SO, HERE’S THE DEAL. When two ‘big teams’ clashed last night, we were treated to one of the most memorable World Cup games in recent memory. And one of the biggest shocks too. Can we get something similar tonight?
Good evening. Welcome to our coverage of this most mouth-watering encounter. Here’s hoping the early, free-flowing brilliance of this tournament continues in Manaus.
So, the big news. Raheem Sterling is handed a start by Roy Hodgson. Rooney is expected to be shoved wide so the Liverpool man can tuck in behind Sturridge and offer support.
No Buffon for Italy because of injury. PSG’s Salvatore Sirigu deputises. He’s not bad.
They’re also missing left-back Mattia De Sciglio so Cesare Prandelii reshuffles a bit. Chiellini is moved across to cover so his partnership with Andrea Barzagli is disrupted as a result with Gabriel Paletta coming in.
This is Sterling’s third start for England. With Sturridge, Henderson and Welbeck all included in the starting XI, it’s a brave move from Hodgson. Italy can count on a great deal of some pretty-impressive experience.
Three of England's starting XI have played a World Cup match before. Three of Italy's starting XI have won the World Cup.
Mean, moody magnificence. Here’s the man England must stop tonight. My life’s ambition is to grow a beard that looks this good. Oh, and have a right foot that’s as good. Think it’s optimistic to think I’ll achieve either.
I’m not afraid to admit it. Man crush. Big time.
Antonio Calanni / AP/Press Association Images
Antonio Calanni / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
On RTE, John Giles has said he doesn’t trust Mario Balotelli. That’s unlike Gilesy. He’s normally so fond of the volatile, aggressive, inconsistent footballer-type.
Meanwhile, Liam Brady (yes, THAT Liam Brady) has had a cut off Scholesy. And Dunphy LOVED it…
14 Jun 2014
10:52PM
By the way, Bonucci is on the bench for Italy. Prandelli clearly feeling Parma’s Paletta can combat the movement and pace of England a little better.
Here’s something. Remember when these teams met at Euro 2012? Looking back on the stats, it was incredibly one-sided. Are we set for something along these lines? Hard to see with England having so many quick, young players in the side tonight.
5th minute – CLOSE! England have started well. Sterling had already thumped a great strike into the side-netting from about 30 yards out but shortly after Jordan Henderson forces Sirigu into a low save at his near post after a well-struck drive.
20th minute – England have been bright so far. They’ve identified the left side of the Italian defence as a weak spot with Welbeck and Sterling linking up in that area. They’ve had a few shots on goal and have constantly kept Sirigu on his toes.
Italy, in contrast, have struggled to get a foot-hold. Their right-back Darmian has made some encouraging runs but Pirlo has been stifled and they’ve found it hard to get any tempo going.
14 Jun 2014
11:24PM
22nd minute – CLOSE! Sterling has already vindicated his selection but he does really well to skin Verratti down the left side, race to the by-line and drive in a terrific cross right across the six-yard area. No England player could get a touch. If they did, it was a certain opener.
23rd minute – VERY CLOSE! My word. England are an inch away from taking the lead. Welbeck does brilliantly to race past Paletta. He sends it across for Sturridge but Barzagli slides in and gets a CRUCIAL touch to deflect it away from the striker and out for a corner.
14 Jun 2014
11:32PM
Rooney is currently stranded on the left side. Is he set to hand in a transfer request?
What. A. Response. England raid up the left side with Sterling. He finds Rooney who expertly delivers it across to the far post for Sturridge to tap home.
Wow. Let’s get our breaths back, shall we? A wonderful opener from Italy. Marchisio just has a brilliant ability to pop up at the best times to grab a goal. A superb goal-getting midfielder. Pirlo played his part with a deft step-over that gave Marchisio the time to set himself up.
But what a response from England. A superb counter attack and Rooney, having been anonymous and growing increasingly frustrated, set Sturridge up with a terrific cross.
Meanwhile, in the midst of the celebrations, England physio Gary Lewin fell to the ground in agony, was surrounded by medical staff and taken off on a stretcher.
Gary Lewin flew off the bench along with the rest of the England staff. Immediately collapsed and starting banging the ground.
