EURO 2020 HALF TIME: Italy 0-1 England. Wembley erupts again as the referee blows for half-time. England haven’t done a great deal in attack since Luke Shaw’s dramatic early goal, truth be told, but then they don’t really need to, and they’ve looked comfortable at the back. A few things for Roberto Mancini to work out. England are 45 minutes from glory! HALF TIME: Italy 0-1 England.
Italy’s best move of the match comes as Di Lorenzo makes good down the right and whips a low cross into the box. Immobile meets it, 12 yards out, with a first-time swivel towards the bottom right. Stones gets his backside in the way to block, then Verratti fires weakly at Pickford, who claims easily.
Verratti wedges down the left, hoping to release Insigne, but Trippier intercepts and blooters clear. There will be four extra minutes added to this first half.
Kane loops a cross in from the right. Sterling is blocked on the edge of the box, allowing Donnarumma to come out and claim. Bonucci offers to help him up. Sterling isn’t having any of it, and waves him away with a frown. The first little bit of edge.
Stones heads Insigne’s inswinger clear. Italy pick up possession again and continue to probe. Wembley whistles in the pantomime style. Immobile dribbles unconvincingly down the inside-right channel, but is clumsily fouled by Rice. A free kick that’ll be swung into the old mixer.
Insigne tries to release Immobile down the left. The flag goes up for offside, and Italy are again frustrated, though there wasn’t too much in that. Closer than it initially looked, and maybe the linesman was a bit hasty.
Emerson drives in from the left and loses control. He lunges after the ball and connects with Rice. No more than a free kick this time, though you’ve seen players booked for less. Emerson is fortunate that Rice didn’t make a big deal of it.
Shaw’s hustle down the left earns a chance to cross. He rolls across the face of the Italian six-yard box, but there’s nobody in white waiting to tap home. Emerson slices clear.
Chiesa comes in from the right, beating Rice with ease, and advances on the English box. He whistles a low drive inches wide of the bottom-right corner. Had that been on target, Pickford, his feet planted, was beaten all ends up. So close to an equaliser.
Second half awaits.
