England v Italy Match of the Day

World Cup and England got their campaign underway as they faced

Italy. Your match commentators are Philip Neville and Guy Mowbray. The

Italians are led by a Andrea Pirlo. Raheem Sterling are a big -- is the

biggest inclusion. He is to play behind Daniel Sturridge with support

from Danny Welbeck and Wayne behind Daniel Sturridge with support

from Danny Welbeck and Rooney on the left. Five Liverpool players on the

team. The referee is from the Netherlands.

He has been highly praised for his handling of the Champions League

final. Italy have been hit by the absence of Gianluigi Buffon who

sprained his ankle in training. In comes Salvatore Sirigu for his ninth

cap. Another injury to Mattia De Sciglio names Giorgio Chiellini will

move in. Then there is Mario Balotelli. Roy Hodgson's second

World Cup in charge of a national team, the heat similar to when he

led Switzerland in the USA in 1994. Matter far we, the heat is always on

the head coaches of Italy and England -- metaphorically. All sat

them, for the start of the World Cup for England and Italy. -- set.

Engler's training camp in Miami brought more testing conditions than

this. -- England. Whatever the weather, as Steven Gerrard said, the

same applies to the Italians, no excuses. It starts here for England.

We don't know how far they will get to go.

Phil Neville is alongside me to watch them.

It's always difficult, as an England supporter, to enjoy these occasions.

Cahill, they have been preparing to deal

We will expect quite a few of those balls for the Italian

It's's so important when De Rossi and Pirlo get on the ball.

They have to get them and stop the long balls over the There is time.

Didn't quite get the check on it to stop the ball.

Not quite as bad as we feared they might be?

No, it's almost the perfect night for football.

The pitch in the warm-up, it was interesting to see, they were doing

shots into Joe Hart, cutting off a little bit on the left hand side.

In terms of the temperature I don't think there will be complaints

Cahill, looking for Daniel Sturridge.

Johnson surprised at the award of a free-kick to Italy.

I think it was a little kick Chiellini,

Pirlo, immediately pounced upon by Welbeck.

Only one place where Balotelli will play for Italy.

He will be the vocal point for Italy up front.

The so important for the England centre-backs to make sure they pick

The Italians love to fire those low crosses in.

That is why Raheem Sterling is on the team.

One minute we are defending on the box, next we are counter-attacking.

Important he dribbles past those Italian midfield players.

They are not the quickest, not the most mobile.

What is Steven Gerrard say, no excuse, no regrets.

Well, Raheem Sterling has gone for the third.

Rooney, didn't quite get there quickly enough.

The referee is not impressed with the fall of the Italian.

Keeping the front four and Sterling behind Wayne Rooney will interchange

with Sterling tonight and Welbeck as well.

There is a lot of flexibility up there.

Sterling across to try to get close to Pirlo.

Chiellini has given it away to Welbeck.

Welbeck is the best in England in dispossessing defenders.

Roy seems to trust him to do a good job.

England on the front foot from the start here.

It is so important that Leighton Baines doesn't commit

There is one for the collector's book, a Pirlo misplaced pass.

Our wide players have got some job to do tonight.

Need to make sure we keep getting to De Rossi, Pirlo in there.

Here is Marco Verratti, Pirlo's error apparent -- heir apparent

Glen Johnson lucky there, the Italian players around the referee,

Arms clamped down by his side, I think that was his saving grace.

Need to be disciplined, stay with runners.

So much for the heat of the tropical rainforest stifling the

0-0 is many people's bet for the scoreline, and it is

Johnson and Jagielka combine to somehow get

Wayne Rooney has got to help Leighton Baines out a little more.

That is the first we have really seen from Wayne Rooney,

and it was a lovely ball out for well back -- Danny Welbeck.

He wanted that fired across the near post from Glen Johnson.

Darmian, an impressive start for the right back.

Every time Pirlo gets the ball, Jordan Henderson is on him,

not letting him have any time on the ball.

Italy having more of the ball at the moment.

We saw how important that was in recent seasons, and it will be

important here, counterattack seems to be the order of the season.

So important that one of the two centre-back is,

Sterling was on the move, into a good position but lost possession.

Rooney only temporarily when it that.

Italy very nearly caught out by being too casual

Set the first pass has got to go into Daniel Sturridge.

He asked a lot of Balotelli there, but he managed to control it.

Just at the moment, England seem to be doing a lot of chasing.

It is an Italy's right where they seem to be causing us

Chiellini has spent more time in England's half than his own.

He doesn't need much to whip that ball in.

Sturridge has to stay onside, takes on Paletta.

They managed to squeeze out Sturridge in the end.

That is where we want him, dragging the player out into the wide areas.

Danny Welbeck is doing a good job on this right-hand side, tucking in.

Danny Welbeck can't take the free from there.

It is all going on on the left-hand side, Leighton

For the first time tonight, we can hear the England fans over the

general excitement of the neutrals in the crowd, and the Italians.

We have been talking to the England fans in recent days, so many of

Supporters go all over the world to these major competitions.

Maybe for once they won't be disappointed heading home.

He doesn't mind having a go with the left foot.

I think when England were in possession, the first-pass needs

to be on the other side of the pitch, that is where the space is.

England are in good shape, they have men behind the ball.

Italy content to knock it about, and England content to keep the mayor.

