England U21:  1 (Defoe 58) v    Italy U21:  1 (Maccarone 14)             World Cup football home page
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This friendly between England Under 21 and Italy Under 21 took place on Tuesday 26 March 2002 at the the Bradford ground. Italy put out a strong Under 21 squad, but England were forced to make a few changes through injury. The team that played in the match is shown below:
 
 
 
The England Under 21 team was:
 
                                                        P Robinson (Leeds)
                                                        sub S Bywater 78 (West Ham)
                                                       
 
  S Wright (Liverpool)        Z Knight                           G Barry (A Villa)      J Samuel (A Villa)
                                        A Gardiner 78 (Tottenham)        
 
 S Wright-Phillips (Man City)   D Prutton         J Jenas (Newcastle)         M Etherington (Tottenham) 
 J Pennant 46 (Arsenal)           (Notts Forest)      S Parker 46 (Charlton)    P Crouch 59 (Portsmouth)     
 
                                      J Defoe (W Ham)       A Smith (Leeds)
                                     
                      
 
The Italian Under 21 team was Rossi, Bonera, Ferrari, P Cannavaro, Bellini, Machionni, Brighi (Pinzi 74), Maresca (Castellini 90), Pirio, Bonazzoli (Iaquinta 52), Maccarone (Donati 61)
 

Italy had by far the best of the first half with lots of possession. They had already put a shot just wide when, after 14 minutes they scored. Bonazzoli received a ball on the right wing and went past Samuel, who slipped - that gave him the chance to thread a precise pass to Maccarone who had beaten England's offside trap running through the centre - Maccarone chipped the ball over the England goalkeeper, Paul Robinson and in at the far post to make it 1-0 to Italy.

After 18 minutes, Zat Knight almost equalised with an overhead kick in Italy's penalty area but the ball went just over the bar. Italy were still on top, however, and later on in the first half Bonazzoli should have made it 2-0 to Italy when he got clear of Gareth Barry, the last defender, but his shot was saved onto the post from Paul Robinson. Italy thought they should of had a penalty for Barry's challenge on Bonazzoli but it was not given.


Gareth Barry (left hand side of picture) shoots through Defoe's legs (the England player nearest the goal) and the ball goes past the goalkeeper's outstretched hand (1-1)
 
In the second half England scored from a corner in the 58th minute to make it 1-1. From the corner, an Italian player flicked the ball on at the near post and Knight headed the ball down to Gareth Barry who turned and shot - the ball went through Jermaine Defoe's legs (who got a slight touch) and went into the net inside the goalkeepers left post.

Soon afterwards, Defoe had his shirt pulled when through on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat but the penalty was not awarded. Stephen Wright had a good chance with a header after 78 minutes but the ball went straight to the Italian goalkeeper, Rossi.

England were well on top of the Italian Under 21 European Champions in the second half and were pressing hard towards the end of the game but it ended 1-1.


Who played well: Paul Robinson (who has been on the bench all year for Leeds United this season) had a good game with a good save in the first half. The captain Gareth Barry also had a good game (but was lucky not to give away a penalty in the first half). Jermaine Pennant and Zat Knight also had good games.

Who did not play as well: the left back Jlloyd Samuel had a tough game as did the right winger Sean Wright Phillips.