Kane and Rashford seal England’s place at Euro 24 with comeback win over Italy
The jeopardy had long since ended in terms of whether England would qualify for the European Championship in Germany next summer. It was only a question of when and where. The answer was here and there was symbolism in who they beat to do it – the champions, Italy, who they intend to dethrone.
Gareth Southgate had wanted a performance as much as a result; England only needed a draw – something to bolster the collective belief. The manager got it. There was a confidence about England from the outset and an inevitability about the outcome, even after the early concession to Gianluca Scamacca and a few loose first-half moments in defence.
Jude Bellingham took centre stage, his drive truly a thing to behold, and he deserved the ovation that went with his late withdrawal. Twice, he bolted for a ball that might not have been there for him, firstly to win the penalty from which Harry Kane equalised, then to set up Marcus Rashford for the crucial second. Rashford took it so nicely.
It was all over when Kane punished slack Italy defending towards the end.
Southgate had stressed he was motivated by qualification – that was enough – by measuring his strongest available lineup against opposition he respects hugely. His team offered clear pointers to his thinking; his batting order, as he likes to put it.
The biggest takeaways were Kalvin Phillips over Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield (and Jordan Henderson); Harry Maguire over Marc Guéhi in central defence. The injured Luke Shaw and Bukayo Saka felt like the only ones who might have forced their way in, if fit.
England had started with a strut in their step, winning the one-on-ones, although not when Phillips jumped in for a ball he ought to have got only to miss it and clatter
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