England, Kane put World Cup heartbreak within the rear-view mirror with a convincing win over Italy

Ten-man England survived a second-half comeback of their first Euro 2024 qualifier to beat Italy 2-1 on Thursday in Naples, Italy.

It was England’s first aggressive victory towards Italy on Italian soil, the primary to incorporate friendlies since 1961, with a objective within the first half of Declan Ricefollowed by harry kanewhose Forty fourth-minute penalty made him England’s all-time high scorer with 54 objectives.

Rice shot England into the lead after 13 minutes by changing house the rebound after Kane’s shot from Bukayo SakaThe nook of was partially blocked. England have been a a lot better staff within the first half and deserved to increase their lead when giovanni di lorenzo he was deemed to have pushed within the field, a ruling Serbian referee Srdjan Jovanovic awarded within the VAR overview, permitting Kane to set the brand new England scoring document.

Italy rallied within the second half when matthew retegui marked his debut by scoring coolly lorenzo pellegrini56 minute move.

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– Learn on ESPN+: Classes from Napoli’s success

As the house staff drove England again, luke shaw he was despatched off after receiving two yellow playing cards in fast succession, the primary for losing time and the second for a late deal with on Retegui, however England held collectively to get by means of the sport.

The match marked Italy’s first defeat in Euro qualifiers in 41 matches since September 2006.

fast response

1. England carves one other piece of historical past

England’s journey beneath Gareth Southgate has featured a number of milestones that symbolize tangible historic progress: a primary World Cup penalty shootout victory in 2018, a primary European Championship remaining at Euro 2020 and a sixth knockout win at a match in Qatar, which equaled the quantity achieved within the earlier 48 years.

A Euro qualifier win doesn’t maintain the identical standing on this pantheon of achievements, however England hadn’t overwhelmed Italy since 1961. Italy had additionally been unbeaten in house qualifiers since September 1999 (towards Denmark).

One of many few questions England need to reply beneath Southgate is their inconsistent document towards high groups. Victory here’s a benchmark that Southgate can use to assist additional enhance England’s confidence and, within the quick time period, permit them to take early management of Group C in Euro qualifiers.

A house win towards Ukraine on Sunday would spherical out the right approach to answer December’s World Cup knockout by France, akin to the thumping 4-0 victory in Hungary secured after dropping the Euro 2020 remaining. it was additionally Southgate’s fiftieth win as England supervisor, from 82 video games, a quantity second solely to Walter Winterbottom (78) and Sir Alf Ramsey (69).

2. Poetic justice for Harry Kane

Nothing will utterly take away the ache of lacking a penalty within the World Cup quarter-final England defeated France three months in the past. However there was a sort of poetic justice to Harry Kane breaking England’s males’s goalscoring document from the venue in Naples.

It was Kane’s 18th profitable conversion (of twenty-two makes an attempt) on the worldwide stage, and it’s his reliability from the spot that made his miss towards France in Qatar all of the extra wonderful.

– Extra: How Harry Kane broke England’s goalscoring document

It has lengthy been a case of ‘when’ and never ‘if’ Kane would high Wayne Rooney’s tally of 53 objectives, however doing so on the first alternative after his World Cup disappointment is a testomony to energy of character. that Southgate praised Kane for pre-match.

Tributes poured in on social media, led by Rooney himself, in recognition of a participant whose contribution to his nation’s trigger is now unequalled. Kane’s intelligent stealing play, significantly within the first half, was a reminder that his capability extends far past simply scoring objectives.

The problem for Kane now, and for England as a staff, is to win a trophy to associate with these particular person achievements.

3. Second half difficulties stay a priority for England

England’s match outings beneath Southgate have largely adopted an identical sample: beginning properly, taking the lead however then dropping management in midfield after half-time, falling deep and eventually succumbing.

The Euro 2020 remaining between, additionally towards Italy, adopted that exact path, as did England’s 2018 World Cup semi-final knockout of Croatia. And whereas the composition of final winter’s loss to France in Qatar was completely different, they nonetheless misplaced the sport within the second half.

So, after an outstanding 45 minutes of opening on Thursday, ending with a surprising miss from Jack Grealish that might certainly have ended this as a contest, England fell again once more. Italy started to take management of the midfield battle and errors crept into England’s play, most clearly a palpably avoidable pink card for Luke Shaw.

