Classic encounters between england and italy

England’s friendly clash with Italy was due to be held at Wembley on March 27 but has been cancelled due to the coronavirus. Here, PA looks back at some classic encounters between the Three

Lions and the Azzurri. ITALY 0 ENGLAND 4, STADIO COMUNALE, TURIN, MAY 16, 1948 [embedded content] Tom Finney scored a brace in a masterful performances as England thrashed their hosts for a

stylish and destructive victory. Still England’s record win over Italy, this was a potent performance and result – rounded off by goals for Stan Mortensen and Tommy Lawton. You may like

ENGLAND 0 ITALY 1, WEMBLEY, NOVEMBER 14, 1973 Sir Bobby Moore was unable to bring the curtain down on his glittering England career in a manner befitting its greatest exploits, as the hosts

endured a galling defeat. Less than a month after Poland had dashed England’s chances of World Cup qualification, here was the World Cup-winning captain bowing out with a frustrating loss.

ITALY 0 ENGLAND 0, STADIO OLIMPICO, ROME, OCTOBER 11, 1997 Captain Paul Ince invoked memories of Terry Butcher’s famed 1989 head wound by ending this World Cup qualifier in similarly

blood-soaked fashion. The goalless draw allowed Glenn Hoddle’s England to squeeze ahead of Italy for automatic qualification for the 1998 World Cup in France. Ince’s bandaged head and

blood-stained shirt proved eerily reminiscent of Butcher’s horrid head injury, that he had played on through when England drew 0-0 with Sweden in Stockholm. This was also to become Paul

Gascoigne’s last competitive match for England, with the midfield star later overlooked for a World Cup berth. ENGLAND 0 ITALY 0 (2-4 PENALTIES), KIEV, JUNE 24, 2012 Another in the

almost-endless stream of English penalty shoot-out defeats, this time Roy Hodgson’s side were floored by Andrea Pirlo’s impudent Panenka spot-kick. A regimented England battled manfully to

preserve a stalemate at the end of extra time – but after that it was the same old penalty story. ENGLAND 1 ITALY 2, MANAUS, BRAZIL, JUNE 14, 2014 Mario Balotelli bagged the winner in this

World Cup match and one week later England exited a World Cup at the group stages for the first time since 1958. Daniel Sturridge had cancelled out Claudio Marchisio’s opener before

Balotelli intervened. Manager Roy Hodgson lamented a “very, very bitter pill” for England to swallow amid an insipid exit. The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your

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