45th minute – VERY CLOSE! Marchisio is involved again as he dinks a superb ball over the top for Candreva to pick up on the left of the area. He checks back inside and looks to drive it inside Hart’s near post but it strikes the outside of the upright.
Excellent first-half that really sprung to life in the last fifteen minutes. The conditions are sticky and substitutions will surely be key in the second period.
By the way, here’s England physio Gary Lewin being stretchered off after suffering a reported broken ankle as he celebrated Sturridge’s equaliser.
Italy have had 60% of the ball. The RTE panel think it all favours the Azzurri because of a disappointing midfield. Chippy Brady thinks Gerrard has been pedestrian while Gilesy believes the Italians’ ball retention will see them good in the end.
To continue this Pirlo love-in, he’s had a good first-half. By his standards. 66 of his 69 passes hit their target. Yeah, not bad.
49th minute – CLOSE! Sturridge leaves De Rossi for dead, gets it onto that trusty left peg and lets fly from distance. Sirigu gets down at his near post and pushes it out for a corner. Just like the first half, England have started brightly here…
I should’ve known. As soon as I offered England some praise, they were in trouble. Candreva races up the right side, tracked by Baines. He’s got a wonderful left-foot but the Everton man doesn’t appear to know this because he shows him inside. Candreva sweeps a brilliant cross to the far post where Balotelli is waiting and the Milan striker casually nods it home.
62nd minute – VERY CLOSE! Rooney should really have levelled affairs. Baines slips it through for him, he’s not offside and checks back inside, looking to bend it to the far corner. But he fools everyone and wraps his foot around it instead, sending the ball arrowing towards the near post. But he pulls it too much and it goes inches wide. Really great chance.
64th minute – CLOSE! Barkley tests Sirigu after cutting onto his right foot and sending a low drive towards the far corner. Not the cleanest of contact but worked the keeper who had to beat it to safety.
Why always him? Because he looks a bit knackered. Not a bad replacement. Serie A’s leading scorer last season…signed by Borussia Dortmund before the tournament started.
England need something a little different. Barkley hasn’t been involved since coming on, bar one shot that Sirigu saved. England will hope Lallana’s energy can lead to something.
Well, he very nearly went purring into the night after thumping a majestic free-kick that cracked off Hart’s crossbar. The bend he gets on this is just incredible. Deserved a goal. Magnificent.
15 Jun 2014
1:02AM
FULL-TIME!
And that’s it! Balotelli proves the match-winner with a second-half header after a delightful Candreva cross. England seemed to run out of steam very quickly. Remember, it was VERY warm and with Italy keeping the ball so well, England had to shadow, challenge and then break quickly. It proved difficult for them and despite the introductions of Wilshere, Barkley and Lallana, England couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Thanks for sticking around and hope you enjoyed it. Plenty more reaction and feedback on the site in a few minutes.
As it happened: England v Italy, World Cup 2014 Group D
SO, HERE’S THE DEAL. When two ‘big teams’ clashed last night, we were treated to one of the most memorable World Cup games in recent memory. And one of the biggest shocks too. Can we get something similar tonight?
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Get in touch by leaving some comments below, tweet something funny, impressive or incisive @thescore_ie or post a message to our Facebook wall.
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England 1- 2 Italy (Marchisio 35, Sturridge 37, Balotelli 50)
Good evening. Welcome to our coverage of this most mouth-watering encounter. Here’s hoping the early, free-flowing brilliance of this tournament continues in Manaus.
First thing’s first. Here are the teams.
England: Hart, Johnson, Jagielka, Cahill, Baines, Gerrard (c), Henderson, Welbeck, Sterling, Rooney; Sturridge.
Italy: Sirigu, Chiellini, Darmian, Candreva, Marchisio, Balotelli, Barzagli, De Rossi, Paletta, Pirlo (c), Verratti.
So, the big news. Raheem Sterling is handed a start by Roy Hodgson. Rooney is expected to be shoved wide so the Liverpool man can tuck in behind Sturridge and offer support.
No Buffon for Italy because of injury. PSG’s Salvatore Sirigu deputises. He’s not bad.
