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WC MOTD: England 1-2 Italy

By on June 14, 2014

Months ago, when the schedule for the World Cup was released, England coach Roy Hodgson went in a tirade on the fact that England had to play in Manaus at the Arena Amazonia stadium, where temperatures can reach up to 35 degrees Celsius in June. But the temperature, nor humidity, was not as high as anybody thought they would be. Only England’s defense seemed at all fazed by the heat. Meanwhile, vibrant attacking football could be found from their attack – giving an Italy side previously viewed as a class above England a run for their money. In the end, the only thing that kept England from a draw or win, even, was their back line.

Andrea Pirlo, England’s downfall in the Euro 2012 Quarterfinals, was at the heart of it once again. Despite his age, and worries about the heat affecting him, when Marco Veratti squared the ball back to him from the right thirty-five minutes in, Pirlo did what might be expected of a cheeky eighteen-year-old, not a experienced thirty-five year old defensive midfielder. Pirlo dummied a shot, and let the ball run onto Claudio Marchisio, who slammed the opening goal of the match through the mass of England defenders in the box and into the bottom left corner. England’s defense was once again picked apart by Italy as Antonio Candreva smacked the post with a shot, and Mario Balotelli saw a chance headed off the line by Phil Jagielka.

But it wasn’t England’s sloppy defending that caught the attention of England fans and English media. Instead, it was their fluent attack. Just two minutes after Marchisio has given Italy a 1-0 lead, England burst on the counter attack, and Wayne Rooney curled an absolute peach of a cross in towards the far post from the left side of the box. Daniel Sturridge was there at the far post to convert, however, Italy replied with a goal of their own; Balotelli headed a Candreva cross from the right into the ground and the back of the net at the far post. Once again it had come from poor defending from the Three Lions, as Gary Cahill failed to head the cross clear to stop it reaching Balotelli.

Yet Hodgson’s side’s attack could not make up for it this time. Rooney wasted an incredible chance at an equalizer late on, dragging a low ten yard effort wide of the left-hand post after creating space for himself inside the Italy box, yet the goal eluded England. Perhaps taking Liverpool’s “we’ll score more than you” attitude might now work at the World Cup, no matter how much the England attack comes together.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.