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 vs Italy
Italy are unbeaten in their last five away matches against England with two wins and three draws coming during that run since a 2-0 defeat in a World Cup qualifier in 1977.
Italy line-up
Italy XI: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Scalvini, Acerbi, Udogie, Frattesi, Cristante, Barella, Berardi, Scamacca, El Shaarawy
Gareth Southgate addresses Jordan Henderson criticism ahead of Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy
England football manager Gareth Southgate addressed criticism directed towards Jordan Henderson following his move to Saudi Arabia.
“I’ll always pick the players that I think are the best players to represent the team,” he told a press conference on Monday, 16 October, ahead of a Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy.
England vs Italy - Team news!
Gareth Southgate changes his entire starting XI as England set out to qualify for Euro 2024 with at least a draw against Italy.
The England manager had fielded a much-changed side for Friday’s 1-0 friendly win over Australia but the more established names returned.
Captain Harry Kane led the line while Southgate kept faith with Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips despite the minimal game-time for their respective clubs.
England’s last Wembley fixture against Italy was the Euro 2020 final defeat and eight of that side started here, while only three from the victorious Azzurri team made it into this clash - Gianluigi Donnarumma, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Nicolo Barella.
England XI: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier, Phillips, Rice, Foden, Bellingham, Rashford, Kane
Italy XI: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Scalvini, Acerbi, Udogie, Frattesi, Cristante, Barella, Berardi, Scamacca, El Shaarawy
England vs Italy
Following their 2-1 win in March, England are looking for consecutive wins over Italy for only the second time, also doing so with wins in 1948 and 1949.
Will they be able to pull it off tonight?
England vs Italy
The Three Lions have arrived at Wembley and the team news for tonight’s match will be dropping shortly. Who will make the starting XI?
Jordan Henderson set to face Italy despite England boos
Gareth Southgate vowed not to let a “popularity contest” sway his selections as the England boss threw his full support behind Jordan Henderson days after the stand-in skipper was jeered off at Wembley.
The Euro 2020 runners-up are within touching distance of qualifying for next summer’s finals and will seal their spot in Germany should they avoid defeat to Italy on Tuesday evening.
Wembley will welcome a second sell-out crowd in five days after Friday’s friendly against Australia brought an impressive turnout for what proved to be a largely forgettable 1-0 friendly win.
Jordan Henderson set to face Italy despite England boos
Gareth Southgate has backed the midfielder after Henderson was booed off against Australia at Wembley
Southgate aiming to qualify for Euro 2024
Gareth Southgate says his England team are determined to keep producing memorable nights for the fans and says that qualifying for major tournaments is a big step towards that goal.
The Three Lions need just a draw against Italy to secure their place at next summer’s Euro 2024, due to their head-to-head record over the other teams, but Southgate is determined to win all three points this evening.
“Ultimately, the first objective is always to qualify for the tournaments and our performances earlier in the group have put us in a really strong position,” he said,
“So the first thing we want to do is play well and win the game but we know if it’s the 87th minute and we’re level, then we don’t need to lob the goalkeeper into the box at the end of the game.”
England vs Italy last three meetings
Things are usually fairly equal when the Three Lions take on Italy with most matches being decided by the odd goal here or there. Over the last three fixtures there has been one win and one loss for each team with a draw also being shared.
Here are the last three England vs Italy results:
Italy 1-2 England - 23 March 2023, Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli
Italy 1-0 England - 23 September 2022, San Siro, Milan
England 0-0 Italy - 11 June 2022, Molineux, Wolverhampton
England vs Italy
The Three Lions have met Italy on 31 previous occasions over the years, with England winning nine times, drawing nine times and losing 13 times. The first meeting between the teams came back in May 1933, when it ended in a 1-1 draw in Rome.
Will England add to their winning tally this evening?
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