ENGLAND booked their spot at Euro 2024 with a convincing win over Italy.
Captain Harry Kane bagged a brace while Marcus Rashford banished the demons of the Euro 2020 penalty shoot-out defeat.
But it was Jude Bellingham who ran the show at Wembley, putting in the type of display befitting a player classified among the best in the world.
Bellingham won a penalty and laid on Rashford’s goal before receiving a standing ovation from the crowd when he was subbed off.
While some have almost certainly booked their spot for the team in eight months’ time, others still have something to prove.
Here’s how England’s Dan King rated the Three Lions.
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Jordan Pickford – 6
Did not have a save to make after Italy’s until a fine low stop from Udogie in first-half stoppage time.
Well-positioned to save Gianluca Scamacca’s second-half shot, but a couple of bits of nervy distribution.
Kyle Walker – 7
Ensured the right of England’s defence looked more solid than the left and made an important intervention to stop Davide Frattesi making it 2-0.
Thank goodness Gareth Southgate talked him out of retirement.
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John Stones – 5
Decent on the ball, but probably should have been tighter to Scamacca when Giovani Di Lorenzo’s cross found its way across the penalty area.
Not a surprise to see him taken off as he comes back from injury.
Harry Maguire – 6
A strong early challenge had the home fans singing his song as the turnaround continued for the much-malligned Manchester United centre back.
Didn’t really put a foot wrong as England denied Italy chances.
Kieran Trippier – 5
Combined encouragingly with Marcus Rashford down the left early on but the pair were caught out for Italy’s opener and it was not the last time it happened.
Looked more solid in the second half.
Declan Rice – 6
Miscued an attempted clearance in the build-up to Scamacca’s goal and a later loose pass could have been similarly punished.
One of his less impressive performances in an England shirt, but better in second half.
Kalvin Phillips – 5
Had to rein himself in a bit from his usual all-action style after picking up a slightly unfortunate early booking.
Lucky to avoid a second yellow card for a foul on Giorgio Scalvini before being taken off.
Jude Bellingham – 8
Sometimes frustrated, with team-mates or match officials, and the target for some robust Italian challenges.
But his brilliant surge earned the penalty and he sensationally created Marcus Rashford’s goal.
Phil Foden – 7
Unable to make the most in the first half of drawing Destiny Udogie into an early yellow card.
But kept on proving and posing a threat, and forced a decent save from Donnarumma in the second half.
Marcus Rashford – 8
Full of energy and intent from the start, without quite finding the final ball or shot until late in the first half.
But capitalised superbly on Bellingham’s brilliance, keeping his composure to give it the finish it deserved.
Harry Kane – 8
A quiet first half until coolly converting a spotkick to bring up his 60th international goal.
Spent most of the second battling hard for the ball and had his reward when he beat hapless Scalvini and scored No 61 emphatically.
Substitutions
MARC GUEHI (for Stones, 63) 6
JORDAN HENDERSON (for Phillips, 70) 6
JACK GREALISH (for Bellingham, 85) N/A
Not used: Johnstone, Ramsdale, Dunk, Colwill, Alexander-Arnold, Gallagher, Watkins, Grealish, Maddison, Bowen.
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Gianluigi Donnarumma 6, Giovanni Di Lorenzo 5, Giorgio Scalvini 3, Francesco Acerbi 4 (Bastoni 63, 5), Destiny Udogie 7 (Dimarco 63, 5); Davide Frattesi 7, Bryan Cristante 6, Nicolo Barella 7; Domenico Berardi 6 (Raspadori 78, 5), Gianluca Scamacca 7 (Kean 63, 5), Stephan Al Shaarawy 6.
Subs not used: Vicario, Meret, Gatti, Locatelli, Bonaventura, Darmian, Mancini, Orsolini.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
