Italy swept England aside 3-1, but were eliminated from the European Under-21 Championship by Sweden.
Gigi Di Biagio’s side finished level second in Group B on four points, but went out because Sweden had a superior head-to-head record, winning their game 2-1.
The Azzurrini need a victory to progress in the European Under-21 Championship, but even that wouldn’t be enough if Portugal failed to beat Sweden in the other game. England started out in a stronger position thanks to their 1-0 victory over the Scandinavians.
Italy swept England aside 3-1, but were eliminated from the European Under-21 Championship by Sweden.
Gigi Di Biagio’s side finished level second in Group B on four points, but went out because Sweden had a superior head-to-head record, winning their game 2-1.
The Azzurrini need a victory to progress in the European Under-21 Championship, but even that wouldn’t be enough if Portugal failed to beat Sweden in the other game. England started out in a stronger position thanks to their 1-0 victory over the Scandinavians.
Stefano Sturaro was still suspended, but Coach Gigi Di Biagio brought in extra striker Marcello Trotta, while the Young Lions had Alex Pritchard injured and John Stones back in the side after suffering from concussion.
The not 100 per cent fit Domenico Berardi fired over from distance, but Danny Ings wasted a golden opportunity when hitting the side-netting on a Harry Kane through ball.
Andrea Belotti at full stretch just failed to connect with a deflected Davide Zappacosta assist from six yards, but Francesco Bardi flew to palm away a Kane scorcher.
However, Italy took the lead with a sensational goal from Palermo striker Belotti. He watched an inspired Berardi chipped pass go over the top and at full stretch volleyed it past Jack Butland from the penalty spot.
Just 60 seconds later it was 2-0 thanks to a well-worked team move. Lorenzo Crisetig surged forward through the middle and Marco Benassi bent his low drive into the far bottom corner.
Bardi maintained the clean sheet by sticking out a trailing leg to deny Nathan Redmond’s angled strike, then beating away the Kane long-range snapshot.
Straight after the restart, Jesse Lingard’s effort skimmed the far top corner and Ings flicked a free kick just wide of the back post.
Italy added a third to their tally, the second for Benassi, as his header went in off the upright after Trotta hooked a ball over his shoulder from a throw-in.
It all seemed utterly futile until news filtered through at the 85th minute that Goncalo Paciencia had given Portugal the lead over Sweden in the other game. This sparked celebrations on the Italy bench, but also a sudden upsurge in tension and utter despair when the Swedes equalised at the 89th minute.
England scored a consolation goal deep into stoppages, Redmond smashing one from distance into the top corner, but it mattered little by this stage.
England 1-3 Italy
Scorers: Belotti 25 (I), Benassi 27, 72 (I), Redmond 93 (E)
England U21: Butland; Jenkinson, Stones, Gibson, Garbutt; Chalobah, Forster-Caskey (Loftus-Cheek 63); Redmond, Ings, Lingard; Kane
Italy U21: Bardi; Zappacosta (Viviani 83), Rugani, Romagnoli, Biraghi; Benassi, Crisetig, Cataldi; Berardi (Sabelli 63), Trotta (Verdi 75), Belotti
Ref: Karasev (RUS)