6.59 AM Tuesday, 19 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 05:07 06:20 12:29 15:54 18:33 19:47
19 March 2024

Fifa World Cup: Balotelli sinks enterprising England despite Sterling effort

Published
By Football Correspondent and Agencies

Mario Balotelli's second-half header earned Italy a 2-1 victory over an enterprising England side in an engaging World Cup Group D opener in Manaus on Saturday.

Amid muggy conditions in the Amazon rainforest city, Claudio Marchisio drilled Italy in front in the 35th minute, only for Daniel Sturridge to equalise two minutes later after a sweeping England counter-attack.

With 19-year-old Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling to the fore, England displayed plenty of endeavour, but they were ultimately undone by former Manchester City striker Balotelli's goal shortly after half-time.

His header prevented England from avenging their defeat on penalties by Italy in the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 and left Cesare Prandelli's side well placed ahead of Friday's meeting with Costa Rica - shock 3-1 victors against Uruguay earlier in the day - in Recife.

Prandelli described the lack of time-outs due to the heat as "truly absurd", and said that he was relieved that Italy had been able to withstand England's pressure.

"Physically, I think we were a bit better than England," he said. "I think England are one of the strongest teams at the World Cup."

England manager Roy Hodgson drew encouragement from his youthful side's attacking vigour, but victory against a hurting Uruguay will now be imperative when the teams collide in Sao Paulo on Thursday.

"It is a bit tough to accept we lost the game," Hodgson told the BBC.

"Even when they got back to 2-1, I thought we would get back into it. I thought that was the best I'd seen the team play.

"To take them so close gives us great confidence playing against Uruguay and Costa Rica."

While Salvatore Sirigu deputised for the injured Gianluigi Buffon in goal for Italy, Hodgson sprang something of a surprise by fielding Sterling as a number 10, which obliged Wayne Rooney to play on the left.

STERLING SPARK

Sterling was quick to catch the eye at the Amazonia Arena, lashing a 30-yard shot into the side netting, and his example encouraged Jordan Henderson to test Sirigu at his near post with a powerful strike.

As England continued to press, Sterling drilled a cross across goal, before Italy centre-back Andrea Barzagli toed a centre from Danny Welbeck across the face of his own goal and wide.

England seemed to be building up a head of steam, but perhaps emboldened by their good fortune, Italy went ahead.

Following a short corner on the right, Andrea Pirlo cleverly dummied a pass from Marco Verratti for Marchisio, who exploited oceans of space to steady himself and drive a shot into the bottom-left corner from 20 yards.

If England felt hard done-by, they did not show it, for within two minutes they were level thanks to a goal of delightful simplicity.

Sterling's glorious pass released Rooney on the left and the Manchester United man dispatched a delicately weighted left-foot cross that Sturridge crashed home on the half-volley.

England's celebrations were not without complications, however, as team physiotherapist Gary Lewin had to be stretchered away from the touchline after hurting his ankle amid the jubilation.

Italy finished the first half on top, Phil Jagielka heading off the line from Balotelli, before Antonio Candreva hit the post with a snapshot, and it was to prove an ominous portent of things to come.

After Sirigu had parried a low strike from Sturridge, in the 50th minute Candreva cut inside Leighton Baines with embarrassing ease on the Italy right and crossed for Balotelli to nod his side ahead from close range.

Prandelli stiffened his midfield by introducing Thiago Motta in place of Verratti, while Hodgson pitched Everton youngster Ross Barkley into the fray as England went in search of an equaliser.

Steven Gerrard was denied a penalty following a body-check by Gabriel Paletta, before Rooney lashed wide and Sirigu saved from Barkley and Baines, but as the game wore on and the humidity began to weigh even more heavily, so England faded.

Pirlo even came close to inflating Italy's lead with a languidly struck injury-time free-kick, but the ball hit the bar.

FULL TIME

England 1 (Sturridge 37")  Italy 2 (Marchisio 35" Balotelli 50")

90+5" Cahill stops a counter attack from Immobile.

90+4" Pirlo hits the cross bar with a looping free kick.

90+2" YELLOW! The first booking of the match goes to Sterling.

90" England have five minutes of added time to get an equaliser.

90" England are showing their desperation with Sterling way off target from the edge of the box.

88" Sterling fires a weak shot at goal from close range and Rooney fails to latch onto a corner from Gerrard.

87" Rooney is wayward again with a long-range effort after Barkley changes the direction of attack smartly.

85" Gerrard's gets too much pace on the ball and sends the free kick sailing over.

84" Lallana wins a free kick on the edge of the penalty area and Gerrard steps up to take it.

84" England clearly running out of steam with the last several attacks ending with fairly awful mis-kicks.

82" Sterling is the culprit this time sending a cross floating over the bar.

80" Johnson sends a poor cross as England press on with Wilshere orchestrating their attacks.

79" Both teams makes their final changes with Parolo coming for Candreva while Adam Lallana replaces the limping Sturridge.

77" Sirigu makes a good stop of a very good free kick on target from Baines.

75" Sturridge earns a free kick just outside the box after being brought down.

