Italy vs England team news: Harry Kane starts along with Kieran Gibbs, Theo Walcott and Phil Jones
The Three Lions take on Italy in Turin
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Your support makes all the difference.As expected, Harry Kane was given his first England start by manager Roy Hodgson for tonight’s friendly with Italy in Turin. The Tottenham striker has enjoyed a fariytale campaign with his club, scoring 29 goals, and his success continued on Friday when he came off the bench in the European Championship qualifier against Lithuania to score within 80 seconds of his international debut.
Joe Hart wins his 50th cap between the sticks, while Everton’s Phil Jagielka replaced Gary Cahill at centre-back, having scored against Italy in a friendly in Basle in August 2012. Chris Smalling is also recalled at the back, with his Manchester United colleague Phil Jones moved forward to a midfield role. Leighton Baines is replaced by Kieran Gibbs at left-back.
Theo Walcott makes his first England start in 18 months in place of injured Arsenal team-mate Danny Welbeck, while Michael Carrick misses out and Raheem Sterling is among those who have returned to their clubs ahead of the weekend’s Premier League games.
Wayne Rooney, having scored eight in his last nine internationals, sits two behind Bobby Charlton’s record of 49 goals for England, who are in search of their eighth successive victory – something they last achieved in 2006. England have beaten the Italians in two recent friendlies – both at neutral venues, in Switzerland in 2012 and France in 1997. However, the Italians have overcome Hodgson’s side in both of the last two tournaments – winning on penalties in the Euro 2012 quarter-final and 2-1 in a World Cup group match last June.
Italy starting XI: Buffon, Ranocchia, Bonucci, Chiellini, Florenzi, Parolo, Valdifiori, Soriano, Darmian, Pelle, Eder
Substitutes: Sirigu, Marchetti, Moretti, Barzagli, Abate, Santon, Antonelli, Candreva, Verratti, Cerci, Zaza, Immobile, Vasquez, Gabbiadini
England starting XI: Hart, Clyne, Smalling, Jagielka, Gibbs, Jones, Delph, Henderson, Rooney, Kane, Walcott
Substitutes: Butland, Green, Cahill, Bertrand, Walker, Carrick, Mason, Townsend, Barkley.
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