'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It was billed as the rumble in the jungle. Deep in the Amazonian forests of Brazil, the Azzuri took on the Lions in a much-anticipated Group D clash inside the Arena Amazonia at muggy Manaus. It took a rich performance from the Italians to keep the determined English at bay to see off a spirited challenge and clinch a valuable 2-1 victory.
An engaging first half flowered into a full blown contest as soon as Daniel Sturridge responded with a goal of his own, just a minute after Claudio Marchisio put the Azzuri ahead with a terrific strike from outside the box. Mario Balotelli delivered the decisive goal with an elegant header in the 50th minute to leave England scrambling for an elusive equaliser for the rest of the game.
Incredibly, Italy completed over 92% of their passes, the highest for any team at a world cup since 1966. Much of that was thanks to some brilliant performances from Antonio Candreva and the fluid connection between Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi.
The English manager, Roy Hodgson, decided to let us in on his secrets when he affirmed his desire to blood Raheem Sterling into the starting lineup. And the teenaged Brit wasted no time to show us why he is minted in a currency England are willing to bank on.
Sterling produced an early blitz, running freely from the right to strike from distance. Even as Salvatore Sirigu, standing on goal for Gianliugi Buffon, sprang into the air to watch the ball thrust itself into the side net from the outside.
It was a nice little illusion that had half the Englishmen in the stadium jump in hasty glee. But when Jordan Henderson forced another Sirigu dive, this time low to his left in order to save a shot on target from outside the box, it was England that was looking like the better side.
The hassled Italians sought to press forward. After dabbling with the ball just outside the penalty area, they saw the ball brush Glen Johnson’s arm, but the full-back had his arm tucked nicely into his waist and an accidental touch wasn’t going to earn them a penalty.
England came close to scoring in the 23rd minute. Danny Welbeck crossed gently from the right, but a stretched foot deflected the ball for a corner before Daniel Sturridge could cause any damage.
The Englishmen were doing a fine job of controlling the flanks, but it was the Italians who were enjoying most of the possession. Eventually, they would also be the ones to ink the score sheet.
Andrea Pirlo showed off his world class skills, selling a silky smooth dummy to leave Sturridge chasing some muggy Manaus air. It was a moment of brilliance that left space for Claudio Marchisio to fire Italy ahead in the 35th minute.
England won only once in eighteen world cup games when they conceded the first goal. Perhaps Wayne Rooney was aware, maybe even Sterling too. The teenager found Rooney, who burst open from the left to deliver a juicy cross right in front of Sirigu.
Sturridge plundered the half volley home to help England claw level just two minutes after falling behind. Ten minutes later, when the two evenly matched teams walked inside for a quick break England had some unresolved issues on the left and Balotelli, despite a few threats was yet to leave an imprint on the game.
Rooney had been tasked to work with Leighton Baines at the back, but the ploy wasn’t working. Baines was often a lone figure leaving the team exposed on the left flank. After the break, Rooney swapped places with Welbeck as Roy Hodgson looked to plug an evident hole.
Balotelli likes being in the thick of things and he wasn’t going to be kept out too long. Antonio Candreva was far too clever for Baines, the Italian beating him with ease to float one over the English back line. Balotelli flew in from the left to ruffle the net with a sublime header to put Italy back in front in the 50th minute.
Sterling remained a threat, and Cesare Prandelli acknowledged as much when he brought in Thiago Motta for Marco Verratti as the first substitution of the game in the 57th minute. Meanwhile Hodgson realized Welbeck had been running ragged, needing a goal, he brought in a fresh pair of legs through Ross Barkley.
As the match wore on, a tiring English team sought an elusive equaliser only to be denied by an alert Sirigu, at times their own inability to stay closer to the target. Baines had his moment; Rooney was at the receiving end of a few opportunities only to threaten without actually causing any damage.
Italy joins Costa Rica at the top of Group D with that hard fought victory. The later assumed charge with a superlative performance, having caused a monstrous upset by defeating Uruguay 3-1, earlier in the day.
The Dutch are surely having a good tournament too. Referee Bjorn Kuipers added to their joy with perhaps the most assured performance after his ilk have floundered badly in the first few games. England though is left with plenty to be done, needing a win over Uruguay on Thursday to keep their world cup hopes alive.
It was only fitting for this match to end with one more moment of magical brilliance from Pirlo. The bearded genius had Hart sailing in the wrong direction with a free kick that floated and curled as though it was flying on a spell. It could only kiss the crossbar, but it was perhaps an offering in gratitude for a valuable result.
Sometimes, it does not take a goal to remind us of the beauty of this wonderful game.
Group D: England 1 Italy 2
Daniel Sturridge 37’
Claudio Marchisio 35’, Mario Balotelli 50’
England: Hart, Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines, Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling, Rooney, Welbeck, Sturridge
Subs: Foster, Wilshere, Lampard, Smalling, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Milner, Lambert, Lallana, Barkley, Shaw, Forster
Italy: Sirigu, Darmian, Paletta, Barzagli, Chiellini, Verratti, Pirlo, De Rossi, Candreva, Balotelli, Marchisio
Subs: Buffon, De Sciglio, Thiago Motta, Abate, Cassano, Cerci, Aquilani, Immobile, Parolo, Bonucci, Insigne, Perin
Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (Holland)
