A dominant display in the first half was enough to secure England’s first victory after the World Cup.
England defeated Italy 2-1 in their first Euro 2024 qualifying game on Thursday. The Azzurri failed to bounce back from their disappointing World Cup qualifiers.
Euro 2024 journey starts!
The Euro 2020 finalists met again at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium to start their qualification campaign for the tournament’s next edition.
Similar to that game, England found a perfect start to the match with an early goal.
Following a corner, Declan Rice rifled a loose ball into the back of the net from inside the box. The goal helped the Three Lions continue their control over the game.
Italy tried to bounce back as the game went on but conceded another goal just before half-time. Harry Kane converted a penalty for the guests to double their lead.
Italy found a strong start to the second half as England struggled to find their feet in the game. Following an assist from Lorenzo Pellegrini, Mateo Retegui latched onto the ball inside the box before beating Jordan Pickford in a one-on-one situation.
Italy kept on attacking England to score the equalizer but failed to create any serious chances. Their efforts, however, were enough to see Luke Shaw receive his second yellow card of the night in the 80th minute.
Italy ended the game having only one shot on target, making another underwhelming display on home soil. The Azzurri will face Malta in their next qualifier on Sunday, while England take on Ukraine on the same day.
Be sure not to miss out on the latest news about Europa League
Download our brand new App and follow your favorite players, clubs, and much more
