England vs Italy LIVE: Nations League result, final score and reaction tonight

All the action as the Three Lions go head-to-head with the Azzurri at Molineux

Southgate: An embarrassment England playing behind closed doors

England’s first meeting with Italy since last year’s European Championship final was only a repeat of that night at Wembley in that both sides had cancelled each other out by the end of it. Otherwise, there was none of the jeopardy, none of the tension, no penalty shoot-out and thankfully, none of the trouble in the stands either. For the 1,000 or so schoolchildren watching this goalless draw in an otherwise empty Molineux due to a stadium ban on supporters, this was a memorable occasion. For everyone else in attendance, it was forgettable.

The question, three competitive games out from the World Cup, is how much Gareth Southgate has learned. For the first time in almost four years, England have gone three games without winning. This point keeps their chance of progressing from this group alive - thanks to Hungary holding Germany in Budapest - but still bottom of the group. The last goal from open play came in March, more than four hours of football ago. While admitting this end-of-season camp could have gone better, Southgate will not be overly concerned.

After all, it is difficult to separate the sluggishness on display with the fact that these Nations League games are coming at the end of a long, hard campaign. Both teams looked tired at Molineux - more tired than they did after a month of competition last year - and the fatigue particularly told during a second half that was low on real chances. Follow all the reaction for England vs Italy below:

England vs Italy

• ENG XI: Ramsdale, James, Trippier, Maguire, Tomori, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Sterling, Mount, Grealish, Abraham
• ITA XI: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Gatti, Acerbi, Dimarco, Frattesi, Locatelli, Tonali, Pessina, Scamacca, Pellegrini
• England held to goalless draw by Italy in Nations League

[11 June 2022 19:33 · Karl Matchett]

England vs Italy

Time to make a big impression - after all, they’ve thrived against many of these players domestically this year!

Tomori and Abraham, the former Chelsea duo, have enjoyed a great year in Serie A.

The defender won the title with AC Milan, while the striker shone under Jose Mourinho at Roma.

[11 June 2022 19:18 · Karl Matchett]

England vs Italy

Inexperienced England?

Ramsdale is winning just his second cap in goal, while the defence includes Tomori winning his third and James his 12th.

Ward-Prowse wins cap 11 in centre-mid and the same number applies to Tammy Abraham as the No9.

It’s a big chance for plenty of them to show they should clock up lots more in future.

[11 June 2022 19:09 · Karl Matchett]

England v Italy buildup

A little over half an hour until kick-off at Molineux.

We are behind closed doors, remember, other than the schoolchildren allowed into the ground and those accompanying them.

England need to win to go level on points with Italy in Nations League Group A3.

[11 June 2022 19:03 · Karl Matchett]

England v Italy buildup

Jack Grealish had a big impact off the bench recently - now can he shine as a starter? Whatever about the Nations League, playing against the European champions is a chance for a statement performance against a major nation.

Big showings here could mean a World Cup spot is on the line against the top countries.

[11 June 2022 19:01 · Karl Matchett]

James Ward-Prowse fuelled by heartbreak of not being picked for Euro 2020

James Ward-Prowse is using the heartache of missing Euro 2020 as fuel in his bid to make England’s World Cup squad, with the set-piece specialist determined to show against Italy that he can compete against the best.

This time last year the 27-year-old midfielder was reeling from the disappointment of being cut from Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad for the rearranged European Championship.

Ward-Prowse could have wallowed in self-pity and become embittered, but instead responded by producing his finest season for Southampton and re-establishing himself in the England set-up.

He is in the line-up today and has an opportunity to impress.

[11 June 2022 18:48 · Karl Matchett]

Confirmed Italy line-up vs England

And Italy’s line-up is in too, with changes in defence and attack:

Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Gatti, Acerbi, Dimarco, Frattesi, Locatelli, Tonali, Pessina, Scamacca, Pellegrini

[11 June 2022 18:46 · Karl Matchett]

Confirmed England lineup vs Italy

Confirmed England line-up vs Italy as Southgate rings the changes:

Ramsdale, James, Trippier, Maguire, Tomori, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Sterling, Mount, Grealish, Abraham

[11 June 2022 18:40 · Jamie Braidwood]

Mount drought sees England competition heat up for starting role at World Cup

Of England’s line-up in Munich on Tuesday night, only one player had not started the 2-0 win over Germany at Wembley during last summer’s European Championship. Mason Mount was still self-isolating at the time, as a close contact of Scotland’s Covid-positive Billy Gilmour, and would likely have played if not. He was selected in the quarters, semis and final once out of quarantine, and all of the World Cup qualifiers against half-decent opposition that he was available for in the autumn.

Mount is clearly a key cog in Gareth Southgate’s set-up, capable of playing in central midfield, as a No 10 or wide in a three-man attack. He has plenty of avenues into the starting line-up which is just as well, as the avenues to goal have dried up. Mount has not scored in his last 12 England appearances, registering just one assist in that time too. Of all those to regularly feature last summer, he perhaps had the most disappointing tournament on an individual level, even when accounting for the Gilmour incident.

Piece by Mark Critchley:

[11 June 2022 18:30 · Jamie Braidwood]

England boss Southgate insists he ‘won’t outstay welcome’

Gareth Southgate has reiterated that he will not “outstay his welcome” as England manager, despite having learned to accept the persistent criticism he has faced for a perceived conservatism in tactics and team selection during his time in the job.

Southgate became the first England manager since Sir Alf Ramsey to lead the national side to the final of a major tournament last summer, losing the European Championship final to Italy by way of penalty shoot-out.

Despite that and the run to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2018, the 51-year-old’s apparent reluctance to start the likes of Jack Grealish and Trent Alexander-Arnold has led some to accuse him of being too cautious.

[11 June 2022 18:15 · Jamie Braidwood]

Ward-Prowse fuelled by heartbreak of not being picked for Euro 2020

James Ward-Prowse is using the heartache of missing Euro 2020 as fuel in his bid to make England’s World Cup squad, with the set-piece specialist determined to show against Italy that he can compete against the best.

This time last year the 27-year-old midfielder was reeling from the disappointment of being cut from Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad for the rearranged European Championship.

Ward-Prowse could have wallowed in self-pity and become embittered, but instead responded by producing his finest season for Southampton and re-establishing himself in the England set-up.

The Saints skipper is set to start Saturday’s Nations League clash with Euro 2020 final foes Italy, giving him a chance to underline his credentials as the World Cup in Qatar edges closer.