Italy 1-0 England: Gareth Southgate's side relegated after Nations League defeat

2 years ago 24

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England suffered the embarrassment of relegation from their Uefa Nations League group after slumping to defeat against Italy in Milan.

Giacomo Raspadori's stunning 68th-minute strike broke the deadlock in the San Siro as a game that lacked any spark finally came to life after the break, with England's winless streak extended to five games, their worst since June 2014.

Raspadori produced instant control and a fierce right-foot finish which gave goalkeeper Nick Pope, in for the injured Jordan Pickford, no chance.

Manager Gareth Southgate kept faith with Harry Maguire despite his struggles at Manchester United, the defender suffering one anxious early moment when West Ham United striker Gianluca Scammaca beat him in the air at the far post, only for a combination of Pope and the woodwork to keep his header out.

England responded at last, Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma producing a fine double block from Harry Kane, although the home side had chances of their own in a frenetic finale.

England lack inspiration again

Southgate was keen to refocus after their run without a win put them in trouble in their Uefa Nations League group but there was little to get excited about here as the latest goalless show left them 495 minutes without a goal in open play.

Kane threatened Donnarumma as England tried to react but there were barely any other clear-cut chances, despite the promptings of Phil Foden, apart from a late Jude Bellingham header that he sent over the bar.

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka had been named as England's player of the year before the game and his reward was a role in an unfamiliar left-wing back position in which he made little impact, perhaps understandably, before he was substituted.

It was hard not to feel sympathy for the youngster being asked to perform such an unaccustomed role at this level.

Maguire had few serious alarms but England did not deserve anything from the game and must now raise themselves against Germany at Wembley on Monday with their Uefa Nations League fate already decided.

And Southgate must surely involve Brentford's Ivan Toney, surprisingly excluded from the match day squad here. Anything else would make a nonsense of his call-up.

This was another disappointing night for England which did nothing to lift the spirits after their recent poor run.

More to follow.

Reaction to England's Nations League defeat by Italy

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Italy

Squad number1Player nameG Donnarumma
Squad number4Player nameTolói
Squad number19Player nameBonucci
Squad number15Player nameAcerbi
Squad number2Player nameDi Lorenzo
Squad number18Player nameBarella
Squad number8Player nameJorginho
Squad number16Player nameCristante
Squad number3Player nameDimarco
Squad number9Player nameScamacca
Squad number10Player nameRaspadori

Squad number6Player namePobega
Squad number7Player nameFrattesi
Squad number11Player nameGnonto
Squad number13Player nameEmerson
Squad number20Player nameGabbiadini

England

Squad number1Player namePope
Squad number2Player nameWalker
Squad number5Player nameDier
Squad number6Player nameMaguire
Squad number3Player nameJames
Squad number8Player nameBellingham
Squad number4Player nameRice
Squad number7Player nameSaka
Squad number11Player nameFoden
Squad number9Player nameKane
Squad number10Player nameSterling

Squad number14Player nameShaw
Squad number15Player nameGrealish

Line-ups

Italy

Formation 3-5-2

1G Donnarumma
4Tolói
19BonucciBooked at 48mins
15Acerbi
2Di LorenzoBooked at 80mins
18BarellaSubstituted forPobegaat 63'minutes
8JorginhoSubstituted forEmersonat 89'minutes
16Cristante
3DimarcoSubstituted forFrattesiat 89'minutes
9ScamaccaSubstituted forGnontoat 63'minutes
10RaspadoriSubstituted forGabbiadiniat 81'minutes

Substitutes

5Ramos Marchi
6Pobega
7Frattesi
11Gnonto
12Meret
13Emerson
14Zerbin
17Grifo
20Gabbiadini
21Vicario
22Esposito
23Bastoni

England

Formation 3-4-3

1Pope
2WalkerSubstituted forShawat 72'minutes
5Dier
6Maguire
3James
8Bellingham
4Rice
7SakaSubstituted forGrealishat 72'minutesBooked at 90mins
11Foden
9Kane
10Sterling

Substitutes

12Trippier
13Ramsdale
14Shaw
15Grealish
16Coady
17Ward-Prowse
18Tomori
19Mount
20Bowen
21Alexander-Arnold
22Henderson
23Abraham

Referee:Jesús Gil Manzano

Live Text

Match ends, Italy 1, England 0.
Second Half ends, Italy 1, England 0.
Attempt missed. Jude Bellingham (England) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Reece James with a cross.
Foul by Reece James (England).
Wilfried Gnonto (Italy) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Raheem Sterling (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Tommaso Pobega (Italy).
Jack Grealish (England) is shown the yellow card.
Hand ball by Jack Grealish (England).
Attempt saved. Declan Rice (England) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Luke Shaw.
Attempt blocked. Wilfried Gnonto (Italy) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Manolo Gabbiadini.
Substitution, Italy. Emerson replaces Jorginho.
Substitution, Italy. Davide Frattesi replaces Federico Dimarco.
Attempt missed. Bryan Cristante (Italy) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
Jack Grealish (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Bryan Cristante (Italy).
Attempt saved. Manolo Gabbiadini (Italy) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jorginho with a through ball.
Attempt missed. Jude Bellingham (England) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Phil Foden.
Jack Grealish (England) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Wilfried Gnonto (Italy).