73" Double change as Wilshere comes in for Henderson while Balotelli makes way Immobile.

72" Johnson is just wide with a left-footed shot after yet another England corner.

71" England force another corner as Johnson weaves through the Italian defence.

69" Cahill gets away with a warning after tripping Balotelli.

68" Italy playing good possession football and Candreva shoots just wide of the near post from long range.

66" Baines takes the corner but Sirigu grabs it comfortably.

66" Sterling is showing great skills gliding with the ball to earn England a corner.

64" Sterling goes down with cramps but picks himself up after some treatment.

63" Barkley makes an instant impact forcing Sirigu to make a save with a shot from an acute angle after Damian troubles Hart at the other end.

62" Rooney misses a great opportunity finding space but lashing his shot wide of the near post.

61" Hodgson is continuing with his adventure bring on another youngster Ross Barkley for Welbeck.

60" Rooney is making waves on the right and releases Sturridge whose left-footed send Sirigu scrambling though it goes wide.

59" Ross Barkley is warming up as England prepare to make a change.

57" Italy make the first change  with Thiago Motta coming on for Veratti.

56" Gerrard drives forward into the box and trips with a defender after a through ball from Sterling but another penalty appeal is waved away.

55" England are on the offensive with Johnson's cross into the box giving some anxious moments to the Italian defence.

54" Rooney drives forward lashing the ball wide past the left post.

52" England attack right back and Strurridge gets into the box, but loses the ball. Welbeck goes down and some English players appeal for a penalty.

50" GOAL! Balotelli has put Italy in front again beating Cahill heading inside the near post after Damian beats Johnson and floats it across.

England 1 (Sturridge 37")  Italy 2 (Marchisio 35" Balotelli 50")

49" Baines fires a corner from the right which sail across goal.

48" Sturridge's left footed shot from long range is collected by Sirigu.

46" England get the second period under way and Rooney tries send a through ball to Welbeck into the box.

There have been no changes at half-time.

HALF TIME

England 1 (Sturridge 37")  Italy 1 (Marchisio 35")

England live dangerously as Italy batter their goal in the dying seconds of the first half.

45+2" Jagielka heads the ball on the line after a brilliant chip by Balotelli while Hart makes a save off the near post.

45" Candreva whips the ball wide of Hart.

42" Rooney finally makes his mark after being released by Sterling to deliver the perfect cross for the England equaliser.

40" England physio Gary Lewin is carried off on a stretcher injuring himself during the celebrations.

37" GOAL! England reply almost instantly after Sterling cuts down the left and Rooney plays a great ball for Sturridge to side-foot it into the net.

England 1 (Sturridge 37")  Italy 1 (Marchisio 35")

35" GOAL! Italy find the net from out of the blue as Claudio Marchisio rifles in from 25 after Pirlo lets a corner go through his legs.

England 0 Italy 1 (Marchisio 35")

32" Rooney makes his first significant contribution. He wins a freekick from a Totti foul. Gerrard's delivery goes straight to Sirigu.

31" Italy are content to play deep with Chiellini trying to find Balotelli with a long ball.

30" England hold the aces with Sturridge, Sterling, Henderson, Welbeck making Hodgson look smart.

28" Candreva has another crack at goal but drags his 25-yard shot well wide of Hart's goal.

25" Baines takes the corner, Sigigu spills it but collects.

24" Welbeck beats his man on the right and puts in a low cross, Chiellin nearly toes into his own goal with Sturridge lurking.

23" Balotelli rolls away into space and crashes a shot over the top from 20 yards.

22" Sterling crosses beautifully from the left into the box but nobody can get a foot to it before Italy scramble to force a corner.

19" England have their heart in the mouth as Candreva hits has a low shot from 30 yards straight to Hart, but bounces in front of him. He bobbles the ball and thankfully Cahill was there to collect.

17" England are well organised in defence as well.

15" After a right to left to right move, Johnson lets fly from 25 yards.

13" England are showing their adventure with Sturridge taking his man on around the outside and beat him for pace but finds a tight angle to shoot.

11" United striker Welbeck shoots wide after a poor pass from Paletta from 25 yards.

10" Sirigu is on the only goalkeeper to have been tested so far with Henderson's shot.

8" England are fortunate as Pirlo wants a penalty for handball against Glen Johnson.

6" Sirigu is forced to make a save as Henderson volleys from 30 yards out.

4" Sterling starts on a positive note rippling the side netting with a long range shot from the right.

3" Darmian gets up from right-back to put in a low cross which Phil Jagielka clears.

2" The teams exchange possession along their back line before Glen Johnson commits the first foul of the game deep in Italy's half on Giorgio Chiellini.

1" Italy get the match under way.

Italy named five midfielders in their team to play England in their opening World Cup Group D match on Saturday in a sign they could try to frustrate Roy Hodgson's young fleet-footed attackers.

Veteran Andrea Pirlo is joined in midfield by Daniele De Rossi, Antonio Candreva, Claudio Marchisio as well as exciting 21-year-old Marco Verratti, who wins his seventh cap.

Italy announced earlier in the day that goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon had failed to recover from an ankle injury. He will be replaced by Salvatore Sirigu.

