Italy continues England's winless start in the Nations League
Italy kept hold of top spot in UEFA Nations League Group A3 after keeping England at bay in a lively encounter.
Italy carved out the first opportunity three minutes in. Lorenzo Pellegrini's clever pass dissected the home back-line, but Davide Frattesi side-footed agonisingly wide. England grew in stature and rattled the frame of the goal shortly afterwards, with Mason Mount curling a first-time effort that Gianluigi Donnarumma was able to tip on to the woodwork.
Roberto Mancini's men looked a constant threat when attacking down the right flank and that ploy almost paid dividends midway through the first half. The second period began where the first left off, with both Pessina and stand-in home skipper Raheem Sterling firing over from close range shortly after the restart. However, the sides struggled to recreate the intensity of the opening 45 minutes.
As the game wore on, the visitors appeared satisfied with avoiding defeat, whilst the hosts failed to create a clear-cut opportunity to clinch all three points.
Nations League 2022-2023
England - Italy 0:0
England: Tomori (Guehi, 88); Ramsdale; Trippier; Maguire; James R.; Grealish; Ward-Prowse; Sterling (Saka B., 79); Rice (Phillips, 65); Mount (Bowen, 65); Abraham T. (Kane, 65)
Bench: Pickford; Pope; Walker; Stones; Coady; Gallagher C.; Bellingham
Yellow Cards: Grealish 29; Ward-Prowse 82
Italy: Gatti F.; Donnarumma G.; Acerbi; Di Lorenzo; Dimarco (Florenzi, 87); Pellegrini Lo. (Esposito Sa., 65); Pessina (Cristante, 87); Tonali; Frattesi; Locatelli (Gnonto, 65); Scamacca (Raspadori, 76)
Bench: Scalvini; Gollini; Meret; Luiz Felipe; Politano
Yellow Cards: Locatelli 25; Gatti F. 50; Tonali 93
