Harry Kane scored twice either side of a Marcus Rashford goal as England came from behind after trailing to an early Gianluca Scamacca strike
Max Mathews
October 17, 2023 at 6:55 PM EDT
(Photo: Getty Images)
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Kane joins Charlton at top of Wembley goals list
With his goal from the penalty spot in the first half, Harry Kane now joins Bobby Charlton atop the list of most goals for England at Wembley:
- Harry Kane: 23
- Bobby Charlton: 23
- Gary Lineker: 22
- Wayne Rooney: 19
- Alan Shearer: 18
- Jimmy Greaves: 17
- Geoff Hurst: 16
- David Platt: 16
- Frank Lampard: 12
- Raheem Sterling: 11
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England have work to do
Italy will definitely be a lot happier with that first half. They created by far the better chances and looked a real threat on the counter-attack.
England are fortunate to still be on level terms and Gareth Southgate has more work to do during the break to get them fired up than his counterpart.
Italy need to find more control
Manager Luciano Spalletti will have been realistic about Italy's prospects here.
Nevertheless I think he'll be disappointed by how little grip his team has had on the game.
Half time: England 1-1 Italy
HT' England 1-1 Italy
That's the interval and a chance for both sides to get a breather, take on some fluids and reflect on the action of the first half.
What have we learned? Kieran Trippier (out of position) looks vulnerable at left-back, Destiny Udogie is fantastic, Kalvin Phillips looks rusty and Jude Bellingham is probably the most in-form player in world football.
Big team-talk coming up for both bosses. Neither would admit it but both might well be happy with a point here today. They'll be going for the win second half though, no question.
What a save!
45+2: England 1-1 Italy
Goodness me, what a save. Italy's full-backs are by far their most dangerous outlets and so it proves again.
Tottenham's brilliant young defender Destiny Udogie plays it infield, receives the ball on the one-two inside the area, turns his opposite man inside out and fires it hard and low towards goal.
It looks destined for the bottom corner but Jordan Pickford flings himself to his left and a strong hand pushes it away from goal. England converge on the rebound and block it well.
Close from Rashford!
43' England 1-1 Italy
A long Jordan Pickford clearance is worked by Harry Kane out to Marcus Rashford, who's been quiet, on the left hand side of the penalty area.
He pushes it wide to create a yard of space and rattles it towards goal, but Donnarumma is well positioned to parry it wide.
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Nasty clash of heads
40' England 1-1 Italy
Ouch! Phil Foden picks it up in midfield and drives swiftly forward and suddenly it's three against three.
He plays it through to Bellingham on the left, who pulls off a couple of stepovers but, slightly stumbling, bangs heads with Giorgio Scalvini. Totally accidental, though Bellingham is frustrated a good chance was curtailed in that manner.
In the other game in Group C, Ukraine have now made it 1-1 against Malta, who had taken a shock lead.
Frattesi proving a problem
England need to get to grips with Frattesi in midfield. He seems to have a free role and his movement is causing Rice and Phillips all sorts of problems.
Neither seem to know who should pick him up and he is getting on the ball in dangerous positions.
Jude strikes again
(Photo: Getty Images)
35' England 1-1 Italy
Bellingham (see how he won the penalty above) wins the ball in midfield at the second attempt and plays a sumptuous, though I'm not sure the word sumptuous does it enough credit, pass in front of Phil Foden.
A gorgeous through ball which skips and flutters over the turf to the Manchester City man, but he struggles to get it under control and accidentally handles it under pressure from Destiny Udogie, who's looked good so far.
There's another demonstration of Italy's counter-attacking abilities, though. They burst forwards and feed Di Lorenzo down the right again, his overlapping run taking him beyond Trippier.
He puts another dangerous cross in and Scamacca is poised to pounce, but John Stones does brilliantly to get in between and clear. Warning signs!
Donnarumma is a penalty specialist
Donnarumma saved two pens at this ground (at the other end) in the Euro 2020 final and he’s a serious penalty goalkeeper.
Excluding shootouts, almost 1/3 of penalties against him are saved or missed. That is better than double the average save rate (around 14%).
Kane extends record
Harry Kane has now scored 21 penalties for England, 12 more than anyone else.
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Not this time for Donnarumma
Donnarumma, the penalty hero in the Euro final against England, can do nothing to stop Kane's spot kick.
GOAL! England equalise at Wembley and Harry Kane with it!
32' England 1-1 Italy
England all square again! The captain is so cool in moments like those and he sends Donnarumma the wrong way.
Donnarumma dives right and Kane goes not-quite-but-nearly top left. 1-1 and now we are cooking with gas in north-west London.
Take your time why don't ya
VAR is taking far too long over these decisions. Far. Too. Long.
Bellingham takes control
Bellingham trying to rally the fans, not just with an effort on goal but afterwards as well as he urges for more support.
It's worked as Bellingham wins a penalty off Di Lorenzo.
Penalty England!
(Photo: Getty Images)
28' England 0-1 Italy
Jude Bellingham plays a one-two with Harry Kane, gets the bounce of the ball and races into the penalty area towards the loose ball.
He's so quick and gets there ahead of the sliding defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo, who doesn't touch the ball and makes contact with the Real Madrid midfielder.
It's being checked by VAR though... and confirmed! Di Lorenzo is booked for the tackle. Harry Kane to take.
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Bizarre but true
(Photo: Getty Images)
This is England's sixth match during this qualifying campaign.
They have allowed a total of three shots on goal across those matches, as well as three goals.
Which means they have yet to make a single save!
How can England respond?
23' England 0-1 Italy
It is teams' responses to adversity that will ultimately dictate their success or failure. England have not responded well to conceding.
Scamacca, who by the way has only started two Serie A games this season, picks the ball up on the edge of the box, shifts it left and smashes it wide.
It looked close on first viewing but was a few yards wide, looking at the replay. Still, you shouldn't give players like that too many chances.
At the other end, Bellingham gets the ball played off him for a goal kick and looks angrily towards the Italy fans behind the goal. Were they just jeering him or was something said?
Home supporters feeling stress
It's a very hushed atmosphere inside Wembley.
The nervousness not helped as Italy go close to a second.
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