They’re also missing left-back Mattia De Sciglio so Cesare Prandelii reshuffles a bit. Chiellini is moved across to cover so his partnership with Andrea Barzagli is disrupted as a result with Gabriel Paletta coming in.
This is Sterling’s third start for England. With Sturridge, Henderson and Welbeck all included in the starting XI, it’s a brave move from Hodgson. Italy can count on a great deal of some pretty-impressive experience.
Mean, moody magnificence. Here’s the man England must stop tonight. My life’s ambition is to grow a beard that looks this good. Oh, and have a right foot that’s as good. Think it’s optimistic to think I’ll achieve either.
I’m not afraid to admit it. Man crush. Big time.
On RTE, John Giles has said he doesn’t trust Mario Balotelli. That’s unlike Gilesy. He’s normally so fond of the volatile, aggressive, inconsistent footballer-type.
Meanwhile, Liam Brady (yes, THAT Liam Brady) has had a cut off Scholesy. And Dunphy LOVED it…
By the way, Bonucci is on the bench for Italy. Prandelli clearly feeling Parma’s Paletta can combat the movement and pace of England a little better.
Here’s something. Remember when these teams met at Euro 2012? Looking back on the stats, it was incredibly one-sided. Are we set for something along these lines? Hard to see with England having so many quick, young players in the side tonight.
Pitch looks great. Amazing what a lick of paint can do. Seriously.
And we’re off…Pirlo has already touched the ball about eighteen times.
It’s 31 degrees in Manaus. It’s warm. It’s the Amazon. Let’s do it. I know you’re all thinking it.
5th minute – CLOSE! England have started well. Sterling had already thumped a great strike into the side-netting from about 30 yards out but shortly after Jordan Henderson forces Sirigu into a low save at his near post after a well-struck drive.
After Sterling went close moments ago, everyone thought it was in. Even the BBC.
In fairness, it was a great hit by the youngster.
You and me both, Rudders.
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20th minute – England have been bright so far. They’ve identified the left side of the Italian defence as a weak spot with Welbeck and Sterling linking up in that area. They’ve had a few shots on goal and have constantly kept Sirigu on his toes.
Italy, in contrast, have struggled to get a foot-hold. Their right-back Darmian has made some encouraging runs but Pirlo has been stifled and they’ve found it hard to get any tempo going.
22nd minute – CLOSE! Sterling has already vindicated his selection but he does really well to skin Verratti down the left side, race to the by-line and drive in a terrific cross right across the six-yard area. No England player could get a touch. If they did, it was a certain opener.
23rd minute – VERY CLOSE! My word. England are an inch away from taking the lead. Welbeck does brilliantly to race past Paletta. He sends it across for Sturridge but Barzagli slides in and gets a CRUCIAL touch to deflect it away from the striker and out for a corner.
Rooney is currently stranded on the left side. Is he set to hand in a transfer request?
34th minute – GOAL! MARCHISIO!
Well, well, well. Totally against the run of play, Italy score. From a corner, Pirlo dummies and Marchisio rifles it to the bottom corner.
37th minute – GOAL! STURRIDGE!
What. A. Response. England raid up the left side with Sterling. He finds Rooney who expertly delivers it across to the far post for Sturridge to tap home.
Brilliant from England. Game on.
Wow. Let’s get our breaths back, shall we? A wonderful opener from Italy. Marchisio just has a brilliant ability to pop up at the best times to grab a goal. A superb goal-getting midfielder. Pirlo played his part with a deft step-over that gave Marchisio the time to set himself up.
But what a response from England. A superb counter attack and Rooney, having been anonymous and growing increasingly frustrated, set Sturridge up with a terrific cross.
Meanwhile, in the midst of the celebrations, England physio Gary Lewin fell to the ground in agony, was surrounded by medical staff and taken off on a stretcher.
45th minute – VERY CLOSE! Marchisio is involved again as he dinks a superb ball over the top for Candreva to pick up on the left of the area. He checks back inside and looks to drive it inside Hart’s near post but it strikes the outside of the upright.
HALF-TIME.
Excellent first-half that really sprung to life in the last fifteen minutes. The conditions are sticky and substitutions will surely be key in the second period.
