The future is now: Player ratings as England beat Italy to qualify for Euro 2024
England sealed their spot at Euro 2024 thanks to a 3-1 win over Italy on Tuesday night.
The Three Lions went into the game knowing a point would have been enough to secure passage to next summer’s tournament, but they got off to a bad start when Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring for Italy.
However, England were level on the half-hour mark thanks to Harry Kane’s penalty after Jude Bellingham was fouled. The turnaround was complete with Marcus Rashford’s strike just over 10 minutes into the second half and Kane got his second to wrap up the scoring with less than 15 to go.
Here’s how the players rated at Wembley:
England
Jordan Pickford – 6 – Produced a good save on Udogie just before half time but was otherwise largely untroubled.
Kyle Walker – 6 – Had a lovely little run early on but didn’t get forward as much as he would have hoped. However, he was comfortable defensively.
John Stones – 5 – Questions were asked over his lack of involvement in Italy’s opening goal, failing to cover the space in the middle of the box for Scamacca to walk into. Wasn’t remarkable on his first start for club or country since the Community Shield.
Harry Maguire – 6 – Made a good block just before half time and did his job of marking in the opening goal, let down by his teammates. It wasn’t his greatest performance, but it was better.
Kieran Trippier – 5 – This just wasn’t Trippier’s game as he wasn’t involved too much at either end of the pitch. There was nothing bad, just nothing good.
Kalvin Phillips – 3 – Had a rough start, showing that he hasn’t been starting too many competitive matches. Booked inside 10 minutes for a rough tackle and was one of those caught watching for Italy’s opener. A tough night.
Declan Rice – 7 – Was mopping things up well in the opening exchanges but missed the interception for the opening goal and was not alert to Scamacca’s run. Did return to his normal level and combined with Bellingham to dispossess Italy to start the move for Rashford’s goal.
Marcus Rashford – 7 – Looked to dance through the Italy defence in the first half but was perhaps trying a little too hard as it wasn’t always working to England’s benefit. But he finally got his moment with a powerful low finish to put England ahead in the second half.
Jude Bellingham – 9 – “The boy’s a genius” said Dion Dublin as he came off with five minutes to go, and it isn’t hyperbole. This was just another game for Bellingham where he pulled England through some tough moments and weaved his magic. Teased Italy and did well to get just in front of Berardi to win the penalty for Kane’s equaliser. There was another wonderful run through the midfield to set up Rashford’s goal, having started the move with a great tackle. The future is now.
Jude Bellingham: 2023/24 Ballon d’Or? pic.twitter.com/JJHDWhSET9
— Squawka (@Squawka) October 17, 2023
Phil Foden – 6 – Wasn’t too involved in the first half appear from a few rare moments. Grew into the game as England’s upped their dominance but he wasn’t the man making it happen.
Harry Kane – 8 – A skipper’s performance. Dropped into his customary playmaker role but was the man to score from the spot to make it 1-1. His 60th England goal and 20th penalty. Goal number 61 was fantastic, beating the defender to the ball and then baring down on goal before easily beating Donnarumma.
https://twitter.com/SquawkaBet/status/1714374312210108623
Substitutes:
Marc Guehi (for Stones 63) – 6 – Looked comfortable after coming on.
Jordan Henderson (for Phillips 70) – 6 – Helped England stay in control.
Jack Grealish (for Bellingham 85) – N/A – A late sub.
Italy
Gianluigi Donnarumma – 5 – Well beaten for all three goals but you couldn’t really blame him for any of them. Started the move for the opening goal with a cool fake on Kane.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo – 5 – Caused problems with his overlapping run and put in a good cross for the opening goal. However, he wasn’t great in the second half, especially defensively. It was his risky tackle on Bellingham that brought the penalty and he was then beaten far too easily by Rashford.
Giorgio Scalvini – 3 – Looked very nervy and clearly not ready to be part of the defence. Was beaten by Kane for the third goal, which summed up his night.
Francesco Acerbi – 4 – Did not look too comfortable in the Italian defence even when England weren’t testing them. A statue for Rashford’s goal.
Destiny Udogie – 7 – Got forward really well in the first half including a great run to start the move for the opening goal. Tailed off slightly in the second half before being taken off.
Davide Frattesi – 3 – Completely bypassed in the Italian midfield, not getting involved at all.
Bryan Cristante – 5 – Looked good in midfield in the first half, dictating the rhythm of the game. But he tailed off massively after half time, which contributed to Italy losing any semblance of control they had.
Nicolo Barella – 3 – Struggled to get a hold on the game, which is becoming a far too regular occurrence for Italy.
Domenico Berardi – 4 – Made a good pass to Di Lorenzo for the opening goal but he really didn’t build on that involvement. Barely tested the England defence aside from that one moment.
Gianluca Scamacca – 7 – Was barely involved in the opening stages but he scored with one of his first touches. It wasn’t the most spectacular of finishes, but Scamacca got himself into the right place at the right time to tap home his first ever Italy goal. Was a threat from then on.
4 – Gianluca Scamacca is the fourth Italy player to score his first goal against England, after Sergio Brighenti (1959), Gennaro Gattuso (2000) and Mateo Retegui (last March). Start.
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) October 17, 2023
Stephan El Shaarawy – 4 – He really wasn’t what Italy needed on the night.
Substitutes:
Alessandro Bastoni (for Acerbi 63) – 5 – Didn’t look too bad, though the standards were low.
Federico Dimarco (for Udogie 63) – 4 – Immediately struggled against Foden, and made Italy more open for counters on his flank.
Moise Kean (for Scamacca 63) – 5 – Tested former Everton teammate Pickford with a decent shot.
Giacomo Raspadori (for Berardi 78) – 4 – Didn’t add anything after coming on.
Ricardo Orsolini (for El Shaarawy 87) – N/A – A late sub.
