Italy remain unbeaten on top of the Nations League group after a goalless draw away to England, which saw Mason Mount rattle the crossbar, plus big chances for Davide Frattesi, Sandro Tonali, Raheem Sterling and Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
The Azzurri went in after a 1-1 draw with Germany and 2-1 win over Hungary, while the Three Lions had just one point. Roma striker Tammy Abraham and Milan defender Fikayo Tomori were given a chance to start, while Federico Gatti had his Italy debut before even playing in Serie A, having been purchased by Juventus.
Davide Frattesi should’ve scored within two minutes, sent clear by a through ball only to flash the angled drive across the face of goal and inches wide.
Abraham almost pounced on a poor Gianluigi Donnarumma pass, blocked off by Manuel Locatelli, and Mason Mount’s strike thumped the crossbar after combining with Raheem Sterling.
Declan Rice volleyed over from a corner, while Aaron Ramsdale had to make a huge save with his legs on Sandro Tonali after Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s first-time cross.
Mount fired straight at Donnarumma, Gianluca Scamacca fired over from a tricky angle and Ramsdale fingertipped a deflected Matteo Pessina strike over the bar.
Raheem Sterling somehow shinned over from six yards when left unmarked at the back post to meet a Reece James cross, while Di Lorenzo failed to make the most of an inspired Pellegrini ball over the top, allowing Ramsdale to make the save at the back post.
Willy Gnonto came off the bench and hit the side-netting and only a well-timed Tomori tackle prevented the FC Zurich talent from going clear. England have now failed to score from open play in over four hours of football.
England 0-0 Italy
England: Ramsdale; James, Tomori (Guehi 88), Maguire, Trippier; Ward-Prowse, Rice (Phillips 65); Mount (Bowen 66), Grealish, Sterling (Saka 79); Abraham (Kane 65)
Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Gatti, Acerbi, Dimarco (Florenzi 87); Frattesi, Locatelli (Gnonto 63), Tonali; Pessina (Cristante 87), Scamacca (Raspadori 76), Pellegrini (Esposito 63)
Ref: Marciniak (POL)
I should have watched paint dry!
Pellegrini and Pessina aren’t wingers. Politano and Raspadori should’ve started on the wings with Pellegrini in midfield. Calabria should’ve started over Di Lorenzo.
Against Germany they should field a 4-3-3: Donnarumma; Calabria, Scalvini, Bastoni, Spina; Frattesi, Pellegrini, Barella; Politano, Scamacca, Raspadori.
Keep it moving. Only way
should have been 2-1 italy,Pellegrini is the most important player for creating chances after his sub team was dry
England show that they can’t even beat a Serie B team. Keep dreaming if they think ‘football’s coming home’ this year….
.If you would have told me that Italy would be top of this group, I would have thought you were snorting crack. This is fantastic, well done young lads!
Ahh geez. Not again FI with messages not going through.
When will this be sorted out?
I still don’t get Mancio’s fascination with Di Lorenzo. Calabria offers so much more.
I thought Di Marco was awful in first half, but improved in the second. We should’ve scored in the first 3 minutes, but the opportunity for Tonali had to be buried. I really enjoyed our work rate, and organisation in the second half. Lacked a bit of composure in that final third, but overall a decent outing for all involved.
Early days yet but forza Azzurri
Someone needs to take donnarumma to the side and tell him to sort out his play out from the back. It’s ridiculous the mistakes he is making or nearly making. He always thinks he has time when he clearly doesn’t .
Mancini’s fascination with Di Lorenzo is simple. Di Lorenzo is capable of switching positions from an attacking wing back in a 4-3-3 to a make shift centre back when Italy get caught on the break when attacking as a 3-5-2 (Calabria can not.) 😉
It’s really a breath of fresh air reading positive and constructively critical comments on this site for a change. Most of the time it’s “everyone sucks, all the players are too old, even the 22 and 23 year olds some how, Italy is terrible”. Nice to see a change.