SOUTHGATE’S UPBEAT, DESPITE LATE SETBACK
England’s World Cup preparations continued in encouraging fashion despite the frustration of a video assistant referee ruling allowing Italy to snatch a 1-1 draw at Wembley last night.
Four days after securing a deserved win in Holland, tentative optimism continued as the Three Lions produced a promising display against another big-name absentee from this summer’s finals.
Italy are not the force they once were, but this was another assured display from England, even though a familiar lack of cutting edge meant Gareth Southgate’s side failed to build on Jamie Vardy’s first-half goal.
Lorenzo Insigne grabbed an 88th-minute penalty leveller after a VAR review.
Referee Deniz Aytekin pointed to the spot after looking at footage of debutant James Tarkowski making contact with Italy sub Federico Chiesa.
But it did not take too much gloss off another solid display in England’s last match before Southgate names his squad for Russia.
Southgate felt his side’s display was a mixed bag, with Raheem Sterling, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jesse Lingard all impressing.
“England deserved a win. In spells, I thought we played well,” he said. “The first five minutes I thought we were sloppy, poor marking from a cross and giving the ball away in our penalty area.
“After that we settled into the game and we probably created more chances than we’ve done in a lot of matches. We were a real threat – Raheem, Ox running from midfield, Jesse, some real good combinations.
“There were some really good combination plays and we scored a really good goal.
“We just struggled to get out of their high press a bit more than in previous games.”
Southgate did not think the penalty should have been given. “I don’t think it was clear and obvious,” said the 47-year-old. “(But) we have to accept the ruling.
“I’m glad it’s not the World Cup just yet. The ruling is ‘clear and obvious’ and it’s not. It’s one you can debate all day. It looks like James Tarkowski stands on him, but it’s during the running process and he’s going down anyway.
“The referee had a good view already. I don’t think with incidents like that VAR will clear things up. An obvious handball and stuff like that then maybe, but we have to get on with it.”
Southgate will have been largely impressed by his side, although the three-man defence was guilty of the odd hairy moment and Jack Butland did not look as assured in possession as Jordan Pickford did on Friday.
Wearsider Pickford must be at the head of the queue to be No 1.
At the other end, patient play was complemented by intelligent attacking transitions, with sparkling Sterling’s directness causing problems – and leading to the free-kick that Lingard’s played quickly though for Vardy to fire home.
England should have had more goals, but the lack of cutting edge that has been stark in Harry Kane’s absence continued.
Italy were only fleetingly threatening in the second half, though Insigne fired a volley just wide from an acute angle before levelling from the spot.
Chiesa went down in the box under pressure, with his foot stepped on by T ark ow ski, and a VAR review led to the penalty being awarded in the visitors’ favour.