With important club competitions left to play for, the top English club sides will probably not want to release players to play for a full 90 minutes - in previous matches Sven has reached a compromise with club managers for most players only to play for 45 minutes and we will probably see many changes at half time again against Italy.

The England manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson has picked a 27 man squad. 

For this squad, Sven has picked Ashley Cole (left back) and Kieron Dyer (midfield) who have just returned from injury. He has recalled midfielder Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich) but left Steve McManaman (Real Madrid) out of the squad as he says he has not been playing that regularly for his club.

Graeme Le Saux has also been overlooked, even though he has been playing well recently for Chelsea and must now be unlikely to get a future recall. Darren Anderton (midfield) and Chris Powell (left back) have also been left out of the squad.

Sven has also left David Seaman out of the squad - he said that David has been playing well for Arsenal but this is a good opportunity to give the other goalkeepers a chance.

Darius Vassell (attacker) and Wayne Bridge (left back) were newcomers in the last squad but played well against Holland and have been called up again. Ledley King, who should have played against Holland if it was not for a last minute sore throat has also been included in the squad - however, Campbell, Ferdinand and Southgate are seen as the top three central defenders for England at the moment. Rio Ferdinand has been included in the squad though he may not play in the friendly unless he recovers from injury in time.

Since the squad was announced on Saturday 23 March, Steven Gerrard has picked up a groin injury in Liverpool's game against Chelsea on Sunday 24 March and so has been replaced in the England squad by Danny Murphy.

The 27 man England squad is:
 
                                                        Wright
                                                        Martyn
                                                        James
 
  G Neville                          Campbell                           Southgate                Wayne Bridge
  P Neville                           Ehiogu                               Ledley King             Ashley Cole           
  Mills                                 Ferdinand

  Beckham                         Murphy                             Scholes                       Dyer
  Hargreaves                       Cole                                 Lampard                     Sinclair
                                          Butt
 
 
                                       Heskey                             Owen
                                       Robbie Fowler                  Darius Vassell
                                       Teddy Sheringham

The last time England faced Italy was in a friendly away in Turin on 15 November 2000 - England lost 1-0. At this time, Peter Taylor was in charge for his first and only game - Sven Goran Eriksson had been appointed the England manager when his contract with Lazio finished - it finished in time for him to take charge of the next game.

Beckham in action against Italy in Turin

Peter Taylor made David Beckham the England captain for the first time, Alan Shearer and Tony Adams having now retired. Taylor started the game with three at the back and just Emile Heskey up front with Nick Barmby playing behind him.

The England team was James, G Neville, Ferdinand, Southgate, Parlour (Anderton 77), Dyer (Fowler 82), Beckham, Butt (Carragher 24), Gareth Barry (Seth Johnson 72), Barmby, Heskey (Kevin Phillips)

The Italian starting line up was Buffon, Maldini, Nesta, Cannavaro, Coco, Gattuso, Albertini, Fiore, Di Livio, Inzaghi, Delvecchio

England had a good first half, with Heskey in particular holding the ball up well and making some good runs. After 57 minutes, however, Italy took the lead with a powerful strike from Gattuso - he was more than 25 yards out but the England goalkeeper, James, could not save it. Five minutes later Heskey was denied a penalty appeal - Johnson and Southgate had good chances later on and England pressed for the equaliser right up to the finish but the game ended 1-0 to Italy - this result was rather flattering for the home side.

The last time England played Italy in a competitive match was the final World Cup qualifying match in Rome on 11 October 1997. England only needed a draw to finish top of the group and qualify directly for the World Cup 1998 - they got the 0-0 result that they needed.

The England team was Seaman, Campbell, Le Saux, Southgate, Adams, Beckham, Ince, Gascoigne (Butt 89), Batty, Ian Wright, Sheringham

The Italian starting line up was Peruzzi, Nesta, Maldini, Albertini, Cannavaro, Costacurta, Di Livio, Baggio, Vieri, Zola, Inzaghi

England had the better of this match and defended well - Ince got a head injury in the first half after an elbow from Albertini and needed head stitches but played on. After 76 minutes, Di Livio was sent off for his second yellow card. With the game almost over, Italy were pushing forward - in a counter attack, Ian Wright got past the Italian goalkeeper but his shot hit the post - the ball went down the other end and Vieri should have scored for Italy - fortunately for England his header went over the bar and the game ended 0-0.

See the match report on Wednesday's match here.