Years have passed since England famously fell to a heartbreaking penalty defeat against Italy at Wembley Stadium, but these two European giants would meet under the arch once more on Tuesday – with the Three Lions set to secure their participation in EURO2024 with anything other than a loss.
ENG: Pickford; Trippier, Maguire, Stones, Walker; Rice, Phillips; Rashford, Bellingham, Foden; Kane
ITA: Donnarumma; Udogie, Acerbi, Scalvini, di Lorenzo; Barella, Cristante, Frattesi; El Shaarawy, Scamacca, Berardi
But despite needing to register just a point to book their tickets to Germany next summer, Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions trailed after fifteen minutes – with Gianluca Scamacca bundling over the line from close range to hand gli Azzurri the lead.
It was far from the start that the home faithful would have hoped for, but when Jude Bellingham was felled inside the penalty area by Giovanni di Lorenzo, Harry Kane stepped up to slot home from twelve yards in convincing fashion.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Real Madrid youngster would display his mercurial talent once more though just before the half-hour mark, with his surging run and exquisite pass teeing up Marcus Rashford before the Manchester United forward jinked inside and curled past Gianluigi Donnarumma to seize the lead.
With less than fifteen minutes remaining at Wembley Stadium, Kane completed his brace as he darted towards goal and slotted home the Three Lions’ third goal of the evening – dealing an abrupt blow to any slender hopes of an Italian comeback.
