Published 23 September 2022 4 min read
England Men's Senior Team
Italy 1-0 England - UEFA Nations League 2022-23
- G. Raspadori (68′)
- L. Bonucci (48′)
- G. Di Lorenzo (80′)
FULL TIME
UEFA Nations League League A, Group 3
Friday 23 September, 07:45 PM
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
1
0
HT: 0 - 0
- J. Grealish (93′)
The Three Lions slip to defeat in Milan and suffer relegation in the UEFA Nations League
25 Sep 2022
2:30
Highlights: Italy 1-0 England
See the best of the action from the game in the San Siro as England slip to defeat
Giacomo Raspadori’s strike consigned England to relegation from League A of the UEFA Nations League as the Three Lions were beaten 1-0 by Italy.
Raspadori’s well-taken finish midway through the second half proved enough to separate the two sides at the San Siro and stretch England’s winless run to five matches.
Harry Kane came closest to finding an equaliser, denied twice in quick succession by Gianluigi Donnarumma, but Gareth Southgate’s side now move into Monday night’s visit of Germany looking for an upturn in fortunes in their final match before the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Southgate’s starting eleven contained six changes from the side beaten at home by Hungary in June and one of the players brought in was called in to action early.
Nick Pope, deputising for the injured Jordan Pickford in goal, got down sharply to his right to deny Raspadori – though an offside flag ensured the effort would not have counted.
A combination of the Newcastle goalkeeper and the woodwork then kept out Gianluca Scamacca’s header after the striker had found space at the back post, the West Ham striker later firing wide from distance when he could arguably have picked out a teammate to either side.
Having withstood a spell of early pressure, the visitors grew into the contest and had their first sight of goal through Harry Maguire, whose header was comfortably gathered by Donnarumma.
The Three Lions put together their best move of the first half on 23 minutes. Phil Foden’s neat turn led to Jude Bellingham picking out Reece James down the right flank but the Chelsea full-back’s cross was cleared before it could reach the lurking Kane.
England’s skipper fired over from 25 yards three minutes before the break and James was also off target with a free-kick from similar range after the restart as Southgate’s side looked to up their attacking threat.
They had to remain alert at the other end when an incisive move by the hosts ended with Nicolo Barella sliding an effort wide from point-blank range, the Inter midfielder possibly relieved to see the flag raised for an offside in the build-up.
Having withstood a spell of early pressure, the visitors grew into the contest and had their first sight of goal through Harry Maguire, whose header was comfortably gathered by Donnarumma.
The Three Lions put together their best move of the first half on 23 minutes. Phil Foden’s neat turn led to Jude Bellingham picking out Reece James down the right flank but the Chelsea full-back’s cross was cleared before it could reach the lurking Kane.
England’s skipper fired over from 25 yards three minutes before the break and James was also off target with a free-kick from similar range after the restart as Southgate’s side looked to up their attacking threat.
They had to remain alert at the other end when an incisive move by the hosts ended with Nicolo Barella sliding an effort wide from point-blank range, the Inter midfielder possibly relieved to see the flag raised for an offside in the build-up.
Kane was involved at both ends either side of the hour mark, first sending in a dangerous cross cleared by Rafael Toloi with Sterling waiting to tap home and later blocking 18-year-old substitute Wilfried Gnonto’s fierce strike to keep the scores level.
But there was to be no denying Raspadori shortly afterwards as the deadlock was broken in style. The Napoli frontman superbly took down Leonardo Bonucci’s long ball and worked space on the edge of the area before curling an unstoppable effort low into the corner.
England responded with a double substitution, Jack Grealish and Luke Shaw introduced to the fray, and came close to levelling on 78 minutes only for Kane to be denied by Donnarumma’s double save.
The Italian goalkeeper then punched away James’ free-kick as the visitors continued to search for a leveller, Bellingham later blazing over as his balance eluded him outside the area.
The Azzurri remained a threat on the break, former Southampton striker Manolo Gabbiadini denied by the feet of Pope before Federico Dimarco’s fizzing low effort came back off the base of the post with five minutes to play.
Bryan Cristante spurned a fine chance to settle the outcome when he blazed over late on while England’s best chance during the six minutes of stoppage time fell to Bellingham, who headed James’ cross onto the roof of the net.
