England 1 Italy 1England’s World Cup preparations continued in encouraging fashion despite the frustration of a video assistant referee ruling allowing Italy to snatch a 1-1 draw at Wembley. Four days after securing a deserved win in Holland, tentative optimism continued as England produced a promising display against another big-name absentee from this summer’s finals. Italy are not the force they once were but this was another assured display from England, even though a familiar lack of cutting edge meant Gareth Southgate’s side failed to build on Jamie Vardy’s first-half goal. Lorenzo Insigne grabbed an 88th-minute penalty leveller after a video assistant referee review. England should have had more but the lack of cutting edge that has been stark in Harry Kane’s absence continued, allowing Insigne to level after the penalty given away by Tarkowski.

Source: The Irish Times March 27, 2018 21:22 UTC