed Vardy and only a good save by the keeper prevented a goal.  Four minutes later England attacked again, and once again Sterling was fouled as he ran, he kept going but was fouled again.  Quick thinking by Jesse Lingard, reacting to the free-kick being given, saw him put the ball down and tap it to Vardy who strode forward and hit a rasping shot into the top corner.  It was a fine finish and a reward for some sharp thinking by Lingard.

Italy hit back after the goal and Immobile was again off target with another effort on goal.  Immediately Marco Parolo fired another shot just over Jack Butland's crossbar.  The Italians played a series of one-two's but could not find a way through, and it was England who went close again after a powerful breakaway by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sterling.  On 38 minutes England had another attempt as Sterling set up the marauding Ashley Young only for his shot to be deflected just wide of the far post.  There was a silly booking for Oxlade-Chamberlain as he kicked the ball away after being penalised, but all in all, England were more comfortable as the half ended and were worthy of their half-time lead.

The first ten minutes after the restart saw England comfortable in possession and passing the ball around confidently.  However, there was little from either side by way of a decent attack until Sterling attacked down the left, brilliantly set up Young, only to see the shot blocked by a defender.  At this point Italy were under the cosh and finding it difficult to make an impact.  Dier then broke and found Sterling who teed up Oxlade-Chamberlain, but his shot was straight at Donnarumma.  Italy were making uncharacteristic mistakes and if England had scored again then, the result would have been settled.  But Southgate then made some substitutions and somehow the zest went out of the home team's game.  Coupled with Italy doing the same, with a more positive result, the visitors enjoyed more possession for a spell.

England still created openings with Sterling at the heart of most of their best attacks.  One shot was saved and then Sterling shot over from a great position, the sort of chance he has been tucking away all season for City.  More substitutions with Vardy and Lingard off and Marcus Rashford and another debutant, Lewis Cook on, further upset any rhythm and Kyle Walker blotted an otherwise good performance with a needless booking following a silly foul.  To be fair the referee had overlooked similar challenges by the Italians and did seem to give the balance of the 50-50 decisions to the away side.  Yet another booking came when Young was fouled on the edge of the pitch, Young then rolled back on to the pitch to be treated for an injury and was promptly booked for coming back on to the pitch without the ref's permission.  Three silly bookings for England and ones they must learn from.

It was a little frustrating as the game went on as Italy had more of the game whilst England sat back and basically forgot to attack.  It was a recipe for disaster and with three minutes left it happened, but not in the way anyone imagined.

Federica Chiesa, a substitute, ran at England defence and three players closed in on him as he entered the penalty area.  He went down, screaming (!), but the referee gave a corner, quite rightly.  Unfortunately for England, the referee was then alerted by the VAR official to have a look at the incident again.  The VAR was supposed to be to try and eradicate clear errors.  After umpteen replays it was far from clear to anyone, but the referee saw James Tarkowski's foot come down on Chiesa's and deemed that it was a penalty, even though the player was going down already with his theatricals.  So, up stepped Lorenzo Insigne and he slammed the ball into the corner giving Butland no chance.

Personally, I think that the VAR should then have been brought into play again as at least two other Italians were in the area before Insigne shot!  But then I'm nitpicking, and I'm not a fan of VAR, in any form.  Leave it to the referee, if he makes a mistake then we live with it, after all it is the top subject for all football fans, moaning about the ref!!  Now we will have to moan about the ref and the VAR.  I can certainly see problems ahead at the World Cup, I just hope other teams are punished by VAR as well.

Back to the game, and it has to be said that England only have themselves to blame for not winning this match and their lack of desire to go forward in the last 20 minutes eventually cost them the win.  Having said all that, there were some excellent performances from Tarkowski, Sterling, Trippier, Vardy and Walker.  Lots to praise, but also lots to improve.
  

TheFA.com BBC Sport

vivoazzurro.it Mike Payne - football historian and contributor