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Saturday, June 11, 2022

England vs. Italy result, highlights from UEFA Nations League match as Southgate's men remain bottom of group - Sporting News

MOLINEUX STADIUM, WOLVERHAMPTON — England are winless at the halfway stage of their UEFA Nations League campaign, after playing out a goalless draw with Italy.

The result — not a surprise, based on the extremely tired performances produced by players running on empty — leaves the visitors top of Group A3 on five points, while England remain bottom of the pile on two.

Played at Wolves' home of Molineux, the game was held officially 'behind closed doors' as a punishment for the violent disorder by fans around Wembley on the day of the Euro 2020 final between these teams last year. However, UEFA did allow half a stand to house local schoolchildren, creating a unique atmosphere.

The Three Lions came into the encounter off the back of a shock loss to Hungary and respectable draw out in Germany, while Italy had four points from their opening two games, after being demolished by Argentina in La Finalissima to start the month.

Gareth Southgate was under fire over team selection by sections of the England fanbase in the days leading up to this one, with a more attacking approach demanded by some — namely, via the inclusion of Jack Grealish. The Manchester City playmaker started, while there were big opportunities for Serie A pair Fikayo Tomori, who helped lead AC Milan to Scudetto glory this season, and Tammy Abraham, a key cog in Roma's Europa Conference League success. 

Grealish was England's most threatening player on the night, cementing his stake for a more regular place. He linked up well with Mason Mount, though the duo couldn't quite find the breakthrough. Mount came closest of any man on the pitch to doing so, hitting the bar in the opening period, while Raheem Sterling should have done better from close range early in the second.

That effort was part of a frantic first 10 minutes, which saw Italy carving up England down the right flank, up against Kieran Trippier. The four-time world champions and reigning kings of Europe should've arguably scored twice. 

England will feel the same. In addition to Mount's close call after a one-two with captain-for-the-day Sterling, Abraham had an opportunity to impress. He latched onto a careless loose ball from Gianluigi Donnarumma, but the No.9 was unable to convert. He then failed to get into the game in Harry Kane's absence, ultimately being replaced by the Tottenham Hotspur star in the second half. 

Aaron Ramsdale was one man who did take his chance, with two wonderful saves to keep England on level terms. Off the back of an impressive debut campaign with Arsenal, Ramsdale came in for Jordan Pickford this evening, saving with his leg from Sandro Tonali at point-blank range, before tipping over Matteo Pessina's deflected effort just before half-time. 

Tomori — up against a set of players he'll know very well from his club performances — didn't have any standout moments like Ramsdale, but equally didn't look out of place. Unfortunately for the former Chelsea and Derby County centre-back, there wasn't too much of a challenge thanks to a lacklustre rhythm to the game and complete lack of imagination in attack. 

Predictably, at the end of this inexplicably lengthy spell of football, which has been nigh-on non-stop since June 2020, this was a very tired performance from two very tired teams. The passing was sloppy, and the invention was largely lacking, as the pitchforks for this particular iteration of the Nations League begin to rise. 

With one more England game to go — against Hungary, again here at Molineux in midweek —before being allowed to clock off for a brief summer break, Southgate will not have learnt an awful lot from this drab draw. A stalemate in the other game this evening, between Germany and Hungary, though, means all hope is not lost in the pursuit of a Nations League trophy. September's return fixture between these teams at San Siro now looks crucial.

England vs. Italy highlights

Watch the highlights from the match (available to UK viewers only)

MORE: UEFA Nations League 2022 fixtures, results, tables, standings

Live from the West Midlands, The Sporting News brought you all the latest updates, commentary and highlights below. 

England vs. Italy result

  1H 2H FT
England 0 0 0
Italy 0 0 0

England vs. Italy commentary, highlights

FULL-TIME: It ends 0-0 at Molineux. England remain bottom of the group. 

92nd min: With perhaps England's final chance, Bowen is stuck in two minds as he races forward on the break, and hesitates rather than playing in Saka down the right, before being brought down. 

88th min: Tomori is forced off through injury, with Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi now closing out the game next to Maguire. 

