England have qualified for the 2024 UEFA European Championships at the expense of Italy after defeating the Azzurri by three goals to one on Tuesday.
The Three Lions hosted the game at Wembley Stadium, the venue of the 2020 final where both teams clashed and Italy emerged victorious. They needed a win or a point against the Azzurri to clinch their ticket to the 2024 finals in Germany but ended up with a resounding win over Luciano Spaletti’s side.
England captain Harry Kane scored a brace and under-fire Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford added the third to seal the win after former West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring for the defending champions. Italy will now have to beat Ukraine or take four points from their remaining two games of the qualifiers.
The worst-case scenario will see them enter the playoffs for Euro 2024 as winners of their UEFA Nations League group. English fans will be licking their lips at the prospect of preventing the team that took the title from their backyard at the last edition from participating in the upcoming one.
It was also their first home win against Italy since November 1977, which many fans see as a sign of good things to come for the Three Lions.
Kane began the comeback after Scammacca put Italy in front in the 15th minute. The Azzurri looked like they were headed for another win on English soil but Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham had other ideas.
The 20-year-old turned up the heat and created chance after chance, eventually winning the penalty which Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane dispatched for the equaliser and his first of the night. The game would end 1-1 at halftime.
The second half was even hotter for the Italians thanks to Bellingham and his unplayable state in front of thousands of screaming Wembley fans. Marcus Rashford scored a beautiful goal to boost his and the fans’ confidence in the 57th minute. Kane would add a third 20 minutes later to bury the game and get Engand their Euro 2024 ticket with two games to spare.
The 3-1 defeat to England means the Azzurri drop down to third place in Group C on 10 points thanks to Ukraine beating Malta by the same result. It is their game in hand against North Macedonia that gives them a chance of qualifying directly instead of braving the playoffs later in the season. All they need is a win over North Macedonia and a win or draw against Ukraine in the upcoming qualifiers fixtures to grab a ticket to Germany to defend their 2020 crown.
