Football: Italians too potent for young Scots

SCOTLAND'S youngsters held their own for 45 minutes but were then swamped as Italy scored four times in the second half to win Saturday's Under-21 international friendly in Castel di Sangro.

The hosts came into their own after the break and, from the moment the Naples front-runner Raffaello Longo scored in the 56th minute, there was no doubt about the final result.

Italy's other goals came from Bari's Nicola Ventola (64), the Rangers player Rino Gattuso (71) and Fabio Firmani (78).

England's last hopes of qualifying for next year's Womens' World Cup were ended by a 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands in Waalwijk yesterday.

Normally seeded in the past and regarded as one of the leading countries in Europe, England are stuck at the bottom of Group Three with just three points from five matches. The Doncaster Belles striker Karen Walker scored their goal.