HIGHLIGHTS AND PLAYER’S RATING England 3-1 Italy: Harry Kane score Brace  Jude

Match report as England secure qualification to Euro 2024 with a come-from-behind win over Italy; Harry Kane scored twice and Marcus Rashford was also on target after Gianluca Scamacca’s opener; England are now guaranteed top spot in Group C

Image:Jude Bellingham embraces England goalscorer Harry Kane

England produced a scintillating comeback to beat Italy 3-1 at Wembley and secure their place at Euro 2024.

Gareth Southgate’s side, needing only a point to qualify for next summer’s tournament, fell behind to Gianluca Scamacca’s early opener, but captain Harry Kane led the response, converting a penalty then scoring a clinical second after a breakaway strike from Marcus Rashford.

England were again indebted to Kane’s goalscoring heroics as he took his international tally to 61, but Jude Bellingham was the real star, winning the penalty for the equaliser then producing a sensational burst of pace to set up Rashford for the second.

The victory puts England on 16 points in Group C, three ahead of second-placed Ukraine, and guarantees their advance to next summer’s tournament in Germany in top spot.

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How the teams lined up | Match stats

Euro 2024 Qualifying fixtures | Results | Tables



Lee Hendrie was left impressed by Jude Bellingham’s role in Marcus Rashford’s goal against Italy

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Reigning European champions Italy, meanwhile, now risk missing out on a second consecutive major tournament, the defeat leaving them on 10 points, three behind Ukraine, albeit having played one game less.

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Player ratings

England: Pickford (7), Walker (7), Stones (6), Maguire (7), Trippier (6), Phillips (6), Rice (7), Bellingham (9), Foden (8), Rashford (8), Kane (8).

Subs:Guehi (6), Henderson (6), Grealish (n/a).

Italy: Donnarumma (6), Di Lorenzo (6), Scalvini (6), Acerbi (6), Udogie (7), Frattesi (7), Cristante (6), Barella (7), Berardi (6), Scamacca (7), El Shaarawy (6).

Subs: Dimarco (6), Bastoni (6), Kean, Raspadori (6), Orsolini (n/a).

Player of the match: Jude Bellingham.

Security ramped up at Wembley

There was a heightened security presence at Wembley after the killings of two Swedish nationals caused Belgium’s Euro 2024 Qualifier against Sweden to be abandoned at half-time on Monday night.

The Metropolitan Police announced there would be a “robust policing plan” in place for Tuesday’s game in the wake of that incident, including a visibly increased number of police officers in and around the stadium.

How England bounced back to clinch Euro spot

Italy came into the game to a backdrop of disarray, with Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo having been withdrawn from the squad as part of an investigation into illegal betting.

Team news

Gareth Southgate reverted to his strongest team following the Australia friendly, with Harry Maguire, Kalvin Phillips and Phil Foden among those starting.

Italy boss Luciano Spalletti handed a full debut to Tottenham full-back Destiny Udogie. Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo were unavailable having been withdrawn from the squad due to a gambling investigation.

Luciano Spalletti described that episode as “traumatic” for his squad, but they looked unaffected in the early stages, soaking up England’s pressure then cutting through them for the opener.

Euro 2024: Everything you need to know

How the teams lined up

Euro 2024 Qualifying fixtures

Euro 2024 Qualifying tables

The goal was well-worked as Destiny Udogie and Stephan El Shaarawy combined to launch the attack and Scamacca capitalised on slack England marking to dispatch his first Italy goal.