England play in front of empty stands: "Embarrassing"

När England möter Italien på lördagskvällen i en repris på EM-finalen i fotboll 2021 kommer det att eka – nästan – tomt på Molineux i Wolverhampton.

No paying audience will be admitted to the Nations League match, but 3,000 children under the age of 14, according to UEFA's regulations.

The European Football Association Uefa sentenced England to play two matches without an audience after the riots before the final at Wembley last year, when hooligans without tickets attacked the guards and entered the arena to create trouble.

- It is embarrassing, for the national team and for us as a country, Southgate says about the penalty before the match.

- I am sure that many of those who caused the problems are not fans, he continues.

England only need to play one match without an audience.

UEFA's penalty was conditional on the second match, as long as England's fans do not misbehave again.

The match in Wolverhampton will be the first between the countries since Italy won the European Championship final last year on penalties.

Since then, England has qualified for the World Cup this winter, while Italy unexpectedly turned out in the playoff against Northern Macedonia and misses the championship in Qatar.