By the way, here’s England physio Gary Lewin being stretchered off after suffering a reported broken ankle as he celebrated Sturridge’s equaliser.
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Italy have had 60% of the ball. The RTE panel think it all favours the Azzurri because of a disappointing midfield. Chippy Brady thinks Gerrard has been pedestrian while Gilesy believes the Italians’ ball retention will see them good in the end.
To continue this Pirlo love-in, he’s had a good first-half. By his standards. 66 of his 69 passes hit their target. Yeah, not bad.
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Anything Pirlo can do, Jagielka can do too. Quick Roy, push him into midfield for the second half.
Second half is underway, by the way…
49th minute – CLOSE! Sturridge leaves De Rossi for dead, gets it onto that trusty left peg and lets fly from distance. Sirigu gets down at his near post and pushes it out for a corner. Just like the first half, England have started brightly here…
50th minute – GOAL! BALOTELLI!
I should’ve known. As soon as I offered England some praise, they were in trouble. Candreva races up the right side, tracked by Baines. He’s got a wonderful left-foot but the Everton man doesn’t appear to know this because he shows him inside. Candreva sweeps a brilliant cross to the far post where Balotelli is waiting and the Milan striker casually nods it home.
57th minute – SUBSTITUTION! Thiago Motta (on) – Marco Verratti (off)
Fresh legs for the Azzurri as one PSG midfielder replaces another.
Gerrard should really have gone in the book for this.
61st minute – SUBSTITUTION! Ross Barkley (on) – Danny Welbeck (off)
England needed this. The Everton youngster will provide energy and creativity and slots into a central role behind Sturridge.
62nd minute – VERY CLOSE! Rooney should really have levelled affairs. Baines slips it through for him, he’s not offside and checks back inside, looking to bend it to the far corner. But he fools everyone and wraps his foot around it instead, sending the ball arrowing towards the near post. But he pulls it too much and it goes inches wide. Really great chance.
64th minute – CLOSE! Barkley tests Sirigu after cutting onto his right foot and sending a low drive towards the far corner. Not the cleanest of contact but worked the keeper who had to beat it to safety.
72nd minute – SUBSTITUTION! Immobile (on) – Balotelli (off)
Why always him? Because he looks a bit knackered. Not a bad replacement. Serie A’s leading scorer last season…signed by Borussia Dortmund before the tournament started.
73rd minute – SUBSTITUTION! Wilshere (on) – Henderson (off)
To be honest, expected Gerrard to be the one coming off. He looks drained. But instead it’s his Liverpool team-mate who’s sacrificed.
76th minute – CLOSE! Leighton Baines whips a free-kick over the Italian wall but it’s quite comfortable for Sirigu who palms it away.
80th minute – SUBSTITUTION! Lallana (on) – Sturridge (off)
England need something a little different. Barkley hasn’t been involved since coming on, bar one shot that Sirigu saved. England will hope Lallana’s energy can lead to something.
Rooney tried a corner. It didn’t work so good.
80th minute – SUBSTITUTION! Parolo (on) – Candreva (off)
Marco Parolo (yes, go on) comes on for the man responsible for creating what could prove Italy’s winning goal.
Thanks for all of your comments. I see Phil Neville’s co-commentary is proving entertaining.
He’s just said the following:
“Chiellini likes to feel men against him, especially in one on one situations”.
93rd minute – VERY CLOSE! Y’know the look Pirlo has in this photo?
Well, he very nearly went purring into the night after thumping a majestic free-kick that cracked off Hart’s crossbar. The bend he gets on this is just incredible. Deserved a goal. Magnificent.
FULL-TIME!
And that’s it! Balotelli proves the match-winner with a second-half header after a delightful Candreva cross. England seemed to run out of steam very quickly. Remember, it was VERY warm and with Italy keeping the ball so well, England had to shadow, challenge and then break quickly. It proved difficult for them and despite the introductions of Wilshere, Barkley and Lallana, England couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Thanks for sticking around and hope you enjoyed it. Plenty more reaction and feedback on the site in a few minutes.
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England group d Italy Liveblog Soccer World Cup 2014