Aaron Ramsdale shone bright but Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish and Mason Mount failed to spark as England played out a goalless draw against Italy.
In what was a replay of last year’s UEFA Euro 2020 final, England and Italy locked horns with each other in the UEFA Nations League at a largely empty Molineux Stadium on Saturday. However, there were no winners on the night as the two teams played out a dour goalless draw to settle for a point each.
Italy had the first big opening of the game when Davide Frattesi was played in, but the midfielder could not find the target. Mason Mount came close for England at the other end, striking the crossbar while Declan Rice fired over the bar. The visitors almost broke the deadlock through Sandro Tonali, only for Aaron Ramsdale to pull off a brilliant save. The Arsenal stopper also stopped Gianluca Scamacca and Matteo Pessina as half-time arrived.
England came out looking better in the second half and should have been ahead, but Raheem Sterling blazed over the bar after being found by Reece James. Italy had an opportunity not long after but Giovanni Di Lorenzo could not direct his effort toward goal. Chances became few and far in between in the final stages as both teams struggled to produce a game-changing moment in the final third.
The goalless draw means England remain rooted at the bottom of Group A3 with two points from three matches while Italy sit at the top with five points. Here are our player ratings for both sets of players after a dull draw at the Molineux.
England Player Ratings
Aaron Ramsdale: 8/10
A big performance from Aaron Ramsdale for England against Italy this evening…
England’s number one!???????? #afc pic.twitter.com/NiGaQ2q3ji
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) June 11, 2022
Making just his second start for England, the goalkeeper stood out on the night as he made several crucial stops to deny Italy. The first-half saves to keep Tonali and Pessina out were standout moments.
Reece James: 7/10
The Chelsea right-back continued to make a case for being installed as the first-choice at right-back for England with another strong display. James made good forward runs and created multiple chances, including the one which Sterling missed. Defensively, the full-back was solid throughout.
Fikayo Tomori: 6.5/10
The former Chelsea starlet did not start the game well and looked nervy on the ball. But he eventually grew into the game and kept things tight while his recovery pace helped on occasions. However, threatened to undo all the good work with a poor pass that almost let Italy through.
Harry Maguire: 6.5/10
The centre-half fared much better than he did for Manchester United in the recently-concluded campaign. There were a few occasions when he was caught out, but was generally steady and played out from the back effectively.
Kieran Trippier: 5/10
Once again asked to play at left-back by Gareth Southgate, Trippier failed to make the kind of impact desired. The Newcastle man had his task cut out against Di Lorenzo, who pushed forward with purpose while failing to offer much in the attacking half of things.
James Ward-Prowse: 5/10
Not the best of displays from the Southampton midfielder, who was unable to display his set-piece prowess either, apart from a first-half corner that created a chance for Rice. Ward-Prowse looked too passive on the ball at times and failed to keep tabs on his Italian counterparts, especially in the first period.
Declan Rice: 8/10
Declan Rice has been levels above every other England player over the last three games this International Break. No surprise has it averaging a Man of the Match award every other game at international level. World class player.
— Josh V (@WestHamJoshV) June 11, 2022
England’s best outfield player on the night by some margin, as Declan Rice went about putting out the fires in midfield and protecting the back four effectively. The West Ham United star was also good with the ball at his feet and even had a chance to score in the first half. Positive.
Raheem Sterling: 5/10
The Manchester City forward got into dangerous positions but lacked the clinical edge to make it count. Sterling created a chance for Mason Mount in the first half but that was as good as it got for him. The winger missed a sitter in the second half after being set up by James.
Mason Mount: 5/10
Mount should have broken the deadlock in the first half after some neat interplay with Sterling, but could only hit the bar. The Chelsea ace failed to provide any spark in the final third for the rest of the game and has now gone 14 games without a goal for the national team.
Jack Grealish: 5.5/10
Jack Grealish fails audition as England suffer Euro reminder vs Italy – 5 talking pointshttps://t.co/UnDXIPwABv pic.twitter.com/7rqL4TRBR5
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) June 11, 2022
Handed a start after impressing off the bench against Germany, the Manchester City superstar was nowhere near the level expected. Grealish failed to connect well with his effort after being found by James in the first period. While he did help create a few chances in the opening 45 minutes, he faded after the break.
