We have all been there before, but just lately it has been a hard watch when England play an International match. The players are spent, they are desperate for their holidays, and although you could not fault the effort, there is no vital spark left at the moment. As a result this game against Italy, inside an almost empty stadium was not what the players wanted. Italy, almost always a negative outfit, relying chiefly on breakaways, could and should have been about 4-2 up at half-time, and I cannot remember saying ‘missed a sitter’ so many times in a match report, as you will see.

The play was fast and furious in the first-half and after just two minutes David Frattesi was put clean through with only Aaron Ramsdale to beat. Somehow, he missed a sitter (#1), by pulling his shot wide of the far post. It really should have been 0-1, but England came back hard, and following a free-kick the ball found Mason Mount who shot straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma, who saved easily. However, a minute later, the Italian goalkeeper dawdled over a clearance, was robbed of possession, and this time it was Tammy Abraham who missed a sitter (#2), stumbling when all he had to do was hit the target from close range.

The match had opened with several errors from players and officials alike, lots of fouls and precious little controlled football. Mind you, the chances kept coming and next it was Mount who missed a sitter(#3). Fair enough, he was in a good position as a cross came in from the right, and he hit the bar with his first-time effort, but he really should have put that one away. As it was the ball looped up and Abraham tried to head at goal but only managed to head wide. Not a sitter this time, but he should have done better.

A break down the right from Italy caused more danger for England, as the ball whistled across goal with no-one there to touch it home. Another sitter? No, not this time, but it could have been.

On 17 minutes, with all the players working hard in what was a strange Covid-like crowdless atmosphere, Raheem Sterling almost got through but his shot was blocked away for a corner. Declan Rice volleyed over from the James Ward-Prowse corner. Good passing down the left ends with Donnarumma easily cutting out the cross. Rice then made a great tackle on Frattesi to stop a dangerous Italian move. Mistakes were frequent at this point and England almost paid the price after more carelessness led to the chance of the match so far. The ball came in from the right and Sandro Tonali was a certain goalscorer this time, surely? But no, Ramsdale made a fine save, spreading himself wide. Now that really was a sitter missed(#4)!!

For a while the old England habit of a slow build up persisted. Why is it the first thought by England players is to go back instead of forwards? Jack Grealish, quiet so far, almost got through, but was blocked by Frederico Gatti, and seconds later Grealish was booked for fouling Gatti with a lunge. Manuel Locatelli had been booked earlier, and you had the feeling that Grealish wouldn’t be the last to incur the wrath of the ref! Having said all that, the match was full of reckless fouls with the referee waving play on like a demented windmill at times. A case in point came when a marauding Rice was clearly brought down, but the windmill never blew again.

Kieran Trippier was not having the best of games and right on half-time more careless defending by him almost gave Italy a goal, but Gianluca Scammaca fired his shot over the bar. Even then there was time for Ramsdale to come to the rescue again as Matteo Pessina had his shot tipped over when he should have scored a sitter(#5). It had been a good half for the Arsenal keeper, but it has to be said, that on chances Italy should be well clear at the break.

The second half began quietly, with Ward-Prowse shooting over from one early attack by England. It was noticeable how many errors were being made, in passing and in the touch of some of the players, from both sides. Then, on 52 minutes came the miss of the match. Reece James broke down the right and put in a perfect low cross to the far post. In came Sterling to touch it home without anyone there to challenge. He missed the sitter of all sitters by shooting over from two yards out (#6). The rest of the half was made up of pretty mediocre International football, only exacerbated by the usual rash of substitutes from both teams that disrupted any flow in the play.

In the last 25 minutes Italy almost made a James error pay with a cross from the left that evaded everyone and then Wilfried Gnonto hit the England side-netting, when he might have done better. (#6½). Harry Kane came on, but managed just one goal attempt, shooting over after Sterling and Grealish combined. Ward-Prowse was booked, Kalvin Phillips hit a post, but was penalised for a foul, and to be honest it was a relief to hear the final whistle of an instantly forgettable half.

I have some sympathy for Gareth Southgate, as it must be hard to motivate everyone for these games in such a short time, but that’s his job and he has to find a way. I thought Rice and Ramsdale were England’s best players with Oluwafikayomi Tomori having a steady game alongside Harry Maguire, who again did little wrong. But as I said at the beginning, the spark has gone at the moment, and once the next game is out of the way, let us hope they can all recharge their batteries on a beach somewhere before pre-season training starts again in just three weeks’ time. Oh dear!
   

Source Notes