National Game XI International

England

1-4

Italy U23

Sheldon

Mannini
Danucci
Cozolino
Sforzini

Gay Meadow, Shrewsbury Town

11 February 2004



A pulsating game saw Italy emerge as victors 4-1, but England boss Paul Fairclough still saw a lot of positives to take into his planning for May’s Four Nations Tournament in Scotland.


Seven days is a long time they say in football. A week ago, Gay Meadow, home to Shrewsbury Town Football Club was under water.

 

Last night, following some sterling work by the Groundsman Dave Perry, the club hosted the England National Game XI’s latest international against Italy’s Under-23’s, in front of the second successive record crowd for the team.

 

Despite Telford United playing less than 15 miles along the A5 against Millwall in The FA Cup, a crowd of 3,703 turned out to see local boy Luke Rodgers lead the attack on his home ground.

 

The Italians quickly showed glimpses of their technical and physical prowess, but it was England who raced into the lead.

 

Rodgers’ pace and persistence down the right saw him hold off the challenge of his marker before squaring for Gareth Sheldon to sidefoot home from 10 yards.

 

The vocal home support roared their approval, but the lead was to last less than a minute. A long ball dissected Danny Collins and Jon Boardman, Luca Ceccarelli rounding James Bittner to give Daniele Mannini the simple task of rifling his shot high into the England net.

 

The game continued to flow at a frenetic pace, with a series of spiky challenges punctuating a period of one-touch football from England, but it was Italy who went further ahead on 23 minutes following a free-kick.

 

The England wall blocked the initial effort, but Danucci was first to the rebound to slide the ball past Bittner.

 

The second goal spurred the Italians on, and Mannini was a whisker away from adding a third on the half hour, hitting the bar following a swift and incisive passing move that had even the patriotic home crowd applauding.

 

Gareth Sheldon was next to go close, forcing a good save at his near post by Brichetto, but a series of niggly challenges marked the end of the first half, with three Italian players booked, and Ceccarelli withdrawn for the second half.

 

The second half saw two changes from the Italians, and for the opening period England really went in search of an equaliser, with D’Sane and Rodgers’ movement up front deserving of reward.

 

It was Italy though who went 3-1 ahead on the hour, when the influential Mannini again cut through the centre of the England defence. This time Cozolino was the grateful recipient, sidefooting home from six yards, giving Bittner little chance.

 

Still England attacked and after Murray had a header well saved, on 74 minutes, the Woking midfielder slapped the crossbar from 30 yards, which had even the Italians applauding. Five minutes later Luke Rodgers curled a free-kick onto the crossbar too and at that point the Three Lions must have known their luck wasn’t in.

 

Sure enough, with eight minutes to go, Fernando Sforzini made it 4-1 when John Kennedy, who made a good first save, could only watch as the rebound fell to the feet of the stocky substitute.

 

England still had time for a goal to be disallowed when David Perkins was adjudged offside but, at the final whistle, Paul Fairclough was quick to acknowledge that his team had been second best on the night.

 

He told TheFA.com: "I am proud of my players as they gave everything they had, but tonight we were second best.

 

"I was happy with the team going forward, but defensively we made mistakes, and got suckered into a few situations by a very strong, technically excellent side.

 

"The Italians were very complimentary about our performance, especially in the second half, when we deserved more than a couple of strikes against the woodwork.

 

"When you consider that some of their players are one step away from playing in the Italian equivalent of the First Division and could be playing in the Olympic Games this Summer, my players can go back to their clubs with their heads held high."

 

Next up for the England National Game XI will be the Four Nations Tournament in Scotland, due to start on 17th May. TheFA.com will bring you all the news as the squad builds up to retain the title they won last year in Wales.

 

England Squad:

James Bittner (Exeter City), Peter Cavanagh (Accrington Stanley), Jon Boardman (Woking), Danny Collins (Chester City), David Perkins (Morecambe), Adam Miller (Aldershot Town), Jon Challinor (Aldershot Town), Karl Murray (Woking), Gareth Sheldon (Exeter City), Roscoe D’Sane (Aldershot Town - Captain), Luke Rodgers (Shrewsbury Town)

Substitutes:

Aaron McLean (Aldershot Town), Jon Kennedy (Accrington Stanley), Anthony Charles (Farnborough Town), Robert Purdie (Hereford United), Ismail Yakubu (Barnet)

 

Attendance: 3,703 (A new record)