ENGLAND .......
0
England fans entertained themselves late on by chucking a paper aeroplane towards the pitch.
It was one of their highlights of the night. But it is on paper that this squad seems so much more entertaining than when they are on the pitch. Southgate needs to sort that out before November.
England started off the pace as they seemed flustered by Italy’s pressing.
Rhythm
Jude Bellingham, given a start alongside Declan Rice, started to get on the ball and they began to find some rhythm.
But they never really clicked anywhere on the pitch.
West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca had earlier forced Nick Pope to push a header onto the woodwork after easily beaten Harry Maguire in the air.
Phil Foden was buzzing about with enthusiasm but his clever moves and flicks failed to ignite a blunt England attack in the opening 45 minutes.
Roberto Mancini’s Italy also failed to build on their early momentum and the play became scrappy, broken up by soft fouls and misplaced passes.
The Azzurri have still got a chance of Nations League glory and without a World Cup on the horizon they need something to lift spirts.
England need to start creating. They didn’t look likely to break that run without goals from open play here. It’s two in five in total.
Tottenham central defender Eric Dier was making his first appearance for England in two years as Southgate put him in the middle of a back three flanked by Walker and Maguire.
Ease
He made a crucial interception at the start of the second half to deny Bryan Cristante who had powered into the area.
But when Walker hesitated dealing with a long ball in the 68th minute, Raspadori was allowed to control the ball with ease. The Napoli man turned and found the bottom corner to grab the winner.
Jack Grealish picked up a late booking and Harry Kane had a double attempt saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma but it was just two of four shots on target.
That won’t worry the big guns in Doha.
ENGLAND: Pope 6, Walker 5 (Shaw 72, 6), Maguire 5, Dier 6, James 5, Rice 6, Bellingham 6, Saka 5 (Grealish 71, 6), Sterling 5, Foden 5, Kane 5.
ITALY: Donnarumma 6; Toloi 6, Bonucci 7, Acerbi 6; Di Lorenzo 7, Barella 6 (Pobega 63, 6), Cristante 6, Jorginho 7 (Emerson 88), Dimarco 7 (Frattesi 88); Scamacca 6 (Gnonto 63, 6), Raspadori 8 (Gabbiadini 80).
REF: Manzano (spain) 6.