87th min: Seemingly a last roll of the dice for Mancini, with Alessandro Florenzi and Bryan Cristante ready to come on. 

85th min: The game is very much petering out at this point, and unless Kane or Saka can produce a moment of magic, looks set to finish as it started. Passes are going astray at an alarming rate. Phillips, in particular, has been poor on the ball, though he is returning from a midweek knock. 

78th min: After Kane spurns an opportunity with the outside of his boot cutting in from the left, another attacking switch for Southgate. Bukayo Saka, who of course missed the crucial penalty in last summer's European Championships final against Italy, replaces Sterling. 

73rd min: The substitutions haven't sparked too much life into this one. It's two tired-looking sets of players, unsurprisingly. Sloppy errors at the back, which can't be capitalised on, and a lack of imagination in attack. 

65th min: The changes, as expected, have seen Bowen take on right-wing duties, with Sterling moving inside and Grealish shifting out to the left. A big 25 minutes for the West Ham man, who has been unfortunate with timing of injuries during a sensational domestic campaign, ahead of Qatar this winter. 

64th min: A triple substitution from Southgate. Abraham's evening is over, as the ex-Chelsea man is replaced by Spurs superstar Harry Kane, to great cheers. Kalvin Phillips is on for Rice, and Jarrod Bowen for Mount. 

62nd min: The reigning European champions break with some menace, all starting from Scamacca providing a silky first touch in the air to bring a searching pass under his spell. His backheel continues the move, but it ultimately breaks down and a scrappy effort at the back post is saved. 

59th min: Abraham and Mount get the small crowd off their feet with a few party pieces down the left flank, with the No.9 drifting out wide to try and find the ball having struggled to get himself into the game after a promising start. 

55th min: The kids are becoming inpatient! Screams of "shoot" for Rice, Grealish and Ward-Prowse and Mount in the same move, but the ball is ultimately laid onto Sterling by the latter. The Man City star's effort is tame, and easily saved along the ground by Donnarumma. 

52nd min: Finally a chance for England, but it goes begging. James swings in a great ball to the far post, but Sterling can't convert, with the captain for the day skying it from close range. 

*Only available in USA: 

50th min: A very bitty start to this half, devoid of any concerted pressure or passing rhythm from either team. Ramsdale, who impressed a couple of times before the break, has two shaky moments - one with a wayward pass out, and one with a slip as he booted the ball toward Abraham. 

46th min: Italy kick off the second half. 

HALF-TIME: A frenetic start and a promising end to the half for Italy sandwiches a bout of composed England play. It's goalless at the break. 

44th min: Ramsdale to the rescue once more. Pessina cuts in from the right, and his deflected effort, looping in, is superbly tipped over the bar by the Arsenal man. 

41st min: After a really quiet period in which their possession play completely broke down, Italy spring into life with another chance coming down some quick passing from the right flank. This time, the ball lands at the feet of Scammaca just a few yards out, but he can't keep the ball down. 

37th min: England have settled into a real rhythm now, with patient build-up, even if no presentable chances. Rice, with his head on a swivel, has taken control of the central battle, impressing with his range of passing and energy after a gruelling campaign with West Ham across multiple competitions. 

28th min: Grealish has a prodded effort saved, with the No.7's influence growing. James and Sterling play a one-two down the right flank, before the Chelsea full-back tees up Grealish, who had briefly switched positions with Mount. 

25th min: Fantastic save from Ramsdale! A nice ball from the right again ends in a point-blank shot for Tonali rushing in on the left side of the box, but the Arsenal man gets down quickly to stop it with his leg. Exactly the kind of moment Ramsdale would've wanted early on as he looks to stake a claim for a place. 

*Only available in USA: 

18th min: England's first corner, on the same side as the very excited schoolchildren, results in a Rice effort. Sterling's set-piece is met on the volley from the right-hand side of the area, but the West Ham hero can't get his strike on target. 

15th min: England, after an erratic start and some poor passing, are starting to take some control of proceedings. Grealish and Mount showing promising signs of interplay coming in from the left, while Rice and Ward-Prowse beginning to dictate from central midfield. 

