England 0-1 Italy

UEFA European U17 Championship
Stadio Simone Redini Piazzale, Cascina
08 May 2005

The England U17s are out of the UEFA European U17 Championship after losing 1-0 to hosts Italy in Cascina.

A first-half penalty from Andrea Russotto gave Italy the impetus at half-time and though both sides created good goalscoring opportunities in the second period, neither side could add to the score.

The first save of note came after eight minutes when Italy were awarded a soft free-kick 25 yards from goal for a foul by Michael Mancienne.

Salvatore Foti stepped up to unleash a powerful drive at goal which David Button saved, the Tottenham man diving acrobatically to his right to palm the ball away for a corner.

Joe Garner nearly saw himself free inside the penalty area but he couldn't quite gain complete control of Lewis McGugan's through-ball and moments later Theo Walcott threatened to break the deadlock.

Italy were a constant threat coming forward, with the talented Simone Palermo, Foti and Russoto causing the most concern to England's defence, especially down the flanks where they looked to overlap on Elliot Omozusi and Scott Golbourne.

England remained dangerous on the counter-attack and in one such surge forward, Walcott was only stopped by a poor challenge from Davide De Silvestri which earned the Italian captain a booking.

With five minutes of the half remaining, Scott Phelan's missed pass in midfield gave Italy possession midway inside the England half and they immediately surged forward.

Daniele Greco picked the ball up on the left and cut infield. The flying midfielder ran direct towards goal and was only stopped thanks to a foul from Fulham defender Omozusi for a clear penalty.

Russotto stepped upto take the spot kick and, though Button went the right way, the Cisco Lodigiani forward stuck the ball sweetly into the bottom right hand corner.

The goal immediately drew England forward and they had shots from McGugan and Garner before Walcott's free-kick dropped onto the roof of the net to end the first half.

Coach John Peacock brought on Andrew Gooding of Coventry City at half-time and after a few minutes of the second period also threw on West Ham United's Hogan Ephraim as England looked to score the goal they needed.

However it was the Italians who came out stronger - Michael Mancienne's last gasp challenge on Foti kept them at bay but Francesco Rocca's side was intent on attacking and that chance was quickly followed by a double effort from Michael Cia and Russotto.

First Cia weaved his way through the England defence and shot at goal, only for Button to make an excellent save. The danger wasn't over and as the ball was whipped back into the area, Russotto was there to poke the ball in, only for an offiside flag to deny the striker his second of the game.

With just five minutes left on the clock, England suddenly created a few half-chances but the final touch was letting the Three Lions down. Joe Garner hit over the crossbar from ten yards out and other brief glimpses of the home side's goal were swiftly snuffed out before England could have a meaningful shot on goal.

As the game entered added time, Italian goalkeeper Enrico Alfonso was sent off for dissent. He had claimed an inswinging cross and, when the referee did not award him a free-kick, he clearly said something.

In the end time ran out for Peacock's side and they bow out of this year's championships, though they can be proud of the way they performed in Italy.

England U17s v Italy, European Championship, 08 May 2005

England: David Button - Tottenham Hotspur, Elliot Omozusi - Fulham, Scott Golbourne - Bristol City, Leigh Mills - Tottenham Hotpsur, Michael Mancienne - Chelsea (capt.), Lewis McGugan - Nottingham Forest (Andrew Gooding - Coventry City, 41), Scott Phelan - Everton (Hogan Ephraim - West Ham United, 50), Mark Davies - Wolverhampton Wanderers, Theo Walcott - Southampton, Myles Weston - Charlton Athletic (James Vaughan - Everton, 64), Joe Garner - Blackburn Rovers
Subs not used: Patrick Gamble - Nottingham Forest, James Tomkins - West Ham United, Fabrice Muamba - Arsenal, Darryl Knights - Ipswich Town

Italy: Enrico Alfonso, Davide Brivio, Lorenzo De Silvestri, Michele Cremonesi, Daniele Greco, Marco Mancosu, Simone Palermo, Salvatore Foti (Piergiuseppe Maritato, 71 (Paolo Tornaghi, 80+2)), Michael Cia, Manuel Angelucci, Andrea Russotto (Davide Di Gennaro, 66)
Subs not used: Marco Dalla Costa, Ivan Castiglia, Massimiliano Tagliani, Michael Bacher

Goals: Russotto (pen) 35