INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

Immobile – the most unfortunate name for a striker in world football – nicked it, went through and Stones recovered just in time to make a block.

It set a bad tone for England, the optimism from beating Holland quickly ebbed away and suddenly Wembley felt a bit flat. You could almost hear a pin drop.

Then, after another let-off as Immobile headed a glorious chance wide, England began to find their rhythm, which lifted the crowd and changed the mood.

They upped the tempo, Sterling and Lingard going through the gears, while Vardy’s pace always carried a threat.

They were ahead after 27 minutes when Sterling was fouled. Lingard reacted instantly, taking a quick freekick to set Vardy on his way.

The Leicester striker controlled the ball, then smashed it past keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and into the roof of the net.

It was the sort of emphatic finish which will surely make Southgate think seriously about starting him alongside Harry Kane at the World Cup.

Sterling was everywhere, darting all over the pitch, looking for angles and openings with the kind of all-action performance which will earn him the love he so desires from the England fans.

He carried on where he left off in the second half, running at Italy’s defence, setting up Ashley Young and going for goal himself.

If the fans do not love him now then they never will.

But England’s night was ruined in the 87th minute when German referee Deniz Aytekin used the VAR system, viewing a pitchside monitor before deciding Tarkowski had tripped Chiesa.

Up stepped Insigne to fire in the equaliser.