At the Maradona England beat Italy 2-1. For the first time since 1961, the English won at the Azzurri’s home. In the first half, Southgate’s team scored much better with Rice and Kane, who converted a penalty. In the second half the goal of the native Retegui, on his debut with Italy. Italy will return to the field next Sunday in the match against Malta, beaten in the opening round of the Euro 2024 Qualifiers by North Macedonia.
England win again in Italy after 62 years
Italy was beaten 2-1 by England. A heavy success for the English who hadn’t won in Italy since 1961.
Group C standings
Italy starts the Euro 2024 Qualifiers badly, beaten at home 2-1 by England. North Macedonia defeated Malta 2-1 instead. Rested Ukraine.
Classification
- England 3
- North Macedonia 3
- Ukraine 0
- Italia 0
- Malta 0
Mancini’s words after Italy-England
We knew the match was difficult, we conceded two goals from two corners. The first half was difficult. In the second half we dominated. A draw would have been better. But the road is long. We pressed better in the second half, we were taller, and in the second half I saw that great national team.
They are dangerous on free kicks. The first we granted on inattention. Then they scored another one from a penalty. We roll up our sleeves. This time maybe we start uphill and finish differently. Retegui? It will take time. He struggled because English defenders are physically strong. He must know his teammates, he was only with us for three days.
England beats Italy in Naples, ends 2-1
Italy lost to England. The Azzurri were defeated 2-1. Maradona’s European Qualifying campaign for Italy starts badly, Retegui’s goal is not enough.
Mancini also sends Scamacca into the field
One more man, one goal to recover and a few minutes to play. Italy plays with all the forwards available. There is also Scamacca now in the field. The West Ham striker takes over Verratti.
Double substitution for England
Forced to defend himself, Southgate makes two more substitutions. Enter two Chelsea players: James and Gallagher. Outside Saka and Bellingham. The English are now on the pitch with a 4-2-3-1.
Foden’s match lasts 12 minutes, Trippier enters in his place
Shaw’s sending off forces Southgate to make a substitution. Enter Trippier. Compulsory and correct choice. But surprisingly the English coach removes Foden, who came on in the 68th minute and left in the 81st minute. Decision that at least in England will cause much discussion.
Sent off Shaw, England in 10
Luke Shaw mows down Retegui. Second yellow card in the space of three minutes for the Manchester United defender. England remain in 10 men.
North Macedonia is winning in the other group match
We also need to look at what happens in the other matches in Group C. Tonight, in addition to the match in Naples, there is North Macedonia-Malta. The hosts lead 2-0. Napoli midfielder Elmas also scored. While at Maradona it’s always 2-1 for England.
Two more changes for Mancini, and the first for England
After Politano and Cristante, Tonali and Gnonto also enter, taking over Pellegrini and Jorginho. The formation is always 4-2-3-1. You need liveliness. Change also for England. Phil Foden has taken over Grealish, an all-Manchester City brand change.
Double change in Italy: Mancini doesn’t change form
Two substitutions for Mancini, who after Retegui’s goal tries to give fresh strength to the Azzurri. Enter the field Matteo Politano, player of Naples welcomed by an ovation, and Bryan Cristante, midfielder of Rome. Berardi and Barella exit.
Retegui scored: amazing debut, Italy 1 England 2
Goal from Italy! Extraordinary debut for Mateo Retegui. The Tigre striker receives a splendid ball from Lorenzo Pellegrini and scores from a good position. Beaten Pickford. England is always ahead, but ‘only’ 2-1.
Pellegrini tries, high ball
As in the first half, Italy also started very well in the second. England defends itself wisely. Pellegrini kicks with power, high ball. It wasn’t easy, the position was secluded.
No changes in Italy: the recovery of Italy-England begins
The second half kicks off. Mancini hasn’t made any changes, which will surely arrive shortly anyway. He will probably give all the starters at least ten minutes before making substitutions.
Harry Kane is England’s all-time goalscorer
Harry Kane wrong-footing Donnarumma doubled up. Italy is down by two goals. Kane takes a lot of weight off. Because he had missed the last penalty against France at the World Cup. This is the 54th goal of the Spurs striker with the English national team, of which he is the best striker ever from tonight.
Halftime, Italy 0 England 2
Italy trail by two goals against England. Southgate took the lead through Rice and doubled through Kane from a penalty.
Grealish devours the 3-0, Donnarumma pardoned
England has the chance to close the game definitively, but Grealish kicks badly from a good position and devours the third goal. However, Italy is down by two goals.
