ENGLAND have booked their spot at Euro 2024 after Gareth Southgate’s side beat Azzurri 3-1 at Wembley.
Gianluca Scamacca’s early strike gave the Italians a shock lead after 15 minutes before Three Lions skipper Harry Kane equalised from the penalty spot after Jude Bellingham was brought down in the box.
Early in the second half, England took the lead courtesy of Marcus Rashford’s emphatic finish following superb work from Bellingham in the build-up.
Harry Kane scored his second of the night on the 77th minute to make it 3-1 and book the Three Lions’ spot in Germany.
- Match result: England 3-1 Italy
- England team: Pickford, Walker, Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Rice, Phillips, Bellingham, Rashford, Foden, Kane
- Italy team: Donnarumma, Udogie, Acerbi, Scalvini, Di Lorenzo, Barella, Cristante, Frattesi, El Shaarawy, Scamacca, Berardi
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Record breaker
Harry Kane’s stunning double tonight saw him overtake Bobby Charlton (23) to become England’s all-time top scorer at Wembley with 24 goals.
Credit: GETTY Harry Kane on qualifying
The England skipper said to Channel 4: “Qualifying is never easy. Sometimes we are just expected to go to the big tournaments but we have seen in the past it is not as easy as it looks.
“We went 1-0 behind and stayed calm. We knew we could get the winner and we have done it.”
On scoring at Wembley and becoming England’s all-time record goalscorer at the home of English football? “I do [love it]! It is our home.
“We have made it a real fortress over the years. We want to repay our fans with victories and we have done that today.”
On his second goal: “I showed a bit of pace which is not normally my strength. To qualify with two games to go, credit to everyone involved.”
Credit: GETTY FT: England 3-1 Italy
England have qualified for Euro 2024!
The Three Lions put in a fine display at Wembley to come from behind and beat Italy.
Two goals from Harry Kane either side of a superb Marcus Rashford strike sealed victory for Gareth Southgate’s side.
England 3-1 Italy
90. Italy create their best chance of the second half after good work from Riccardo Orsolini.
He cuts inside before passing to fellow sub Moise Kean, who can only fire a shot straight at Jordan Pickford.
Meanwhile, the fourth official has indicated we will have three minutes of added time.
England 3-1 Italy – Italy substitution
87. Italy make their final change as Stephan El Shaarawy is replaced by Riccardo Orsolini.
England 3-1 Italy – England substitution
85. Jude Bellingham receives a standing ovation from the Wembley crowd as he is withdrawn.
The midfielder won England a penalty in the first half before brilliantly creating their second goal after the break.
He is replaced by Jack Grealish for the final five minutes.
England 3-1 Italy
81. Que Sera rings around Wembley as England fans get into the party spirit.
Harry Kane’s second has put the Three Lions on the brink of qualification for Euro 2024.
It would take a dramatic turnaround and three Italy goals to deny them tonight.
England 3-1 Italy – Italy substitution
78. In response to England’s third, Luciano Spalletti has sent on another forward in the shape of Giacomo Raspadori.
Raspadori had been waiting to come on before the goal and replaces Domenico Berardi for the visitors.
GOAL: England 3-1 Italy
77. Harry Kane all but seals the victory and England’s place at Euro 2024.
The Three Lions skipper latches onto a loose ball ahead of Giorgio Scalvini before calmly slotting the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
England fans can start looking forward to next summer’s tournament in Germany.
England 2-1 Italy
73. Italy’s triple substitution appears to have had an impact on the visitors.
A string of dangerous balls are played into the England box as Italy go in search of an equaliser.
However, the Three Lions defence does well to deal with the threats, with Jordan Pickford not called into action.
England 2-1 Italy – England substitution
70. Jordan Henderson is on for England as he replaces Kalvin Phillips.
The Manchester City midfielder has impressed on his return to the starting line-up and is applauded off by the crowd.
England 2-1 Italy
68. Phil Foden almost extends England’s lead after darting through the Italy defence.
The midfielder unleashes a powerful low shot from the edge of the box but Gianluigi Donnarumma gets down well to save.
England 2-1 Italy – Scalvini yellow card
66. Giorgio Scalvini is the latest Italy player to go into the book.
The defender is cautioned for his complaints after Kalvin Phillips leaves Nicolo Barella rolling around on the floor.
England 2-1 Italy – England substitution
64. Gareth Southgate looks to his bench for the first time as John Stones is replaced by Marc Guehi.
Meanwhile, Italy make a trio of changes, with Alessandro Bastoni, Moise Kean and Federico Dimarco replacing Destiny Udogie, Gianluca Scamacca and Francesco Acerbi.
England 2-1 Italy
62. The goal seems to have woken Italy up as they register a shot on target for the first time this half.
Gianluca Scamacca is again the most threatening Italy player as his snapshot stings the palms of Jordan Pickford.
At the other end, Marcus Rashford finds space again but shoots high and wide.
England 2-1 Italy
60. England’s lead is no more than they deserve based on the first hour here at Wembley.
The Three Lions have dominated the vast majority of the match and caused their opponents trouble with their pressing.
GOAL: England 2-1 Italy
57. What a goal from England! Marcus Rashford completes the turnaround as he fires the Three Lions into the lead.
A clinical counter attack from the hosts started with Phil Foden on the edge of their own penalty area.
Jude Bellingham then knocked the ball past Giorgio Scalvini to open up the Italy defence before finding Rashford who did the rest.
England 1-1 Italy
56. England’s pressing is causing Italy all sorts of problems.
Since the start of the second half, the Three Lions have continued to hunt down the ball deep in the opposition half.
Italy’s determination to play out from the back has already seen them lose possession in a dangerous position several times.
England 1-1 Italy
52. England win the ball back deep in the Italy half with some effective pressing.
The ball finds its way to Phil Foden who sets it for his club team-mate Kalvin Phillips.
Phillips is unable to keep his strike down, though, as the ball whistles over the crossbar.
England 1-1 Italy
51. Yet another call for a penalty from the England fans.
Phil Foden drives into the box before running into Destiny Udogie.
The defender fails to win the ball but Foden’s dramatic fall to the floor does little to convince referee Clement Turpin.
England 1-1 Italy
48. Much the same as the first half so far since the restart as the game remains tight.
A handful of fouls from Italy have broken up the play with neither side able to get a flowing move going.
Kick-off: England 1-1 Italy
We are back underway at Wembley.
Italy get the action restarted for the second half.
Neither side seem to have made any changes at all.
HT: England 1-1 Italy
Harry Kane’s penalty was his 60th goal for England on his 87th international cap.
Despite a long delay, the Three Lions captain kept his calm to smash the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
If the scoreline stays the same, his penalty will be the goal that sends England to Germany next summer.
HT: England 1-1 Italy
England showed their maturity with their reaction to falling behind.
The hosts had been on top before Scamacca fired Italy into the lead.
Gareth Southgate will be pleased that his side maintained their composure and were able to equalise before half-time.
HT: England 1-1 Italy
England deservedly go in level at the break here at Wembley Stadium.
The Three Lions had been on top before Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring against the run of play.
Harry Kane equalised from the penalty spot with his 60th international goal.
As it stands, England are qualifying for Euro 2024.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
