(MENAFN- AzerNews) Harry Kane became England's record international goalscorer as
his side began their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign by beating
reigning champions Italy 2-1 in Group C on Thursday, Azernews
reports citing reuters .
England's skipper struck a penalty past Italy keeper Gianluigi
Donnarumma shortly before halftime to make it 2-0 after Declan Rice
opened the scoring after 13 minutes.
Debutant Mateo Retegui halved the deficit in the 56th minute as
the hosts responded but England held on to claim their first
victory over Italy on Italian soil for 62 years despite having Luke
Shaw sent off for receiving two yellow cards.
It proved to be the perfect response by England after the
heartache of losing to France in the World Cup quarter-finals in
December when Kane missed a crucial penalty.
This time he made no mistake after Giovanni Di Lorenzo was
penalised for handball in the 42nd minute, finding the corner to
take his England tally to 54, one more than Wayne Rooney.
Kane was also involved in England's opener as his blocked shot
fell for Rice to convert to silence the majority of fans inside the
Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Italy's, who beat England on penalties to win Euro 2020 at
Wembley Stadium but failed to qualify for the World Cup, were far
more dangerous in the second half after Argentina-born Retegui
smashed a low shot past Jordan Pickford.
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