Positives ahead of World Cup for Vardy

Goalscorer Jamie Vardy was disappointed that England could not see out a friendly win over Italy last night.

But he admitted that the Azzurri fought back gamely in the second half at Wembley. The visitors levelled with Lorenzo Insigne’s late penalty, after Leicester star Vardy had made the breakthrough.

Vardy, seeing positive signs for Eng- land ahead of this summer’s World Cup finals in Russia, said: “I think, with the chances we had in the first half, we probably deserved better, but, in the second half, Italy started pushing on and had a few chances themselves, so, all in all, I think it was a fair result.

“It has shown we can defend as a unit and that’s what makes good teams.

“You need to be defending solidly at the back and then the chances, with the attack that we’ve got, will take care of itself and we’ll see how far we can go.”

Burnley defender James Tarkowski (pictured) did not think his challenge on Federico Chiesa warranted the spot-kick.

“I stood on his foot, but I didn’t think a lot of it. I thought it was a goal-kick,” said the debutant. “It is what it is – I’m not going to complain. It’s been a great experience this week. “It’s never a penalty. “It would have been nice to have two wins, but I think there’s a lot of positives to take. We look forward to the World Cup now.”

Italy caretaker Luigi Di Biagio, said: “If I’m (given the job), I’ll carry on with my ideas: play football, win back the ball in the opposition’s half, take the game to the opponents. We played with personality at Wembley, which is never easy.”

England: Butland, Walker, Stones (Henderson 73), Tarkowski, Dier, Trippier (Rose 59), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Lallana 59), Lingard (Cook 70), Young, Vardy (Rashford 70), Sterling. Subs not used: Hart, Pickford, Pope, Maguire, Mawson, Livermore, Alli, Welbeck, Bertrand. Booked: Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walker, Young. Goal: Vardy 27.

Italy: Donnarumma, Zappacosta, Rugani, Bonucci, De Sciglio, Pellegrini (Gagliardini 79), Jorginho, Parolo, Candreva (Chiesa 56), Immobile (Belotti 64), Insigne. Subs not used: Buffon, Perin, Ferrari, Darmian, Ogbonna, Bonaventura, Verratti, Spinazzola, Verdi, Cutrone, Cristante, Florenzi. Goal: Insigne 88 pen