Gareth Southgate's side condemned Italy to a first home defeat in European qualifying since 1999 with a 2-1 victory in Naples
All hail Harry Kane! England’s new record goalscorer.
On a night which saw England make history in Naples, it was their captain who stole the show when he struck from the penalty spot to score his 54th international goal.
The finish pushed him past Wayne Rooney at the top of the England scoring charts and helped the Three Lions claim their first win on Italian soil since 1961.
Declan Rice was also on target, with the West Ham skipper opening the scoring early on before Kane’s spot kick doubled the visitors’ lead before half-time.
Italy responded well after the break and pulled a goal back through Mateo Retegui, but they couldn’t find an equaliser, even after Luke Shaw had been sent off 10 minutes from full-time.
The win sees England get off to the perfect start in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, while the Italians are left to lick their wounds after a first home European qualifying defeat in 24 years.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
GettyWINNER: Harry Kane
England’s all time record goalscorer. Congratulations, Harry Kane.
It was always a question of when, not if, Kane would go to surpass Wayne Rooney’s record of 53 England goals. And the Tottenham striker certainly picked a legendary setting to write his name into the history books.
Given what happened to him at the World Cup, it was fitting that Kane broke the record from the penalty spot, putting to bed the ghosts of the quarter-final in Qatar.
That miss against France must have been playing on his mind when he stepped up to take the spot kick just before half-time, but he showed nerves of steel to send Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way from 12 yards.
You could see exactly what the moment meant to Kane as he wheeled away in celebration. 54 goals in 81 games for his country. A fantastic achievement.
AdvertisementLOSER: Roberto Mancini
Having failed to guide his country to the World Cup, Italy’s manager would have been desperate to get the European qualifying campaign off to a positive start.
But instead he had to watch his side be outplayed by England in Naples.
There was at least a bit of a fightback in the second half, but that will not stop Mancini’s job from coming under more scrutiny.
This was Italy’s first home defeat in a European qualifying match since 1999 and it ended a 40-game unbeaten run in European qualifying which stretched back to a 3-1 loss in France in 2006.
That will only add further pressure to Mancini, who many in Italy believe is already lucky to still be in a job.
Getty ImagesWINNER: Declan Rice
You can see why so many clubs are battling to be at the front of the queue in the race to sign Declan Rice this summer.
The West Ham captain was exceptional at the World Cup and he picked up where he left off in Qatar with another dominant performance in midfield against Italy.
It was Rice who got England up and running when he opened the scoring early on, reacting quickest to turn home the loose ball after Harry Kane’s shot had deflected into his path.
And then he ran the show in the middle of the park, especially in the first half when Italy just couldn’t cope with his ability to bring the ball out from deep and start off England attacks.
Rice didn’t have things all his own way after the interval as the hosts started to press forward, but he stayed strong and provided the back four with some much needed protection in the closing stages.
West Ham say the only way Rice will leave this summer is for a British record transfer fee and on this performance you can see why. He looks every inch a £100 million man.
Getty ImagesLOSER: Jack Grealish
Grealish has been in impressive form for his club of late, but he struggled to make much of an impression in Naples.
He wasted one glorious chance late on in the first half which would have rounded off a wonderful England move and sent them into the break 3-0 in front.
Why he decided to try and turn in Kane’s cross with the outside of his foot only he will know, but it was a miss that could have proven costly given the way the second half turned out.
This was a big opportunity for Grealish to impress in Naples, with Gareth Southgate picking him over his club mate Phil Foden, but it was one he didn’t really grasp.