Match details » Live commentary Head to head
England Saturday, 14. June 2014
23:00 Clock
Italy
1:2
goals
0 : 1 Goal information ticker Claudio Marchisio 35. / right-footed shot  (Marco Verratti)
1 : 1 Goal information ticker Daniel Sturridge 37. / right-footed shot  (Wayne Rooney)
1 : 2 Goal information ticker Mario Balotelli 50. / header  (Antonio Candreva)

90'
Endgame Summary:
A Mario Balotelli header proved to be the difference today in a very entertaining game between two European heavyweights. England could level a Marchisio goal in the first half immediately and had chances for the draw throughout, but against a retreating Italian side Hodgson's team eventually ran out of energy and couldn't challenge Salvatore Sirigu as the game progressed. Italy made a first step towards erasing the embarrassing outing in 2010 and England already has its back against the wall and must win on Thursday against Uruguay. We hope you enjoyed the coverage and stay tuned for the fourth game tonight!
90'
Full-Time
90'
Immobile has the last chance for Italy, but he is met by Cahill on the break at the edge of the box and stopped by the centre back.
90'
The crossbar saves England! Pirlo nearly makes it three as he catches Hart on the wrong foot with his curling free-kick from 35 yards. The effort bounces off the top of the bar.
90'
Italy are smart enough to milk some clock in England territory.
90'
Raheem Sterling (England) is shown a yellow card
Sterling brings down substitute Parolo and stops the counterattack with a tactical foul. It's the first yellow card in this very fair game.
90'
Ciro Immobile is furious as he thought to be onside, but the assistant had his flag up.
90'
Five minutes are added. This feels generous from the Dutch officials.
89'
Sterling cuts into the middle form the right side and his shot is deflected dangerously but eventually flies wide.
88'
Englands buildup is clearly lacking pace, they can't threaten the Azzurri with the clock running down.
86'
Set-pieces might be a possibility for a late goal for an exerted England side, but there is no one on the receiving end of this Gerrard delivery.
84'
Gary Cahill has a cramp in his foot. Hodgson has already made three changes so centre back must shake it off.
82'
The match has cooled off after the substitutions, England might have run out of energy eventually.
80'
Daniel Sturridge hobbles off the field, probably the effect of the most recent Chiellini challenge.
80'
Substitution (in) England -> Adam Lallana
80'
Substitution (out) England -> Daniel Sturridge
79'
It's the last change for Italy. Cesare Prandelli wants to get the result home and takes off one of his forwards.
79'
Substitution (in) Italy -> Marco Parolo
79'
Substitution (out) Italy -> Antonio Candreva
78'
The resulting corner is poorly executed.
77'
... Quality strike from Leighton Baines from 25 yards, but Salvatore Sirigu is all over the play and deflects the ball comfortable with a diving save.
75'
Sturridge wins a free-kick against an over-aggressive Chiellini...
75'
England builds up calmly not trying to force anything. They can't quite find a gap right now as Italy nearly has eleven men behind the ball.
73'
The work is done for Mario Balotelli as the top scorer of Seria A last season checks in. On the other side Jack Wilshere is the more offensive minded choice in midfield against a retreating Italian side.
73'
Substitution (in) England -> Jack Wilshere
73'
Substitution (out) England -> Jordan Henderson
73'
Substitution (in) Italy -> Ciro Immobile
73'
Substitution (out) Italy -> Mario Balotelli
72'
England is still trying to utilize their speed on the wings and Italy continues to look vulnerable.
70'
20 minutes left in Manaus and there are still no signs of diminishing energy on both sides.
68'
Antonio Candreva's tries one from distance, but can't really challenge Joe Hart with this attempt.
66'
England now is in full control of the match, Italy awaits the opposition and wants to get out in transition to seal the deal.
64'
Ross Barkley goes to work rather quickly, cuts into the penalty area from the left and aims for the far post, but Sirigu is up to the task and deflects the ball.
