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Mario Balotelli: Celebrates Italy's winner against England
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England suffered defeat in their World Cup opener as Claudio
Marchisio and Mario Balotelli scored to hand Italy a 2-1 victory in their Group
D clash in Manaus.
Italy struck first when Marchisio drilled a low shot past
Joe Hart after 35 minutes following a well-worked corner.
England's response was immediate with Daniel Sturridge
firing home at the back post just two minutes later following a slick move
involving Raheem Sterling and Wayne Rooney.
But the Azzurri restored their lead on 50 minutes when former
Manchester City striker Balotelli headed home at the back post. The goal came
after the left side of England's defence - which often saw Leighton Baines left
unprotected -was exposed once too often.
Roy Hodgson's side had several efforts on goal as they tried
to get back into the game, but in Salvatore Sirigu - only drafted into the
Azzurri side following an injury to first-choice Gianluigi Buffon - they found
a keeper in excellent form, as Cesare Prandelli's men held on to join Costa
Rica on three points at the top of Group D.
It had all started so promisingly for an attack-minded
England line-up, with Sterling and Jordan Henderson trying their luck from
distance amidst the stifling heat of the Amazonia.
Antonio Candreva forced Hart into a fumbled save following a
shot from distance, while Balotelli's effort from a similar distance sailed
over.
Danny Welbeck's low ball into the box almost forced Italy
into an own goal with Andrea Barzagli deflecting the ball just wide of Sirigu's
goal.
But after a spell of concerted pressure, Italy took the lead
when a well-worked corner saw the ever-impressive Andrea Pirlo step over the
ball and leave his Juventus team-mate Marchisio to drill in a low shot from 25
yards that gave Hart no chance.
But England were back on level terms on 37 minutes when
Sterling's fine ball picked out Rooney on the left and his cross was fired in
first time by Sturridge at the back post. In the aftermath of the goal - and in
one of the most bizarre incidents of the tournament so far - England physio
Gary Lewin suffered a suspected dislocated ankle and had to be stretchered away
from the technical area.
England then had two scares on the field as half-time
approached, first when Balotelli's goal-bound chip evaded the stranded Hart,
but was brilliantly headed off the line by Phil Jagielka, before Candreva's low
shot from a tight angle struck the base of Hart's post.
The Three Lions made a lively start as the second half got
underway, with Sturridge skipping inside a Daniele De Rossi challenge before
seeing his 25-yard shot beaten away by Sirigu.
But it was Italy who made the telling breakthrough five
minutes after the restart when they again exposed the huge spaces on the left
side of England's defence, with Candreva's cross picking out Balotelli, who
found space at the back post to head past Hart.
England had a great chance to draw level for a second time
when Rooney drilled a low just shot wide of goal with Sirigu beaten, while the
PSG stopper had to be alert to push out a low shot from substitute Ross
Barkley.
Baines' free-kick then forced Sirigu into another save,
while Gerrard's effort from a similar distance flew comfortably over the
Azzurri crossbar.
Pirlo then saw a dipping free-kick strike the crossbar in
injury-time as the veteran midfield maestro looked to have the final word on
proceedings. But it mattered little as Italy held on to claim a vital victory,
to ensure they'll go into Thursday's clash with Costa Rica level on points at
the top of Group D.
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