England succumbed to a tight 2-1 defeat against Italy in Manaus this evening.
Mario Balotelli’s 49th minute header was enough to give Italy the three points in the group stage clash, after Daniel Sturridge had cancelled out Claudio Marchisio’s first half opener.
Team news wise, Roy Hodgson started with Raheem Sterling ahead of Adam Lallana, with Danny Welbeck on the other wing, with Rooney playing just behind Sturridge up front.
For the Italians, Salvatore Sirigu replaced Gianluigi Buffon in goal for the fixture.
The game started at a fast pace, with England looking to counter the Italy back line.
Raheem Sterling dribbled his way past a few players, before unleashing a rasping drive which crashed into the side netting after three minutes played.
Jordan Henderson then forced stand in goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu to beat the ball away following a fizzing drive from outside the box with six minutes on the clock.
After eleven mintes, Danny Welbeck controlled the ball superbly and flashed his effort wide from the edge of the box.
Despite England having the better of the play, Italy came into the game more, with Andrea Pirlo passing the ball around superbly.
Joe Hart was then called upon with twelve minutes gone, as he uncomfortably saved Candreva’s dipping long range effort which fizzed up off the surface.
Sterling was causing problems down the wing, and fizzed a fine ball into the box, however no England player was on hand to tap home.
Mario Balotelli then collected the ball before lashing over Hart’s bar from distance in an exciting opening 20 minutes.
Italy were impressing even more in the humid atmosphere, with Candreva shooting wide from a tight angle after 27.
After 34 minutes, Italy found their opening goal.
Experienced midfield dynamo Andrea Pirlo superbly dummied a corner into the path of Marchisio, who coolly placed home from around 20 yards out, past an on diving Joe Hart.
But two minutes late England found an equaliser, through Daniel Sturridge.
A sharp counter attack started through Leighton Baines slipping a through ball to Rooney, who caught the fullback on the counter attack, before picking out Sturridge and whipping in a superb ball into the path of the Liverpool striker, who volleyed past the static Sirigu.
From there England found the momentum, with Sterling testing Sirgu, who beat the ball away after 40 minutes.
In first half stoppage time, Mario Balotelli skipped past Cahill before chipping Hart, only to see his effort superbly cleared off the line by Jagielka.
A minute later, Candreva cut inside Cahill, before crashing his effort off the post.
Following the break, Sturridge jinked past De Rossi, before having his shot parried away superbly by Sirigu after 48 minutes.
That miss would prove rather costly, as Mario Balotelli put Italy in front on 49 minutes.
Candreva cut inside Baines before crossing the ball into the path of Balotelli, who eluded Cahill and placed a downward header past a static Joe Hart.
Wayne Rooney then galloped past De Rossi before dragging his effort wide after 54 minutes.
On the hour, Rooney endured a frustrating eggort after stabbing wide from close range following a Gerrard through ball.
Ross Barkley was then introduced to the fold, who beat Chiellini before curling an effort towards goal, with Sirigu beating away once again.
England huffed and puffed, however they failed to break Italy down, despite both Lallana and Wilshere coming on in the final stages, with Glen Johnson flashing an effort wide after 70 minutes.
Pirlo then almost made it three in added time at the end of the game, with the experienced midfielder clipping his free kick onto the bar via a delection off Jagielka.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
