Italy draw a fair result: Rooney

Milan, April 2: Manchester United star Wayne Rooney believes a new- look England proved they have the edge over Italy based on the evidence of their 1- 1 draw in Turin on Tuesday.

After a largely unproductive first- half display in the friendly at Juventus Stadium, where Graziano Pelle hit a 29th minute opener for the hosts, it took a superb leveller from Spurs winger Andros Townsend for England to complete their turnaround in what was a far more promising second half.

England had travelled to Turin without injured forwards Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck, forcing manager Roy Hodgson to reshuffle his side and deploy several players in unfamiliar positions.

Rooney, who was partnered up front by Harry Kane making his first start in an England shirt having come on as a substitute and scored on his debut against Lithuania last Friday, admitted there was disappointment in the England dressing room at half- time.

“We were all disappointed with our performances as a team and as individuals, that’s why we are so pleased with the result in the end — we came out in the second half and showed we are a better footballing team, I feel, than Italy are,” said Rooney.

Rooney’s belief was based on how much sharper England were than their opponents once they found their stride in the secondhalf.

Their pressure finally paid off with Townsend creating space on the edge of the area to beat Buffon with a precise shot at the keeper’s far post.

“We didn’t let them do that, we tried — we knew we had to be patient at times — but I really felt we could hurt them on the break and in the channels, certainly with their three defenders and we got more joy with that.

“I don’t think they coped well physically, I think they tired in the last 10 or 15 minutes and that’s when we should punish them. I think probably it was a fair result over all,” added the 29- year- old.