Harry Kane broke Wayne Rooney’s record for goals in an England shirt, and the Three Lions outlasted a Luke Shaw red card and Mateo Retegui goal on his Italy debut to start EURO 2024 qualifying brightly with a 2-1 win in Napoli.
The win is England’s first in Italy since 1961.
England began its EURO 2024 quest the same way it finished its heartbreaking EURO 2020 campaign: facing Italy, now two-time champions of Europe, on Thursday.
[ LIVE: EURO 2024 qualifying scores – Italy vs England ]
Declan Rice buried a Harry Kane rebound off a corner kick, then Kane converted a penalty for his 54th England goal to break a tie with Rooney atop the Three Lions’ goals chart.
But Italy surged back to get a goal from Tigre’s Retegui on debut, and Shaw was awarded two yellow cards in three minutes to set England up to defend at least 10 minutes down a man.
Italy and England are joined in Group C by Ukraine, North Macedonia, and Malta. The sides that finish 1st and 2nd in the group will qualify for next summer’s tournament in Germany.
[ MORE: USMNT upcoming schedule – Nations League, friendlies, Gold Cup ]
Italy vs England player ratings: Stars of the Show
Harry Kane
Francesco Acerbi
Declan Rice
Bukayo Saka
What’s next?
England hosts Ukraine at Noon ET Sunday, the same day Italy visits Malta at Ta’Qali National Stadium.
Declan Rice goal video: West Ham man pumps in rebound off corner
THERE IT IS 🎉
Declan Rice gives @England the early 1-0 lead over Italy! 🏴 pic.twitter.com/nnpz5Cuxnl
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 23, 2023
Harry Kane goal video: VAR-awarded penalty, converted
HE'S DONE IT! 👏
Harry Kane has now scored more goals for England than any other player in men's national team's history, breaking Wayne Rooney's record (54) 🏴 pic.twitter.com/SpTBZcspti
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 23, 2023
Mateo Retegui goal video: Argentine-born striker scores on debut
IN HIS DEBUT NO LESS 🇮🇹
Mateo Retegui pulls one back for @Azzurri_En 👀 pic.twitter.com/u2DlnIzb2g
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 23, 2023
How to watch Italy vs England live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3:45pm ET, Thursday (March 23)
Stadium: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli
TV: FS1
Italy lineup and squad
Goalkeepers – Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Claudio Carnesecchi (Cremonese), Wladimiro Falcone (Lecce)
Defenders – Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Inter Milan), Francesco Acerbi (Inter Milan), Emerson Palmieri (West Ham), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma), Alessio Romagnoli (Lazio), Rafael Toloi (Atalanta), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino)
Midfielders – Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain), Jorginho (Arsenal), Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Matteo Pessina (Monza), Sandro Tonali (AC Milan), Davide Frattesi (Sassuolo)
Forwards – Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Gianluca Scamacca (West Ham), Vincenzo Grifo (Freiburg), Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds), Simone Pafundi (Udinese), Mateo Retegui (Tigre)
Italy XI:
Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Acerbi, Toloi, Spinazzola; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Berardi, Retegui, Pellegrini
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) March 23, 2023
England lineup and squad
Goalkeepers – Jordan Pickford (Everton), Fraser Forster (Tottenham), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Defenders – Kyle Walker (Manchester City), John Stones (Manchester City), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Reece James (Chelsea), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)
Midfielders – Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Declan Rice (West Ham), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea)
Forwards – Harry Kane (Tottenham), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), James Maddison (Leicester), Ivan Toney (Brentford)
All set to face Italy! 👊 pic.twitter.com/L6lPsqeRvi
— England (@England) March 23, 2023
