Euro ’24 Qualifier: 10-man England beat Italy at home for first time in 62 years

England beat Italy 2-1 at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples on Thursday night in a Euro 2024 Group C qualifying match.

The victory was the Three Lions’ first against the Italians at home since 1961.

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Although Italy started brightly, England took the lead in the 13th minute. Declan Rice grabbed the goal after Harry Kane’s shot ricocheted off an Italian defender. The West Ham skipper struck the ball into the back of the net as the Italian defence was caught napping.

Bellingham and Jorginho — Jorginho and Bellingham vie for the ball

Italy had looked the more likely to score with Lorenzo Pellegrini’s free-kick into the box finding Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who could not connect properly with the ball in the third minute. Di Lorenzo also saw his shot cleared for a corner by John Stones. Debutant Mateo Retegui fired wide from the resulting corner.

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Jude Bellingham nearly put England in front in the 12th minute, but Gianluigi Donnarumma parried the ball to safety.

England doubled their lead after Di Lorenzo was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box while trying to clear from a corner in the 44th minute. Kane took the responsibility and sent Donnarumma the wrong way to score his 54th goal for England, making him the highest scorer for the Three Lions ahead of Wayne Rooney with 53 goals.

Rice scored against Italy — Rice celebrates with Kane after scoring against Italy

Jack Grealish could have made it 3-0, but the Manchester City man managed to fire wide from a gaping goal.

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Italy resumed the second half with more determination and troubled England’s defence. Pellegrini fired wide in the 51st minute as the Azurris searched for a goal to get back into the game.

Roberto Mancini’s men halved the deficit in the 56th minute through Retegui. Maguire had lost the ball on his adventure away from his box before Pellegrini sent the ball to Retegui, who expertly slotted past Jordan Pickford. It was the 23-year-old’s first goal for Italy in his first appearance.

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With Italy staring down the barrel, Mancini threw on Matteo Politano, Wilfried Gnonto, Bryan Cristante, Sandro Toanli and Gianluca Scamacca.

England were reduced to 10 men in the 80th minute after Luke Shaw was yellow-carded the second time. Italy, however, failed to take advantage as they fell to their first defeat in Euro qualifying since 1999 (41 games).

In another Group C, North Macedonia beat Malta 2-1.

Table of Content hide 1Other results 1.1Group H 1.2Group J