Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto seemed to spark Italy to life in the second half against England and insists that performance ‘showed we are up to their standard.’

The EURO 2024 qualifying campaign got off to a disastrous start, as the Azzurri were trailing 2-0 at the break to a Declan Rice effort from a corner and Harry Kane’s penalty, earned through the Giovanni Di Lorenzo handling offence.

“It was certainly a difficult game, they are a good team with quality players. We suffered in the first half, but showed that we are up to their standard in the second,” Gnonto told RAI Sport.

“England are one of the best national teams in the world, but we showed that with a little bit of luck, it could’ve gone differently tonight.”

Former Inter youth academy player Gnonto was asked if perhaps moving to Leeds United damaged his prospects of starting for Italy.

“I made this choice, I am happy and think I have proved I am a good player and can do even better in future.”

The top two teams from each group go directly into the EURO 2024 tournament in Germany, so Italy are now feeling the pressure ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Malta.

The group is completed by North Macedonia and Ukraine.

“We aim to win against Malta on Sunday and if we play the way we did in the second half, we won’t have a problem.”

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