62'
Great chance for Rooney! Baines squeezes a pass through to the United man into the left box, Rooney cuts back to the middle and misses the shot onto near post just wide. Salvatore Sirigu gambled and had already chosen the wrong turn, on target this one would undoubtedly have found the back of the net.
61'
Many called for the 20-year old Ross Barkley tonight and now he gets his chance on the biggest of all stages.
61'
Substitution (in) England -> Ross Barkley
61'
Substitution (out) England -> Danny Welbeck
60'
On the other side it's Sturridge who aims for the top right hand corner from 25 yards, but his effort curls wide.
60'
Again Balotelli threatens Joe Hart, but can't quite get to the cross from the right side.
58'
We have the first change in the game! Thiago Motta takes over in the midfield, Marco Verratti goes off after a subpar showing.
57'
Substitution (in) Italy -> Thiago Motta
57'
Substitution (out) Italy -> Marco Verratti
56'
Another players goes down inside the penalty area and this time it's Steven Gerrard that is knocked to the ground by Paletta. Not much arguing from the England captain though as the whistle of Kuipers remains silent.
54'
Hodgson's side doesn't seem too rattled by the deficit and pushes forward. Rooney sees his shot from 22 yard fly by the goal.
51'
England goes for the quick response again, Welbeck runs into Andrea Chiellini inside the penalty area, but the referee is rightfully unimpressed. Simply not enough contact to blow the whistle.
50'
Goooal for Italy, 1:2 by Mario Balotelli
The enfant terrible strikes! Antonio Candreva picks out the striker with a beautiful cross from the right side and Balotelli heads it home at the far post. Glen Johnson wasn't well positioned this time and lost Balotelli.
48'
The first effort this half belongs to England as Sturridge tests Sirigu from distance.
47'
Will both teams be able to continue the tremendous pace going forward? We've seen teams fading throughout a game already in the tournament.
46'
No changes for either team starting the second half.
46'
Second Half begins
45'
Halftime Summary:
An entertaining first half is in the books in which both teams surely didn't look to be hampered by the tropical conditions. Italy controlled the midfield throughout but England was the side generating chances. The pace of Sturridge, Sterling and Welbeck is creating trouble for Italy while the Azzurri themselves feature a potent duo of Candreva and Darmian on the right side. Stay tuned!
45'
Half-Time
45'
And yet another chance seconds before halftime! Candreva cuts to the middle from the left and hits the post with his right-footed hammer.
45'
What a save by Jagielka! Finally a brilliant pass from Pirlo finds his way to Balotelli, the striker chips the ball over the onrushing Hart from a tight angle but the centre back heads the effort off the goal line!
44'
Two minutes of stoppage time are being added.
42'
England continues to work the flanks and Cesare Prandelli will have to find ways to slow down Sterling and Welbeck in the second half.
40'
It looks like he might have suffered a broken ankle and is being carried away.
39'
There is a troubling scene at the sideline as England's physio Gary Lewin appears to have taken a serious hit during the celebration.
37'
Goooal for England, 1:1 by Daniel Sturridge
We are level! And of course England comes through with a counterattack! Sterling himself releases Rooney down the left-hand side. The veteran returns the favor and picks out his teammate at the far post, where the Liverpool striker just has to poke the ball over the line from point-blank distance.
35'
Goooal for Italy, 0:1 by Claudio Marchisio
What a super-strike by the Juventus man! England is caught napping from a short corner, Pirlo additionally fools everyone by faking a shot and the midfielder buries the ball in the right corner from 25 yards. Absolutely no chance for Joe Hart.
33'
Good cross from Italy from the right side, but Mario Balotelli isn't able to get enough contact on his header at the near post.
31'
For the first time tonight the game slows down a little bit.
29'
Meanwhile on offense the Azzurri still handle the midfield well, but can't find a gap in the English defense.
27'
We expected the fast wingers to cause problems for the Italian side and the back four has not looked convincing throughout the game.
25'
The resulting corner is dangerous as well because Salvatore Sirigu fumbles, but Rooney can't capitalize at the far post.
24'
Big chance for England! Welbeck breaks down the right side, his cross is deflected by Barzagli and bounces over Sturridges head. The Liverpool striker was inches away from the opening goal!