The truth that England held on regardless of these late swings ought to give them nice encouragement. Nevertheless, whereas it’s clear that groups can’t at all times dominate opponents for 90 minutes, it’s these durations of fragility which have price England previously. Southgate wants to concentrate on the work that also must be accomplished to eradicate these mishaps when it issues most.

Greatest and worst performers

Greatest: Jude Bellingham, England

Italy couldn’t deal with their prowling play within the first half and though his affect waned after the restart, the 19-year-old once more left the impression that he belongs on this degree.

Greatest: Mateo Retegui, Italy

He needed to await his probability, however displayed spectacular composure on his debut to halve the deficit.

Greatest: Harry Kane, England

A few of his hyperlink performs have been elegant and ended his wait to interrupt the document.

Worst: Harry Maguire, England

He tried to get well the ball up the sphere however misplaced the problem and left a fantastic hole for Retegui to attain.

Worst: Jack Grealish, England

He squandered an excellent alternative on the point of halftime and turned the ball over too typically earlier than his 69th-minute substitution.

Worst: Luke Shaw, England

He put stress on his teammates along with his pink card.

Highlights and Highlights

It didn’t take lengthy for England to surrender the opening objective with Declan Rice serendipitously rebounding off the objective after simply 13 minutes.

THERE IT IS 🎉

Declan Rice offers @England the early 1-0 lead over Italy! 🏴 pic.twitter.com/nnpz5Cuxnl

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 23, 2023

Simply minutes into half time, Italian defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo was caught along with his hand touching the ball within the field, probably interfering with Harry Kane to win it. After a VAR overview, the referee awarded the penalty.

Kane scored the penalty and formally turned England’s high scorer, male or feminine, surpassing Wayne Rooney’s 53 worldwide objectives.

HE HAS DONE IT! 👏

Harry Kane has now scored extra objectives for England than some other participant within the historical past of the lads’s nationwide staff, breaking Wayne Rooney’s document (54). pic.twitter.com/SpTBZcspti

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 23, 2023

After the sport: What the coaches and gamers needed to say

England supervisor Gareth Southgate on Kane’s monitor document: “Breaking the document with a lot of his profession to go is an unbelievable achievement. He was given a glowing reception by the gamers afterwards, that was in response to breaking the document and what he needed to get well from. I don’t keep in mind what he stated, however I’m certain it was on video, since all the things is videotaped lately and nothing stays at house. Everybody acknowledged that it was a particular and historic second and that it deserves all of the reward it receives.”

England striker Harry Kane on the which means of the end result: “It’s the primary time England have gained in Italy for an extended, very long time. To be part of that’s wonderful. I simply wish to say thanks to all my teammates, the workers, the followers, my household again house.” and my spouse. It was a extremely particular night time for me and one I’ll always remember. I’m very proud. Thanks to everybody who’s right here and to everybody who has made this dream come true.”

Kane on his future: “I don’t like wanting too far forward as a result of quite a bit can occur in soccer. However I’m 29, I really feel match and I really feel robust. I really feel most likely the perfect I’ve ever felt in my life.” race to date. So I hope to have many extra years. Enjoying for England might be my biggest feeling in soccer and I wish to do it for so long as attainable. As a striker, I wish to rating in each recreation. However now could be the time. to prepare for Sunday as a result of we’ve got to ensure we win that now and ensure it’s a extremely good camp. Hopefully many extra (objectives)”.

Key statistics (supplied by ESPN Stats & Info analysis)

• Harry Kane reached 54 profession worldwide objectives, surpassing Wayne Rooney for probably the most in England nationwide staff historical past (males’s or girls’s).

• Kane scored a penalty towards Italy, and now 18 of Kane’s 54 profession England objectives have come from penalties, together with 5 of his final six.

• Italy’s streak of 40 video games with out dropping within the Euro qualifiers (34-6-0) ends. Italy had not misplaced in Euro qualifiers since September 6, 2006 towards France.

Till subsequent time

Italy: gli azurri return to motion for Euro qualifier towards Malta on Sunday 26 March.

England: The Three Lions proceed their Euro Cup qualifying marketing campaign on this window towards Ukraine on Sunday 26 March.