England vs Italy LIVE: Euro 2024 result and final score as qualification confirmed
England 3-1 Italy: Two goals from Harry Kane and a brilliant strike from Marcus Rashford confirmed qualification for next summer’s European Championships
England wrapped up qualification for Euro 2024 with two matches to spare as Harry Kane’s brace helped Gareth Southgate’s side secure a 3-1 comeback win againstItaly.
Italy stood in their way of early progress as these nations met at Wembley for the first time since they pipped Southgate’s men to European Championship glory on penalties.
England have come a long way in the intervening 27 months and emphatically bounced back from former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca’s early gut punch under the arch.
Kane struck from the spot after Giovanni Di Lorenzo brought down the brilliant Jude Bellingham in the box, putting the hosts on course for the point they needed to go through.
But England wanted more and returned from the break with the bit between their teeth, with Real Madrid star Bellingham beginning a brilliant counter-attack that ended with him playing in Marcus Rashford to rifle home.
It will have been a special moment given the England forward missed one of the penalties against Italy and Kane added late gloss as the skipper looks forward to leading the national team to next year’s Euros.
Follow all the reaction from Wembley below plus get the latest odds and tips for England vs Italy right here:
England 0-1 Italy
21 mins: England want to pass the ball quickly but inside the final third, Italy are closing them down quickly. Rashford is given the ball and by the time he spins towards goal, three defenders are on top of him and he loses possession.
At the other end of the pitch, Scamacca has a go from the edge of the box but this one is pulled wide of the nearest post.
England 0-1 Italy
18 mins: England look all at sea in defence. A simple forward pass comes over to El Shaarway but Kyle Walker manages to get a head to the ball first.
It drops to a forward thinking Davide Frattesi who tries to shift it onto his right foot. As he’s lining up a shot, Walker gets across him and shields the ball long enough for Jordan Pickford to get out and scoop it up.
England need to sharpen up, that goal is feeding confidence into Italy.
GOAL! England 0-1 Italy (Scamacca, 15’)⚽️
15 mins: Oh how easy is this?
Italy burst up the pitch with Desting Udogie bringing the ball forward. He gives it to Stephan El Shaarway on the left wing but it’s quickly fizzed across the pitch as England back-track.
Declan Rice fails to intercept the ball and it comes over to Giovanni Di Lorenzo who carries the ball into the penalty area before pulling it back to his No. 9.
Gianluca Scamacca is open to turn the ball past Jordan Pickford and with Italy’s first proper attack, they go in front.
England 0-0 Italy
12 mins: England win a free kick smack bang in front of goal about 25-yards out from the target. Kieran Trippier and Marcus Rashford are the two standing over the ball but it’s Rashford who goes for goal.
He smokes it pretty well but there’s not enough dip on the shot to get it below the crossbar. Decent effort though.
England 0-0 Italy
11 mins: Kalvin Phillips has arrived late or two of three tackles so far, probably due to his lack of match fitness, and is the first man to go in the book for catching his man.
He’s joined their almost immediately by Destiny Udogie who yanks back Phil Foden after the Man City man, breezes around him with the ball.
England 0-0 Italy
8 mins: Cloxe! Marcus Rashford is fed the ball and he drives quickly towards the box, beating the first Italian defender. Rashford sends the ball inside to Harry Kane who feeds it to Kalvin Phillips.
Phillips looks to turn it on to Rashford but Giovanni Di Lorenzo intercepts the ball and boots it away.
England 0-0 Italy
5 mins: Rashford thinks he’s fouled on the edge of the box but the referee lets play go on as the ball comes to Jude Bellingham out wide.
He brings it to the penalty area, chops to the left, then back to the right before lifting a cross into the six-yard area where it’s nodded out for a corner which comes to nothing for England.
England 0-0 Italy
3 mins: The equation is simple for England. If they avoid defeat, they’ll qualify for Euro 2024.
Gareth Southgate’s men have made a decent start to the match. They’re knocking the ball around confidently and looking to work Italy out of position.
Declan Rice and Marcus Rashford combine for a quick one-two before the ball is swept out to Phil Foden on the right side. He goes down the line and looks for the final pass into the box but doesn’t pick out a teammate.
Kick off! England 0-0 Italy
The minute’s silence for the victims in Palestine, Israel and Belgium precedes kick off at Wembley. Jude Bellingham gets proceedings underway with a pass to John Stones who pings a forward ball up towards Harry Kane on the left side of the pitch.
He leaps to win the ball in the air but it gets nodding over to the Italian defence who boot it safely away,
Southgate on Phillips
England boss Gareth Southgate, spoke about why he decided to go with Kalvin Phillips in midfield this evening: “It is tactical. I felt Kalvin did a really good job against Scotland.
“He is a different sort of player to Hendo.
“Tonight is a really good test against one of the top nations in the world. We have to go and cause them as many problems as we can.”
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