England meet Italy here in Milan 439 days after the Euro 2020 final at Wembley brought desperation to the pitch accompanied by bitterness and backlash and with both now seeking to regain lost momentum. The bare facts suggest that England suffered the familiar fate of losing on penalties after a 1-1 draw, disappointment exacerbated by defeat on the pitch and after a 55-year wait to reach a major final. It was a day when what should have been a celebratory occasion was marred by chaotic scenes caused by widespread hooliganism, a lack of crowd control as barriers were stormed by ticketless England fans and after Marcus Rashford was racially abused, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after missing a penalty in the process. England and Italy meet again at one of world football’s most iconic arenas, the San Siro, with the Euro final looking a long way off and both countries hoping to banish memories of poor results in their last games. Gareth Southgate’s England can at least use these two Nations League games against Italy and Germany to avoid the embarrassment of relegation from their group, but also as a spectator for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar in November. By contrast, Italy’s fall from their night of deserved Wembley glory has been so swift and painful that it will see them watch the game’s biggest show from afar after their World Cup play-off defeat by halves North Macedonia in Palermo. Italy have had some disappointing results since winning Euro 2020 Italy manager Roberto Mancini had enough faith in winning the Euros to survive that humiliation, but all eyes will be on him after a 5-2 defeat in Germany in their last game, the first time someone had scored so many goals. Azzurri since 1957. England must also end a four-match winless slide, their worst run since 2014, when they went five games without a win under then manager Roy Hodgson. They have played 13 games, winning seven, drawing four and losing two since losing to Italy at Wembley. While there is no doubt that the optimism and national enthusiasm that accompanied Southgate and England’s journey to the Euro 2020 final has diminished over time, the sense that failure to win a major tournament on home soil must now be seen as a huge missed opportunity. . Have England really progressed since losing to Italy? They haven’t exactly presented a compelling case to suggest that they have. Southgate, for the first time, felt the full fury of the fans after their last game, a 4-0 defeat by Hungary at Molineux in June, the atmosphere filled with vitriol as what had previously been off-stage for the perceived his conservative approach. noisily in the public domain. Chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing” echoed around Molineux, notoriously short-lived in evidence once again after Southgate led England to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia 2018 before the Euro 2020 final, proving that it does. you know what he does England captain Harry Kane has expressed his frustration after being asked about the manager’s position. England 0-4 Hungary: An honorable experience – Southgate Southgate is as safe as the England manager. The Football Association admires his character, record and everything else he brings to the organisation. If he does leave, it will be at a time when he chooses to rule out something extraordinary, having signed a contract that will see him through to December 2024. He cut a more tired figure than usual after the defeat in Hungary, when almost everyone involved in those Nations League games seemed to be suffering from football fatigue. Welcome.” There’s no denying that the summer’s results have been mediocre, including a dismal goalless draw with the Italians behind closed doors at Molineux, and Southgate has emerged from a period of reflection admitting that he may well have got things wrong. Speaking at the England team hotel in Milan, Southgate said: “I felt I compromised internally on certain decisions and you don’t win if you compromise. It was good for me to refocus on where we are going. I have to be completely ruthless and I have to create an environment for the players that allows them to excel.” He refused to reveal the areas of compromise that troubled him, but it was clear that Southgate had learned from an unfulfilling summer experience. Southgate clearly needs performances and results in these next two Nations League games to dispel the notion that England may have squandered their big chance at Wembley on that wet night of mayhem in July last year, that conditions are unlikely to fall as favorably on her again. soon. The World Cup will do much to shape how his time as England manager will be viewed along with his legacy. Expectations that had fallen after dismal efforts at major tournaments under Fabio Capello and Hodgson have been raised by what Southgate himself has achieved. Southgate, it must not be forgotten, also inherited an England squad in disarray after the ill-fated reign of Sam Allardyce. That reservoir of goodwill can dry up quickly, even for managers with a long list of accolades, so these two Nations League games will be important in shaping the mood ahead of the World Cup. Southgate’s immediate concern is finalizing his squad to go to Qatar, with just those two games before he assembles the list of those he hopes will prove his England are hardly men and can finally challenge for the big prize who escaped the men’s team since then. 1966. “Wow, I’m actually going to play with the England team” – Toney on the call Brentford striker Ivan Toney was his standout choice and joins Tammy Abraham in the battle to captain Kane, while Jude Bellingham’s brilliant Champions League display for Borussia Dortmund against Manchester City last week boosted just the buzz for a spot in the starting line-up. . The absence of first-choice goalkeeper Jordan Pickford through injury means Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale, in goal in the 4-0 defeat by Hungary, Nick Pope with Newcastle United and Dean Henderson, on loan at Nottingham Forest from Manchester United , they will want to push. their claims to be next in line. Manchester United captain Harry Maguire’s involvement will also come under intense scrutiny following his sacking by manager Erik ten Hag following a poor start to the season, Southgate’s faith in a player who served him well ensuring he was in club. Italy present a formidable obstacle, especially at home, and it will be a real confidence booster if England can leave the San Siro with a satisfactory result, preferably a win, to blow away the cobwebs at Molineux.
