Italy 1-0 England

Under-21 International Friendly
Stadio dei Marmi, Carrara, Italy 
Tuesday 11th February, 9pm kick off (8pm British time).

A single Azzurri goal 15 minutes from time gave Italy a win over a bright England side who can take some positive points away in preparation for the crunch encounter with Group 7 rivals Turkey at St James' Park on Tuesday, 1st April.

David Platt handed First Division duo Michael Dawson and Bobby Zamora their first starts for the Under-21s, while new-boys Darren Bent and Darren Ambrose from Ipswich and Blackburn's James McEveley, who started on the bench, saw action in the second half.

A freezing cold night in Tuscany, the two teams were welcomed in to the arena by flares and plumes of smoke, covering them from view for the national anthems.

England started well and saw much of the ball in the early exchanges, with the best moves going through Gareth Barry on the left, but failed to make any real clear cut chances. A Shaun Wright-Phillips volley from a Zamora cross from the left went well wide.

Italy had an opportunity on the counter-attack, but as Brighi faced Matt Murray advancing from his goal line, the Wolves stopper won the battle of wits to save well.

The only other chance of note in the half fell to the home side once again, this time a free-kick from the right after 41 minutes found Sculli in space in the box, but again Murray was down well to push away before former Chelsea youngster Sam Dalla-Bona fired the loose ball wide.

 

After the break Italy imposed themselves and put England under immense pressure, their first effort of the half on 63 minutes was Pinzi's close-range volley which substitute 'keeper, Derby's Lee Grant, dealt with well.

Matt Taylor responded two minutes later for England, but his well-struck volley fizzed just wide.

Then on 74 minutes, Italy grabbed the only goal after yet more pressure. Sculli broke down the left and sent in a neat cross towards the head of Borriello who finished well tucking the ball into the bottom corner.

Borriello then found himself free just moments later for the chance for 2-0, but blasted his long-range shot over without working Grant.

Platt's men searched in vain for an equaliser, but they just couldn't muster anymore goal attempts before their time ran out.  

England: 1.Matt Murray (Lee Grant, 45), 2.Jlloyd Samuel Aston Villa (Joleon Lescott, 55), 3.Matt Taylor (James McEveley, 71), 4.David Prutton (Darren Ambrose, 80), 5.Michael Dawson, 6.Peter Clark, 7.Shaun Wright-Phillips (Kevin Nolan, 51), 8.Michael Carrick, 9.Shola Ameobi, 10.Bobby Zamora(Darren Bent, 71),11.Gareth Barry

Goals: Borriello, 74