Analysis: England

England started in a 3-1-4-2 formation with Eric Dier sitting in front of the back three, switching to a 5-3-2 in defence – an increasingly familiar set-up under manager Gareth Southgate.

Whenever Italy tried to play out from the back, England’s front line pressed high up the pitch through Jamie Vardy and Raheem Sterling. They sometimes allowed the visitors to pass to their central midfielders by standing off them in the middle of the park, but the home midfielders showed a strong desire to intercept in these areas and shield their defensive unit.

In front of their own goal, England’s back five showed impressive concentration, co-ordination and communication. The Italians nonetheless posed problems in the final third when players such as Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne, Marco Parolo and the substitutes Federico Chiesa and Andrea Belotti looked to break through the gaps and in behind the defence. It was an area in which the visitors were able to threaten.

England also had problems with the wide play of Italy, where they gave Mattia De Sciglio and Davide Zappacosta the time and space to get forward. The full-backs’ link-up play with their forwards, notably Insigne and Chiesa, constantly kept England’s wing-backs Kieran Trippier and Ashley Young on their toes.

In the attacking phase, both goalkeeper Jack Butland and the three centre-backs were active participants in the build-up play. Their intention was promptly to beat the first line of pressure to supply their teammates in space. Eric Dier, Jesse Lingard and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain always made themselves available to try and establish England’s control of the midfield.

The Three Lions’ midfielders favoured through balls in behind the defensive line or long balls straight to their strikers. Their players were constantly trying to lose their marker and break free from the back four, causing defensive imbalances for Italy in the process.

Raheem Sterling had a particularly effective game from start to finish. His movement and ability to draw in defenders with his dribbling proved hugely beneficial for his attacking teammates. Sterling led the charge in constantly attacking the space or, when none was available, looking to take up shooting positions.

England looked to facilitate crosses from the flanks and caused plenty of problems from set-pieces, where players like Kyle Walker or John Stones dominated their Italian opposite numbers in the air. They also made effective use of a quick free-kick after a foul on the edge of the area, with Jesse Lingard playing in Jamie Vardy for the opening goal.

Finally, England found themselves in plenty of favourable positions on the counter-attack thanks to the speed and calibre of their attacking players – particularly Vardy, Lingard and Oxlade-Chamberlain. They were very dangerous in this phase throughout the game, with their breaking runs into space and in between the midfield and defensive lines.