This rather dull remake of the Euro-2020 final tipped over at San Siro on a nice strike from young Naples striker Giacomo Raspadori (68th), who condemned England to last place in the group even before the final daytime.

Against Germany on Monday, the "Three Lions" will have no other ambition than to prepare for the World Cup after this pitiful course, marked by two draws and already three defeats.

All evening, they seemed borrowed, remained for 90 minutes in meditation that they displayed during the "God save the King", religiously listened to before the meeting with a black armband on their arm.

If Italy will not be in Qatar, Roberto Mancini's team has recovered a little heart balm in the new reconstruction launched after the "crash" in the qualifying play-offs against North Macedonia in March.

Second two points behind Hungary, surprise leader of the group, she will have to win in Budapest to win the ticket for the Final Four.

The evening however started with difficulty for the ex-Milanese Gianluigi Donnarumma, still targeted by whistles on the first balloons he touched as he had been a year ago during his last appearance at San Siro.

The sling, fueled by Milanesti supporters who did not forgive him for his departure, however quickly calmed down, far from the bronca to which the Paris-SG goalkeeper had been entitled against Spain (1-2).

Decisive donnarumma

The goalkeeper even returned San Siro in the second half with a double save in front of Harry Kane (77th).

Until Raspadori's goal, San Siro, two-thirds full (50,000 spectators), only too rarely ignited during a light match, far from the tension and fury of the Euro final at Wembley, barely fifteen months ago.

Lacking a World Cup to prepare, Roberto Mancini especially wanted to take the opportunity to do some testing, in defense with a three-man rearguard and in attack with the duo Gianluca Scamaca-Giacomo Raspadori, in the absence of European champions Ciro Immobile, Andrea Belotti, Federico Chiesa, Domenico Berardi or Lorenzo Insigne.

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Scamacca, often a substitute, was the first dangerous header (5th) and showed good qualities with his back to goal during the hour he spent on the pitch.

But it was his ex-teammate Sassuolo Raspadori, now in Naples, who took the light with his goal, with a magnificent strike from the right, taking advantage of a static English defense (68th).

The English had a hard time worrying Donnarumma throughout the match and were clumsy when they were in a good position, like the strong attempt from Harry Kane (42nd) or the free kick in the clouds from Reece James (50th).

Unable to react after the Italian goal, they could even have suffered a much wider defeat, without an Italian post at the end of the match and a stoppage by Nick Pope in front of Manolo Gabbiadini (84th).

Qatar is still far away.

© 2022 AFP