England U21:  1 (Barry 63)  Italy U21: 2 (Maccarone 57, 84)             World Cup football home page
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England Under 21 lost 2-1 to Italy Under 21 in their second match of the Under 21 European Championships on Monday 20 May 2002 in Basle, Switzerland. England can still qualify for the second round of the competition, however, by beating Portugal in their final group game. The England team was:
 
 
 
The England Under 21 team was:
 
                                                        Paul Robinson (Leeds)
                                                       
                                                       
 
  Luke Young (Charlton)          Chris Riggott (Derby)       Zat Knight (Fulham)         Paul Konchesky* (Charlton)
                                     
 
 David Dunn (Captain, Blackburn) Sean Davis* (Fulham) David Prutton (Notts Forest)  Gareth Barry (Aston Villa)
                                                                                                   Jermaine Pennant 85 (Arsenal) Bobby Zamora 88 (Brighton)
 
                                      Alan Smith* (Leeds)                              Peter Crouch (Aston Villa)
                                                                                                        Jermaine Defoe 46 (West Ham)                
                      
 

* Booked during game


The Italian Under 21 starting team was Pelizzola, Bonera (sent off 90),   Natali, Ferrari,  Pirlo, Marchionni, Bellini, Brighi, Blasi, Maccarone, Bonazzoli

 

England started with a more defensive line up than the one against Switzerland with the captain David Dunn and Alan Smith effectively starting in midfield and only Peter Crouch starting up front. Striker Jermaine Defoe was left on the bench at the start off the game.

Italy started the game the stronger and after Maccarone put a good chance wide after 11 minutes, a Pirlo free kick forced a good save from the England goalkeeper, Peter Robinson. Then after 34 minutes, Paul Konchesky took a free kick which almost beat the Italian goalkeeper, Pelizzola but the ball hit his near post.

After 43 minutes, Bonazolli had a header cleared off the line by David Dunn but a minute later, Zat Knight thought he had scored for England - he headed the ball into the goal from a Konchesky cross, but the goal was disallowed for a push by Knight on a defender as he was heading the ball in.

In the second half, Italy took the lead after 57 minutes. Maccarone had scored in the recent friendly Under 21 game and taken part in the full international game against England - he was on good form again in this game. He received a pass from Pirlo inside the box, got past Chris Riggott and blasted the ball past Robinson and into the net.

After 63 minutes, England brought the score back to 1-1. Dunn made the goal by going forward on the right wing and putting in a good cross to the far post which Gareth Barry hit into the net from just outside the six yards box.


Maccarone scores his second goal for Italy

With six minutes to go, the best player on the pitch, Maccarone, gave Italy the victory by receiving a long ball, getting past Chris Riggott again and putting the ball past Robinson and into the top corner of the net to the goalkeepers right. The Italian Bonera was sent off right at the end of the game for a punch on Sean Davis but there was not enough time left for England to take advantage of the extra man.


Who played well: Paul Robinson, Gareth Barry and David Dunn had good games for England but the Italian player Maccarone had a great game.

Who did not play as well: Chris Riggott had a difficult game against the Italian strikers as did the right back Luke Young.
 
 
After this England Under 21 team have now beaten Switzerland but lost to Italy, a win against Portugal would certainly be enough to qualify for the semi finals of the competition. If Italy beat or draw with Switzerland in their final group game, England could qualify with a draw against Portugal.