Tammy Abraham: 5/10
Pressed well from the front and put pressure on Gianluigi Donnarumma but failed to take a chance that was gifted to him. Abraham did not offer much of a goal threat from that point on though as England struggled to find him in dangerous positions.
SUBSTITUTES
Harry Kane: 5/10
On for Abraham after the hour mark. Had a half-chance which he could not take.
Kalvin Phillips: 5/10
On for Rice in the 65th minute. Did not make much of a difference.
Jarrod Bowen: 5/10
Replaced Mount in the 65th minute. Had one or two moments when he could have hurt Italy on the break but was let down by his decision-making.
Bukayo Saka: N/A
On for Sterling with less than 15 minutes left.
Marc Guehi: N/A
Late substitute for Tomori.
Italy Player Ratings
Gianluigi Donnarumma: 5/10
The PSG goalkeeper almost gifted England a goal with a poor pass in his box, but the hosts could not capitalise. He was not called into making any big saves on the night.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo: 7/10
Might not be the biggest star, but Di Lorenzo put in another solid and reliable performance at right-back for Italy. The defender was solid at the back and let little past him. At the same time, he caused problems to the England defence with his attacking intent and created multiple chances, including the one from which Tonali almost scored in the first half.
Federico Gatti: 8/10
Federico Gatti ⚫️⚪️
Italy Debut ✅
Clean sheet against England’s Golden Generation ✅
Man of the Match Performance ✅ pic.twitter.com/m2oCGDTqeD— Mike ⚫️⚪️ (@JuventinoMC) June 11, 2022
Making his debut for the national team, Gatti, who played last season in the Italian second division, did not look overawed by the occasion. He was steady and assured at the back, making several key clearances and interceptions while also blocking a shot from Grealish. He was booked for a foul on Sterling, but it was a top defensive display from the 23-year-old.
Francesco Acerbi: 7.5/10
The veteran defender was solid in his defensive duties and did well to guide his partner who was making his debut. Acerbi was strong in the air and also made a crucial block to stop Bowen late in the game.
Federico Dimarco: 7/10
Like Di Lorenzo on the opposite flank, Dimarco also put in a solid shift in defence, dealing with the threat of Raheem Sterling. The Inter Milan ace also had his moments going forward as he put in a couple of enticing crosses into the box.
Davide Frattesi: 6.5/10
The midfielder had a great chance to put Italy in front just two minutes in but fired his effort wide. Frattesi continued to trouble England with his energetic forward runs while his pressing off the ball was effective as well.
Manuel Locatelli: 7/10
Locatelli showing his CLASS vs England
— Jjuli (@jjuli_007) June 11, 2022
Provided a solid base for those around him to press on and push forward. Locatelli did very well to force Abraham wide after Donnarumma’s mistake and used the ball rather well throughout. The Juventus ace even had a long-range effort saved by Ramsdale.
Sandro Tonali: 6/10
A battling display from the AC Milan midfielder who never stopped running throughout the game as he got up in support of the attackers while dropping back to help out the defence. Had a great chance to score but was denied by Ramsdale’s brilliance.
Matteo Pessina: 5/10
Apart from drawing a save from Ramsdale late in the first half and creating a chance for Gianluca Scamacca, the Italian midfielder failed to do much of note, fading rapidly after the break.
Gianluca Scamacca: 5/10
Showed some neat link-up play on occasions and was willing to drop into midfield and work hard off the ball. However, Scamacca did not offer much threat at the top apart from one shot that he blazed over the bar.
Lorenzo Pellegrini: 7/10
Pellegrini off TV off. What a player ❤️ pic.twitter.com/1m4606YPcl
— Maxi ?? (@FCB_Maxi_69) June 11, 2022
The brightest spark in attack for Italy as the UEFA Europa Conference League winner looked a threat each time he got on the ball. Pellegrini created chances for the likes of Pessina, Frattesi, and Di Lorenzo.
SUBSTITUTES
Salvatore Esposito: 5/10
On for Pellegrini in the 64th minute. Did not do much of note.
Wilfried Gnonto: 6/10
Replaced Locatelli a little after the hour mark and added some spark in attack, causing some problems to the England defence.
Giacomo Raspadori: N/A
On for Scamacca for the final 15 minutes or so. Could not trouble the hosts.
Alessandro Florenzi: N/A
Late substitute for Dimarco.
Bryan Cristante: N/A
Late substitute for Pessina.
