Italy 1-2 England: Harry Kane becomes Three Lions top scorer as Luke Shaw sees red in opening Euro 2024 qualifier
Harry Kane became England’s outright leading scorer as Gareth Southgate’s side started their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a fine 2-1 victory over Italy in Naples. The Three Lions avenged the Euro 2020 final shoot-out loss to Roberto Mancini’s charges on a memorable night at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Ad England were in control at the break thanks to Declan Rice’s 13th-minute goal and Kane’s penalty on the stroke of half-time.
Euro QualifyingItaly v England: How to watch Euros qualifier on TV, live stream, team news10 HOURS AGO Scoring from the spot-kick seemed the perfect way for Kane to score his 54th international goal, coming just 104 days after missing a penalty in the quarter-final defeat to France at the 2022 World Cup. He surpasses Wayne Rooney in the scoring charts. Debutant Mateo Retegui gave the Azzurri a lifeline after the break and England did well to hold on for victory after Luke Shaw was sent off for two bookable offences inside 54 seconds with 10 minutes remaining.
The visitors made a great start when Rice rifled a left-footed shot into the net from point-blank range after Italy failed to clear Bukayo Saka’s corner delivery. The out-of-favour Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips came agonisingly close to doubling their lead before Kane fired in England’s second after Giovanni Di Lorenzo handled in the box. England were carving Italy’s defence open time after time and Jack Grealish spurned a glorious chance to add a third before the break.