Kane on penalty, England 2-0
Penalty for England, hands of Di Lorenzo: the VAR is decisive
On the development of a corner there is a convict arm of Di Lorenzo, the English players protest strongly. The referee tells them to wait, then goes to the VAR to see: it’s a penalty. There is a foul.
Jorginho is wrong, England one step away from doubling
Jorginho makes a rather serious mistake, Phillips recovers the ball and heads towards the penalty area, Kane is in a good position, but the midfielder decides to kick. The shot ends just to the side.
First yellow card: Rice booked
The West Ham midfielder ends up again in the scoresheet. After the goal a yellow card, for waste of time, for Declan Rice.
Another chance for England
England keep pushing and are one step away from doubling. Harry Kane is very good, he goes around an opponent and puts in the middle, Saka understands everything and tries but doesn’t reach the ball with speed.
1-0 by England, goal by Rice: Italy is already at a disadvantage
England 1-0. At the second dangerous action, the British team passes to Maradona. Kane receives, turns and kicks, the shot is blocked, the quickest on the rebound is Declan Rice. The West Ham midfielder scores from a good position, it’s the 13th minute. Italy is one goal behind.
Bellingham tries from afar, Donnarumma is there
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder advances with the ball, conquers space and shoots on goal. Donnarumma rejects for a corner. At 12′ there is the first ring of the English.
Great start for Italy
Italy started flat out. Five minutes of ferocious pressing against England who still haven’t managed to leave their own half. After 5 minutes the score is still 0-0.
Come on, let’s go to Maradona: Italy-England begins
The match kicks off, the first match of the Euro 2024 Qualifiers begins. Italy challenges England.
Gigi D’Alessio and Clementino sang Mameli’s anthem before Italy-England
After the performance of ‘God Save the King’ it was the turn of the Mameli anthem sung by Gigi D’Alessio and Clementino.
Maradona’s tribute to Gianluca Vialli is exciting
The tribute to Vialli before the Italy-England match is truly beautiful and moving. A thrilling standing ovation for an extraordinary bomber who was a champion on and off the pitch.
Against England, Italy’s first match in the Adidas branded shirt
From 2023 all the national teams will wear Adidas shirts. The senior men’s national team will make their debut with the new Adidas shirt tonight at Maradona in the match against England.
The homage of the national team to Vialli: the message on the Italy shirt
The message dedicated to Gianluca Vialli is written inside the national team shirt.
On January 6, Gianluca Vialli, a great champion who was only 58 years old, passed away. A close friend of Mancini, he has been Italy’s head of delegation for the last four years and has played a decisive role in the success of the European Championships. Today Italy will remember him and pay homage to him with a hidden message on the shirt.
Italy-England on free-to-air TV on Rai 1 and streaming on Raiplay
The match that opens Italy’s European Qualifiers is played in Naples and is Italy-England. A high-level match, indeed it can be said to be very high considering that the teams that played in the final of the 2024 European Championships will be on the pitch. The Maradona match will start at 20:45. The match can be followed live on Rai 1 and in streaming on raiplay.it. Commentary of Remedy and Di Gennaro.
Sold out for Italy-England, all tickets sold
All tickets have been sold. Naples is a city that goes crazy for football and that will support massively, even the Mancini national team. Sold out at the Maradona for Italy-England, a qualifying match for the 2024 European Championships. Slowly all the tickets were sold out. A very hot cheer is expected. 2,500 English fans in the stands.
Italy’s Euro 2024 qualifying group
Winner of the 2020 European Championships (held in 2021), Italy must earn their pass for the 2024 European Championships on the field. They will be the first two in Group C to qualify for the European Championships to be held in Germany. Italy will face, in addition to England, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta. There will be a total of eight races to be played.
When to play Italy’s next match in Euro 2024 Qualifiers
One after the other. Mancini’s Italy will play two games in the space of a few days. Two games to win. Today it’s England, while on Sunday 26 March it’s Malta-Italy. The Azzurri will be widely favourites. Then the qualifications of the national team will resume in September.
The official line-ups of Italy-England for the Euro 2024 Qualifiers
In Italy, Retegui really plays, preferred in Scamacca. The native makes his debut in the national team and will form the trident with Pellegrini and Berardi. 4-2-3-1 for England. Southgate excludes Foden.
The official formations of Italy-England
Italia (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Toloi, Acerbi, Spinazzola; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Berardi, Retegui, Pellegrini. All. Mancini
England (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Phillips, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Grealish; Kane. All. Southgate
