Captain Harry Kane and midfielder Jude Bellingham both scored twice, helping England beat Italy 3-1 to enter the Euro 2024 finals.
Scorers: Kane 32 (pen), 77, Rashford 57 - Scamacca 15
England have grown stronger with the maturity of Bellingham, and the high form of Kane. The 20-year-old midfielder won a penalty for the captain to equalize, before breaking through to set up Marcus Rashford for the second goal. Kane has surpassed the 60-goal mark for the "Three Lions", after 87 international matches.
Harry Kane celebrates scoring the equalizer from the penalty spot against Italy at Wembley Stadium, London, England on the evening of October 17, 2023. Photo: Guardian
Italy are also making positive changes under new coach Luciano Spalletti, as evidenced by their Napoli-inspired wing play from last season. The visitors' opening goal came from such a situation, with defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo climbing the right wing and sending a low cross in. Davide Frattesi cut in but did not shoot, causing Harry Maguire to miss and not clear the ball. Striker Gianluca Scamacca, who was inside, easily tapped the ball into an empty net from close range, with John Stones unable to get in to block. However, the defending champions' progress was not enough to topple England at Wembley.
The goal spurred England on to attack, and they equalised in the first half. Midfielder Jude Bellingham was the inspiration for the crowd, who roared every time he touched the ball. It was the 20-year-old who broke into the box and forced Di Lorenzo into a foul that gave Italy a penalty. Captain Harry Kane made no mistake as he fired the penalty into the right corner, fooling goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Bellingham is La Liga's top scorer this season, with eight goals for Real Madrid in an attacking midfield role. In England, his role is more defensive, but he does both well, as demonstrated by his second goal. It was Bellingham who slid to retrieve the ball, then drove past him before passing to Rashford on the left. The Man Utd striker used his speed to turn inside and shoot hard into the far corner as the away goalkeeper stood rooted to the spot.
Rashford's powerful shot helped England lead Italy 2-1. Photo: Guardian
Bellingham shone, but Kane was not to be outdone with a solo goal in the 77th minute. From a pass from centre-back Marc Guehi, Kane pressed down, causing the visiting defender to miss the ball. Despite stumbling, the home captain immediately got up and stretched to push the ball past centre-back Giorgio Scalvini, facing the goalkeeper. Kane used his hand to push Alessandro Bastoni away to create space, then placed the ball in the near corner to score a double. The goal revealed the qualities of a sharp striker like Kane.
From the moment England scored the third goal until the end of the match, the Wembley crowd repeatedly sang the words of Que sera sera (What will be, will be). Because the three points against Italy helped the hosts secure a place in the Euro 2024 finals with 16 points after six matches in Group C.
Italy are in danger of being eliminated, having only won 10 points from six matches, three points less than Ukraine. However, Ukraine only has one more match against Italy, while Spalletti's team still has one more match against North Macedonia. Either way, the big match between Ukraine and Italy at the neutral Bay Arena, Germany, will determine the second team to advance in this group.
Competition list
England : Pickford, Walker, Stones (Guehi 63), Maguire, Trippier, Phillips (Henderson 70), Rice, Rashford, Bellingham (Grealish 85), Foden, Kane.
Italy : Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Scalvini, Acerbi (Bastoni 63), Udogie (Dimarco 63), Frattesi, Cristante, Barella, Berardi (Raspadori 78), Scamacca (Kean 63), El Shaarawy.
Hoang An
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