But there was to be no denying Raspadori shortly afterwards as the deadlock was broken in style. The Napoli frontman superbly took down Leonardo Bonucci’s long ball and worked space on the edge of the area before curling an unstoppable effort low into the corner.
England responded with a double substitution, Jack Grealish and Luke Shaw introduced to the fray, and came close to levelling on 78 minutes only for Kane to be denied by Donnarumma’s double save.
The Italian goalkeeper then punched away James’ free-kick as the visitors continued to search for a leveller, Bellingham later blazing over as his balance eluded him outside the area.
The Azzurri remained a threat on the break, former Southampton striker Manolo Gabbiadini denied by the feet of Pope before Federico Dimarco’s fizzing low effort came back off the base of the post with five minutes to play.
Bryan Cristante spurned a fine chance to settle the outcome when he blazed over late on while England’s best chance during the six minutes of stoppage time fell to Bellingham, who headed James’ cross onto the roof of the net.
Italy: 1 Gianluigi Donnarumma, 4 Rafael Toloi, 19 Leonardo Bonucci, 15 Francesco Acerbi; 2 Giovanni Di Lorenzo, 18 Nicolo Barella, 8 Jorginho, 16 Bryan Cristante, 3 Federico Dimarco; 10 Giacomo Raspadori, 9 Gianluca Scamacca
Substitutes: 11 Wilfried Gnonto for Scamacca 63’, 6 Tommaso Pobega for Barella 63’, 20 Manolo Gabbiadini for Raspadori 81’, 7 Davide Frattesi for Dimarco 89’, 13 Emerson Palmieri for Jorginho 89’
Substitutes not used: 5 Luiz Felipe, 12 Alex Meret, 14 Alessio Zerbin, 17 Vincenzo Grifo, 21 Guglielmo Vicario, 22 Salvatore Esposito, 23 Alessandro Bastoni
Goals: Raspadori 68’
Yellow cards: Bonucci 48’, Di Lorenzo 80’
England (3-4-3): 1 Nick Pope (Newcastle United); 2 Kyle Walker (Manchester City), 5 Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), 6 Harry Maguire (Manchester United); 3 Reece James (Chelsea), 8 Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), 4 Declan Rice (West Ham United), 7 Bukayo Saka (Arsenal); 10 Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), 9 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), 11 Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Substitutes: 15 Jack Grealish for Saka 72’, 14 Luke Shaw for Walker 72’
Substitutes not used: 12 Kieran Tripper (Newcastle United), 13 Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), Conor Coady (Everton, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers), 17 James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), 18 Fukayo Tomori (AC Milan), 19 Mason Mount (Chelsea), 20 Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), 21 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), 22 Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), 23 Tammy Abraham (AS Roma)
Bookings: Jack Grealish 90+3’
Substitutes: 11 Wilfried Gnonto for Scamacca 63’, 6 Tommaso Pobega for Barella 63’, 20 Manolo Gabbiadini for Raspadori 81’, 7 Davide Frattesi for Dimarco 89’, 13 Emerson Palmieri for Jorginho 89’
Substitutes not used: 5 Luiz Felipe, 12 Alex Meret, 14 Alessio Zerbin, 17 Vincenzo Grifo, 21 Guglielmo Vicario, 22 Salvatore Esposito, 23 Alessandro Bastoni
Goals: Raspadori 68’
Yellow cards: Bonucci 48’, Di Lorenzo 80’
England (3-4-3): 1 Nick Pope (Newcastle United); 2 Kyle Walker (Manchester City), 5 Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), 6 Harry Maguire (Manchester United); 3 Reece James (Chelsea), 8 Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), 4 Declan Rice (West Ham United), 7 Bukayo Saka (Arsenal); 10 Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), 9 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), 11 Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Substitutes: 15 Jack Grealish for Saka 72’, 14 Luke Shaw for Walker 72’
Substitutes not used: 12 Kieran Tripper (Newcastle United), 13 Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), Conor Coady (Everton, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers), 17 James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), 18 Fukayo Tomori (AC Milan), 19 Mason Mount (Chelsea), 20 Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), 21 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), 22 Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), 23 Tammy Abraham (AS Roma)
Bookings: Jack Grealish 90+3’