23'
Mario Balotelli launches an uninspired effort from distance. Not much noise from the Italian star so far.
22'
Steven Gerrard picks out Sterling with a crossfield ball on the left side and his Liverpool teammate fires the ball through the six yard box which is just a little bit too far in front of Welbeck.
19'
Joe Hart is struggling with a swerving effort from about 35 yards by Candreva and can't catch the ball. But nobody is there to gather the rebound and capitalize.
18'
Overall both teams showing disciplined defending and neither one can get through with aerial passing.
16'
Once the defense of the Azzurri is set, Hodgson's side doesn't look as convincing though. Johnson tries his luck with a ranged shot, but the effort is well wide.
13'
Daniel Sturridge shows his tremendous pace on the right side and easily sprints by Paletta, but his cross is picked up by Sirigu at the near post.
11'
Italy pokes the ball around in midfield, but can't challenge a well-organized English side so far.
10'
It's a quite entertaining start so far from both sides which is a welcomed sign because these matches of heavyweights tend to start with a more tactical approach.
9'
Italy might just have found their way into the match! Matteo Darmian breaks through the right side and delivers the cross into the six yard box, but Mario Balotelli can't get to it.
8'
For the first time, Italy can approach the penalty area but the defense is eventually able to clear the danger.
6'
Italy controls possession but England is collecting another chance from distance. This time Henderson challenges Salvatore Sirigu from the edge of the box, but the keeper deflects it wide.
5'
Raheem Sterling has the first attempt for England as he launches one from 30 yards out and his right-footed thumper strikes the side-net.
3'
Italy takes over the midfield in this early stages. It indeed looks like England will focus on their transitional play.
2'
The first possession of the Three Lions is surprisingly booed by the crowd, which might indicate an Italian majority in the stands.
1'
Andrea Pirlo tries to find his forwards in a first attempt, but the ball bounces over the goal line on the right side.
1'
And we are underway in the jungle!
1'
Kick-Off
The teams are coming out led by experienced referee Björn Kuipers and the national anthems are played.
There has been doubts about the condition of the pitch in Manaus, but both managers were happy in preparation of today's encounter. The teams will have to handle the tropical heat and an uncomfortable level of humidity though as England is seeking revenge for their elimination by the Azzurri in the semi-final of the European Championship 2012.
Mattia De Sciglio is unavailable as well due to a thigh problem and Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus starts at left-back. The Azzurri squad will once again be led by veteran playmaker Andrea Pirlo, who is still masterful in this position and has a massive influence on games with his passing and pin-point set-piece ability. Up front enfant terrible Mario Balotelli is flanked by Marchisio and Candreva within a 4-3-3 system.
Meanwhile Italy, winners of 2006, want to erase their disastrous showing of 2010 when they failed to win a game and were eliminated from a manageable group as defending champions. Although they have a much more difficult group this time around, they are expected to fare better. After the injury to Riccardo Montolivo, the country’s only genuine No.10, Cesare Prandelli also can't rely on Gianluigi Buffon and Salvatore Sirigu is taking over between the posts.
The lineups can be found here.
In the last World Cup and European Championships England already wasn't on par with the elite teams and there have been no signs of major improvement since then. Oxlade-Chamberlain is unavailable, but Hodgson can count on faced-paced wings in Welbeck and Sturridge and Liverpool's Raheem Sterling, who will play up front. So we can probably expect a heavy dose of counterattacks from a young English side that surely is offensively gifted.
After yesterday's the clash of Spain and Netherlands, this is the second major European duel the World Cup has to offer. Maybe for the first time ever, expectations about the English side lifting the trophy is absent. Manager Roy Hodgson has to rely on a mostly young and inexperienced squad that is highlighted by veterans Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney. All hopes center around the Manchester United striker to finally show his world class talents at a major tournament.
Janosch Ferda is commentating for you. Enjoy!
Welcome to the second match of group D in the Amazonian outpost of Manaus, where England and Italy will kick off their World Cup campaign in about an hour.