Gareth Southgate hails England for topping "toughest qualifying group"
Having taken 13 points from their opening five fixtures in Group C, the Three Lions simply had to avoid defeat against the Azzurri to confirm a top-two finish in the five-team section.
England had already avenged their Euro 2020 final beating against Italy with a 2-1 win in Naples back in March, but a full-strength side were left shell-shocked by ex-West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca just 15 minutes in.
Southgate's men — who had been on top in the early exchanges — were made to pay for lackadaisical defending, as Scamacca was left alone inside the box to fire home from Giovanni Di Lorenzo's cutback.
Gianluigi Donnarumma received adequate protection in the Italy goal, but just 17 minutes after falling behind, England were awarded a penalty as Di Lorenzo scythed down a charging Jude Bellingham inside the box.
Harry Kane was made to wait for his 60th England goal due to a lengthy VAR check, but the Bayern Munich attacker calmly sent Donnarumma the wrong way to draw his side level heading into half time.
After playing a key part in the Three Lions' equaliser, Bellingham produced a sublime piece of individual skill to set England away on the counter in the 57th minute, and the 20-year-old proceeded to lay off Marcus Rashford, who cut inside and unleashed a rocket into the bottom corner.
England's slender advantage was never really threatened by the Azzurri, and Southgate's men punched their ticket to Germany 13 minutes before the end thanks to Kane's record-breaking 24th Wembley goal for the Three Lions.
Speaking to Channel 4 after his side's
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