The Eye Of Media

BY ANTHONY PALMER

Tuesday’s international football match between England and Italy saw Harry Kane make his debut for the England team. Having won seven straight games since the World Cup, England faced their biggest test since Brazil back in 2014. Roy Hodgson’s side opened up their European 2016 qualifying campaign, not with one but with five straight wins.

Let’s take a look at the team’s starting XI before kick-off:

England’s starting XI Hart, Clyne, Gibbs, Henderson, Smalling, Jagielka, Walcott, Jones, Kane, Rooney, Delph.

The Italian starting XI Buffon, Ranocchia, Bonucci, Chiellini, Florenzi, Parolo, Valdifiori, Soriano, Darmian, Eder, Pelle.

The game started slowly with not much from both sides, but there was plenty of noise from the England fans which is typical from the 3 lion’s supporters. By the 13^thminute England was seeing plenty of the golden ball and playing like they wanted to score the winning goals sooner rather than later. Italy’s movement on the ball was looking more than determined.

There was a free-kick for Italian Eder after being fouled by Chris Smalling. England were taking every opportunity that was coming their way but with no luck yet despite their many efforts. 21 year old, Harry Kane made a spectacular header to Theo Walcott which was unfortunately cleared. Wayne Rooney had a chance which shamefully hit the cross bar.

In the 29^th minute Italy got lucky with their first goal, as Graziano pelle scored a header for his team.

Jones was beaten embarrassingly by Chiellini on the left, which is what fortunately set up the goal for twinkle toes Pelle.

Minutes after Kieran Gibbs was booked for England when he tripped Midfielder, Mirko Valdifiori. England fought back with Harry Kane but unluckily for them did not receive the penalty they longed for. In my view the ref should have given the plenty. England did pick up the pace in the 41st minute but failed to do much with the ball before half time.

THE SECOND HALF

England did not start of as well as they did in the first half. The best of the early chances for the lion’s go to Harry Kane, whose attempt was shot low across the goal from inside the box. In the 55^th minute England were taking their chances as always when Rooney pass to Kieran Gibbs was wasted to the horror of the England fans. England substituted Theo Walcott for Ross Barkley, Shortly after there was more changes this time but by Italy as Marco Verratti replaced Mirko Valdifiori. The game was end to end with not much mouth-watering action to keep us entertained, which was the reason why England’s manger made changes in the 70^th minute to sink Italy. This move saw Fabian Delph switched for Leytonstone born, Midfielder Andros Townsend. It seems the changes did England good as Rooney saw a chance come his way from a long pass, which was defended well by Gianluigi Buffon. I guess the Italian manager had enough of Rooney calling for a double change in the 74^th minute as Luca Antonelli and Emiliano Moretti replaced Chiellini and Darmian.
The Italian team where gleaming when Wayne Rooney’s link up with Tottenham’s Harry Kane failed to get past Buffon. England made a sub in the 75^th minute. Tottenham hotspurs Midfielder, Ryan Mason made his very own international debut with Jordan Henderson coming off. England’s attitude towards the game had a sudden extra boost from the changes they made, Tottenham’s Andros Townsend scored from 25 yards away in the top corner, Amazing! The epic shot landed the game in a 1-1 situation. The fight for the win was on, the Italians were under mega pressure with Rooney getting under their skin but Italy soon got back into control. They fought back and came close to scoring when Vazques missed a wide shot. England make a sub in the 88^th minute with Arsenals Gibbs being replaced for Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand. The Italians pressed England but could not find the winning goal, unlucky guys! Moments before the final whistle, England came alive with a run from Ross Barkley at the Italians defence, sliding to Rooney and falling to Kane’s feet but unluckily for the guys the goal was not meant for victory this time around. In fact, let’s just say England narrowly escaped defeat

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