Gareth Southgate says England must stick together as they look to bounce back from the worst run of his managerial reign with the World Cup looming.
Having reached the semi-finals in Russia four years ago and finishing runners-up at last summer’s European Championship, the Three Lions are among the favourites to lift the trophy in Qatar this winter.
But things have gone off course at just the wrong time for England, who suffered the ignominy of relegation from the Nations League top tier with a game to spare on Friday.
Southgate's squad worked out on Saturday ahead of their final game before leaving for Qatar, against Germany at Wembley on Monday night.
But the manager is acutely aware that the latest 1-0 loss to Italy, extending their winless streak to a fifth match – the national team’s longest run without a victory since 2014 - is putting his own performance and that of his players under intense scrutiny.
Southgate was booed by some of the travelling support at San Siro, where he was quick to underline the importance of the group staying focused in the wake of Friday’s galling loss.
“We can’t say that there’s no value,” he said of the Nations League – a competition England took bronze in just three years ago. “These were important matches against top-level teams.
“We are in a run of bad result but it’s for us to put that right and the only way to do that is to stick with what we believe, stick with what’s got us success in the previous tournaments.
Italy v England player ratings
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ITALY RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma - 7. Went untested for large periods of the game but made a good double-save to deny Harry Kane, then held Declan Rice’s shot well. AFP -
Francesco Acerbi - 7. Put in a lot of strong defensive play, including a good block to deny Kane’s shot. Was unlucky not to reach Giovanni Dimarco’s cross. AFP -
Leonardo Bonucci - 8. Made a great header to prevent Rice from getting a clear opportunity, among other important defensive contributions, then played the ball forward for Giacomo Raspadori’s goal. Booked for a foul on Raheem Sterling on the edge of the box. EPA -
Rafael Toloi - 6. There were times where he was dispossessed too easily, but the defender got a fantastic defensive touch on Kane’s cross to turn it wide. AP -
Giovanni Di Lorenzo - 7. Did well to compete with Harry Maguire and stop him getting a free header and often won his duels down the right. Booked for a late foul on Jack Grealish. AP -
Bryan Cristante - 6. Was beaten to some early balls which saw him commit unnecessary fouls. Saw a good strike blocked by Eric Dier but then hit another shot high and wide from a promising opening. Reuters -
Jorginho - 7. Put in some determined challenges and often moved the ball well in midfield. Getty -
Nicolo Barella - 7. Was sharp in a lot of his play and showed his combative side when required. Sent a shot wide but his blushes were saved by the offside flag. AP -
Federico Dimarco - 8. Often got the better of Reece James in both an attacking and defensive sense. Came inches away from finding Acerbi and struck the post with a shot of his own. Getty -
Giacomo Raspadori - 7. Was quiet for a lot of the game and wasted some good chances but conjured the vital moment by touching down Bonucci’s ball, beating Kyle Walker and curling an effort into the net. AP -
Gianluca Scamacca - 6. Showed plenty of early intent with a header that was tipped onto the crossbar and ambitious shot but faded out of the game. EPA -
SUBS: Wilfried Gnonto (Scamacca, 63’) - 6. Showed plenty of energy and a fearlessness as he stole Dier’s pass and lured James into a foul. AFP -
Tommaso Pobega (Barella, 63’) - 6. Made his presence felt in midfield but was halted by Dier when he tried to break into the box. Getty -
Manolo Gabbiadini (Raspadori, 81’) – N/A. Had a shot saved by Nick Pope’s legs but contributed well defensively at times in his own half. Getty -
Emerson Palmieri (Jorginho, 90’) – N/A. Came on for the final moments and made a decent run forward as the game came to a close. Davide Frattesi (Dimarco, 90’) – N/A. Getty -
ENGLAND RATINGS: Nick Pope - 6. Made a good save to deny Scamacca but had no chance with Raspadori’s shot. Got away with an unconvincing pass. Getty -
Kyle Walker - 5. Made a great header to clear Dimarco’s free-kick delivery but then let Raspadori go inside him far too easily for the only goal of the game. Getty -
Eric Dier - 6. Made some great defensive blocks and headers. Was often slow on the ball and lacked the quality required when it came to progressing it forward. Getty -
Harry Maguire - 6. Had a mixed game defensively, making some clumsy challenges and being beaten to the early header by Scamacca, but also making a brilliant challenge on Barella when Italy threatened to break forward. Reuters -
Reece James - 5. Often found himself outdone by Dimarco, being unable to beat the Italian with his own crosses and giving him too much time at the other end on occasions. Delivered a good cross for Jude Bellingham towards the end. Getty -
Declan Rice - 6. Made some good defensive interventions, including a block to deny Raspadori, and tested Donnarumma with a late shot. AFP -
Jude Bellingham - 8. Was easily England’s best player, often doing well to progress the ball forward and also battling in the midfield when needed. Wasn’t quite able to keep his header below the crossbar in the final stages. AFP -
Bukayo Saka - 4. It’s not entirely his fault as he was played out of position, but Saka often looked uncertain about whether to fly forward and help in attack or focus on his defensive duties. This meant he didn’t do particularly well on either front. Getty -
Phil Foden - 4. Was often nullified too easily and some of his free-kick deliveries were poor. Needed to get on the ball more to make a genuine impact. Reuters -
Harry Kane - 6. Had two powerful shots in quick succession saved and put in some good work in his own box at times. His frustration was encapsulated when he had to wait to come back on after a clash of heads with Toloi. PA -
Raheem Sterling - 6. Tried to make things happen despite constantly being put under a lot of pressure, but the Italians were often able to find a way of stopping him whether legal or not. PA -
SUBS: Jack Grealish (Saka, 72’) – N/A. Tried to make things happen but was fouled a lot and eventually booked for dissent, meaning he’ll miss the Germany match. AP -
Luke Shaw (Walker, 72’) – N/A. Delivered a good low cross that somebody should have made more of an effort to reach. PA
“And, in the end, the players have got to stay really tight because there is going to be a lot of noise, but a lot of that will be around me and that’s absolutely fine. It’s my job to take that pressure for them.”
Captain Harry Kane admits the team are going through a “tough period”, with Germany next up.
He said on Twitter: “We know results haven’t been what we wanted. As a group we know what we’re about and will fight through a tough period. Full house at Wembley against Germany will be great World Cup preparation.”