England named a quick forward line, with a trio of Raheem Sterling, Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney behind sole striker Daniel Sturridge.

Sterling was sent off in a friendly against Ecuador earlier this month but wins a place at the expense of Adam Lallana.

Former England skipper Alan Shearer who is a pundit for BBC Sport has given a thumbs up on Sterling's selection: "Picking Raheem Sterling is a positive sign. His form for Liverpool in the last few months has been exceptional and apparently the way he has been performing in training he deserves to start."

TEAMS

England: 1-Joe Hart; 2-Glen Johnson, 5-Gary Cahill, 6-Phil Jagielka, 3-Leighton Baines; 4-Steven Gerrard, 14-Jordan Henderson 19-Raheem Sterling, 11-Danny Welbeck; 9-Daniel Sturridge, 10-Wayne Rooney

Italy: 12-Salvatore Sirigu; 20-Gabriel Paletta, 4-Matteo Darmian, 15-Andrea Barzagli, 3-Giorgio Chiellini; 23-Marco Verratti, 16-Daniele De Rossi, 6-Antonio Candreva, 21-Andrea Pirlo, 8-Claudio Marchisio; 9-Mario Balotelli

FORMATIONS

England 4-2-3-1

Italy 4-1-4-1-

STAT ATTACK

Both Italy and England are undefeated in their last 10 World Cup matches.

England and Italy have met just once in the World Cup before: in the 1990 match for third place. Italy won 2-1.

PREVIEW

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon confirmed Saturday he had been ruled out of his team's opening World Cup clash with England in Manaus.

Buffon twisted his ankle in Friday's training session and, though coach Cesare Prandelli was confident he would be fit for the clash, Italian media said on Saturday the keeper would be unable to recover in time for the 6 p.m. ET (2200 GMT) kick off.

Buffon limped out of a training session on Friday after suffering the knock and after receiving treatment immediately had to undergo sessions of physiotherapy late into the night.

On his personal Twitter page, Buffon urged fans to make light of his absence and support his replacement Salvatore Sirigu in Saturday's Group D battle.

"Life is great... and a missed match or another missed World Cup is not going to change my opinion on that !!" Buffon said.

"And, even if you're not out on the pitch, there are other ways in which you can play an important role. So, go on Salvatore Sirigu !! Go on the lads !! Go on Italy !!"

The loss of Buffon, one of the world's best goalkeepers and a pillar of an Italian side looking to make amends for their first-round exit in 2010 could be a huge blow for Italy.

The Juventus 'keeper played only one half-time in South Africa, coming off with a back injury and being replaced by Federico Marchetti.

Italy drew 1-1 with Paraguay, and with Marchetti between the sticks Italy stumbled badly in their next game, drawing 1-1 with lowly New Zealand.

Italy eventually crashed out thanks to a 3-2 defeat to Slovakia.

CLASSIC

England's opening Group D game against Italy on Saturday could be another free-flowing classic of the kind that has already lit up this World Cup, manager Roy Hodgson suggested on Friday.

The coach said he was surprised by the 5-1 hammering the Netherlands dealt defending champions Spain earlier in the day.

"I think the start of the tournament will hopefully be the continuation as well. We've seen attacking football, we haven't seen one team defending for all it's worth ... we've seen both teams going at each other," he told a news conference.

Asked whether England would take the same attack-minded approach, he replied: "We always try to play that way. I don't think over the years there's been a (time) where England teams go out to keep a clean sheet and not attack ... and certainly on this stage we'd be even less inclined to do it."

England are sporting many younger players than the squad that struggled into the second round in the 2010 World Cup before being thumped 4-1 by Germany.

Daniel Sturridge looks set to play alone up front supported by a trio of Wayne Rooney and Adam Lallana and one of either Danny Welbeck or Raheem Sterling, who was sent off in a friendly against Ecuador in Miami earlier this month.

"I think it's important we keep all our men on the pitch," team captain Steven Gerrard told the news conference, in a sign Sterling will start on the bench.

Given the ferocious heat and humidity in Manaus, Hodgson may decide not to play veteran Frank Lampard in midfield with Gerrard. Instead, he could opt for the younger Jordan Henderson, Gerrard's team mate at Liverpool.

Ross Barkley, who was electric as a substitute in England's second Miami warm-up against Honduras, is expected to come off the bench as an impact player.

Gerrard said England's game plan was to "defend very well and make it really difficult for Italy to play through us and try and limit them to very few chances on goal and then try to be brave and bold and attack."

Italy depend heavily on 35-year-old midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who could well struggle in the oppressive conditions against younger and more energetic opponents.

"I think we're going to be fine, we're going to be able to cope," said Gerrard, predicting the pitch conditions in Manaus would be "quick and zippy".

Hodgson bristled when asked about his game plan over the last few weeks, replying that the team had been trying to play the same way for two years.

Yet he conceded that planning could only go so far.

"If you'd have said to me after I'd watched the first half of Spain against Holland that the game would end 5-1, I might have been tempted to laugh in your face. But it did end 5-1 and that's what football is," he said.