According to Italian sports papers, Destiny Udogie was Italy’s best player in a 3-1 loss against England on Tuesday, but it was ‘impossible’ for the Azzurri to stop the ‘powerful and elegant’ Jude Bellingham.
Italy took the lead in the first half at Wembley Stadium thanks to Gianluca Scamacca’s first goal for La Nazionale, but it was not enough to bring a positive result home.
Harry Kane scored a brace and Marcus Rashford was responsible for one goal, but the MOTM was Real Madrid star Bellingham, who earned a spot kick for the Three Lions in the first half and delivered the assist for Rashford after the break.
Italian sports papers reacted to Italy’s loss, admitting that England proved their supremacy, although the Azzurri showed encouraging signs.
- Read more – Football Italia’s Player Ratings: England 3-1 Italy – Udogie and Scamacca the best Azzurri
Tottenham defender Udogie, who made his Azzurri debut as a starter on Tuesday, was Italy’s best player according to all Italian sports papers.
“Is it a coincidence that our best player on the pitch plays in the Premier League?” Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Fabio Licari asked sarcastically. “He played as a veteran despite an early yellow card.”
Udogie was rated 7/10 by Gazzetta and was followed by Gigio Donnarumma and Scamacca with 6.5.
Italian newspapers mainly blamed defenders for Italy’s loss. Francesco Acerbi was rated 5/10 by Gazzetta, like Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Giorgio Scalvini, Alessandro Bastoni and defensive midfielder Bryan Cristante.
Bellingham, on the other hand, was the best player on the pitch. La Gazzetta dello Sport rated him 8/10, writing: “It was impossible to stop him. He earned a penalty kick and did everything in the build-up to England’s second goal. He was everywhere, powerful and elegant. The No.10 of the future is here already.”