10th min: At the opposite end, Italy carve through the Three Lions again. Di Lorenzo and co. on the right flank are looking threatening with each passing move, and it was the right-back who broke into the box this time, putting a teasing ball right across the face of goal, but no teammate made the run. 

9th min: Mount hits the bar! The Chelsea man begins the move by acrobatically prodding the ball forward to captain Sterling, who returns the one-two, only for Mount's effort to strike the woodwork. Entertaining start here.  

*Only available in USA: 

5th min: England have a big opportunity of their own! An awful pass from Donnarumma in his own box goes straight to Abraham, but the Roma striker - who has so much riding on a big performance here - is dragged wide and can't get his effort on target. 

2nd min: Huge chance for the visitors! Pellegrini beautifully plays in Frattesi, who screws his shot just wide of Ramsdale's left post. A let-off for England. 

KICK-OFF: We're underway here in Wolverhampton. Applause for the taking of the knee this Saturday, a far cry from the booing in Hungary a week ago. 

15 mins to KO: Like Abraham, Fikayo Tomori is a Serie A star ready to make his mark in an England shirt. The centre-back has been brilliant for AC Milan this term, playing 31 games en route to their title success. Tomori is making his first international appearance of 2022, and just his third overall, with Southgate criticised by fans in recent international windows for not calling up the 24-year-old. 

30 mins to KO: The stand here at Molineux which usually houses the away fans for club games is filling up with schoolchildren for this 'behind-closed-doors' clash. There appears to be around 15 different classes so far, and they're making themselves heard - even booing the Italian players during the warm-ups! 

45 mins to KO: Italy come into this game off the back of a mixed month so far. The win over Hungary and draw with Germany in the Nations League followed a comprehensive 3-0 loss to Argentina in Finalissima - a contest between the European and South American champions at Wembley. The Azzurri were completely outplayed in that showpiece, with Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria causing the back-line constant issues. 

1 hour to KO: In addition to tonight representing a huge opportunity for Abraham, at the opposite end of the field, Aaron Ramsdale gets a rare chance to impress in his battle with Jordan Pickford for the No.1 shirt. The Arsenal shot-stopper racked up 12 clean sheets in the 34 league appearances during his debut season in North London, impressing with his commanding presence and immediately taking on a leadership role last summer. 

1 hour 15 mins to KO: Team news is in...

1 hour 30 mins to KO: England boss Gareth Southgate told his pre-match press conference of the squad status: "There is nobody we can't use.

"We have got to think about some things we have got to see, the freshness of the team as well. I think this is a good game for some of the other players to come into. It is a top-level game and is a good sign to show trust towards the players going into these games.

"I think if we only give players certain types of matches, you don't find out enough about them and they don't find out enough about the tactical challenge."

1 hour 45 mins to KO: England, who are seeking a first Nations League win in this latest edition, are expected to hand a start to Roma striker Tammy Abraham in place of Harry Kane. The former Chelsea man enjoyed a superb 2021/22 campaign in Italy.

2 hours to KO: Hello, and welcome to this UEFA Nations League match between England and Italy. The clash at Molineux will be the first competitive meeting between these sides since the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley last year, when Italy triumphed on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

How to watch England vs. Italy

  UK USA Canada Australia
Date June 11 June 11 June 11 June 12
Time 19:45 BST 14:45 ET 14:45 ET 04:45 AET
TV channel Channel 4 ViX - Optus Sport
Streaming All 4/Premier Player fuboTV DAZN Optus Sport

In the US, televised UEFA Nations League games are also available on fuboTV.

In Canada, every UEFA Nations League game streams live on DAZN. 

MORE: What is the Nations League and how does the Nations League work?

England vs. Italy betting odds

  UK
(Sky Bet)		 USA
(DraftKings)		 Canada
(Sports Interaction)
[Home] Win 4/5 -130 1.76
Draw 12/5 +240 3.35
[Away] Win 15/4 +370 4.30
Over 2.5 Goals 6/5 +115 2.15
Both Teams to Score 1/1 -105 1.97

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England vs. Italy result, highlights from UEFA Nations League match as Southgate's men remain bottom of group - Sporting News
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