Kane sets scoring record in England's 2-1 win over Italy
England's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Euro 2024 group C qualifying soccer match between Italy and England at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday, March 23, 2023. Credit: AP/Alessandra Tarantino
NAPLES, Italy — Harry Kane broke Wayne Rooney’s national team scoring record and England held on for a 2-1 win at Italy on the opening night of European Championship qualifying on Thursday.
It was a small measure of revenge for England against the team it lost to in the European Championship final two years ago. Italy also won the last meeting in September in the Nations League.
It marked England’s first win over Italy in a competitive match since a World Cup qualifier at Wembley back in 1977 — and its first away win over Italy since 1961.
It was another blow to an Italy squad that had failed to qualify for a second straight World Cup.
Kane earned and converted a penalty toward the end of the first half for his 54th goal with England after Declan Rice’s opener at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Argentine-born striker Mateo Retegui pulled one back for Italy on his debut early in the second half.
England played the final 12 minutes with 10 men after Luke Shaw picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Retegui.
England's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring to 0-2 during the Euro 2024 group C qualifying soccer match between Italy and England at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday, March 23, 2023. Credit: AP/Alessandro Garofalo
Also in Group C, North Macedonia beat Malta 2-1.
The penalty was assigned following a VAR review after it was determined that defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo touched the ball with his hand while attempting to prevent Kane from reaching a cross.
Kane then stepped up to the spot and sent Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way as he drilled a shot inside the right post in the 44th minute.
Rooney played for England from 2003 to 2018, while Kane made his England debut in 2015.
Italy's Mateo Retegui celebrates after scoring to 1-2 during the Euro 2024 group C qualifying soccer match between Italy and England at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Thursday, March 23, 2023. Credit: AP/Alessandro Garofalo
Kane was also involved in the first goal, when he had a shot blocked and Rice redirected in the rebound.
It was nearly all England until Italy came alive after the break and Retegui finished off a counterattack following a passing sequence involving Marco Verratti and Lorenzo Pellegrini.
Italy wore shirts that featured a dedication to former striker and delegation chief Gianluca Vialli, who died in January at age 58 from pancreatic cancer. “Luca, Azzurri per sempre” (Luca, Azzurri forever) was printed on the back of the collars.
Italy visits Malta on Sunday, when England hosts Ukraine.