Pirlo can change that in an instant, of course.

Every one of those halls in has been nice and easy from Joe Hart so far.

It is the position of Candreva that is causing us problems, looking

There is going to be a free kick for something

He can be erratic in his challenges at times.

In the World Cup games we have seen so

This one has had a slow elder will stop -- a slower build-up.

I think the neutrals are slightly in favour of Italy.

They are not hurting us at the moment.

From a distance, it might have swerved.

Candreva is picking it up again in that position, inside right.

I wouldn't be surprised if Roy Hodgson is thinking about swapping

Rooney does not look comfortable out there at the moment.

A good combination between Johnson and Cahill.

Jagielka scored the last time these two nations met

Very much mix and match teams by both.

In competitive meetings, Italy have the edge.

In three major tournament games, they have won them all.

Sterling is just swapping with Rooney, and he is on the left now.

All he wants to do is touch it to the side and cross.

It's a low cross as well, for Balotelli.

Much made of England's defence being the most suspect area of the squad.

But Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka are unbeaten

Neither have suffered defeat at any competitive international

I don't think he would have quite of reached it anyway.

Good defending in the end from Paletta.

We need Raheem Sterling, down the little sides.

We have seen already they are not comfortable in those situations.

It all started with a surging run from Jordan Henderson.

We have seen that with Liverpool this season.

His energy in midfield will be vital tonight.

Varetti had a little pop at Sterling in the middle, a few

Sterling's abilities just starting to rattle him a little bit.

When we looked at the Italian team, two or three days ago, it looked an

Now it looks inexperienced, that is their weakest part of their team.

Doesn't trouble his old Manchester City colleague, Joe Hart.

You can't let Mario Balotelli do that, come off and turn.

It was so very nearly an England goal.

Wonderful third man run from Danny Welbeck.

Down those side channels England look dangerous.

They don't look comfortable defending in the wide areas,

Didn't see that come through the pack, Wayne Rooney.

I think if he had he would have had a tap-in at the far post.

Daniel Sturridge got a bit of a nick on it.

It was a good opportunity for England.

Leighton Baines, the coolest player on the park.

Good opportunity to put pressure on the Italian number two.

It was Wayne Rooney round the back again.

Jagielka blocked Wayne Rooney's man so he could be free at the far post.

Chiellini, making ground on the left again.

Glen Johnson making good with the tackle.

What we will see in this game, particularly in the second-half,

both teams will play in little bursts.

Rooney asked a lot of Raheem Sterling there.

He got to it a fraction ahead of Matteo Darmian.

Assessment of Sterling's performance so far?

Looks like the one that will unlock the door, in terms of his

I think it's interesting with when Pirlo gets the ball.

Every time he gets it he looks to feed Candreva or Balotelli.

Not many players in world football can do that.

Leighton Baines and Wayne Rooney are having a heated discussion.

Don't think they have worked out that problem yet,

Steven Gerrard was just pointing, looking at Wayne Rooney

The other touchline where Joe Hart has just put that.

I think it might a good idea for Roy Hodgson to switch Henderson

Henderson could maybe close off the pass to Candreva.

Trying to bulldoze his way past Glen Johnson.

Before the game we spoke of attacking and going for the jugular.

I think this was always going to be a tight, cagey affair.

The Italians don't open up that much.

Sterling able to keep it, immediately bursting into action.

Doesn't need much space to find a trick to get past defenders.

Taking lots of touches and taking the ball up to him.

Heavy on the legs when someone is running at you constantly.

It looks like that is what he has been told to do.

They always like looking at people in the warm-up, or in

This is just a run-of-the-mill game in the park with his mates.

No pressure out there for Andrea Pirlo.

His autobiography - I Think, Therefore I Play.

Plays the game and dictates the game at his own place.

When he is on the ball and everyone is running he makes it

Marchisio was forced to tackle from an angle that is not permitted.

The Italian team now have dropped off.

Gerrard, missed by Welbeck, nearly went through to Sturridge.

Chiellini has had enough of the upstart.

Sterling is not respecting reputation though,

Chiellini, one of the toughest defenders I've played against.

If the ball is there to be won, he'll take ball and man with it.

Your old fashioned Italian centre-back for a defender.

He did well there Jagielka, struck close to Balotelli.

Tackled by De Rossi, who argues that he won the ball.

He did do that, but he won the ball with both of his feet.

Rooney says it is a two-footed challenge.

I don't think he went in with his studs up.

I say, just a free-kick, it might turn out to be

a little more if Steven Gerrard can conjure something up.

Italy are definitely looking to dominate that central midfield.

Balotelli is isolated on his own upfront.

Darmian has pushed forward from right back.

Definitely a problem that England need to sort out at half-time.

You have played with Wayne Rooney often enough, Phil,

would you say it's an uncomfortable position for him?

It's a position he has played a lot for Manchester United over

He has been played there tonight because he can counter-attack

Darmian is causing them all sort of problems.

Playing high and Candreva coming into that pocket behind him.

Marchisio, the shot ball to Candreva.

It seems as though the wind is with the Italians, just at the moment.

Just starting to find the little holes in

It has been coming the last two or three minutes.

again. Full vision, dummy the ball on the edge of the box.

Marchisio had a lot to do still from that position.

I think it went through the legs of two or three England defenders.

I think when the Italians on the edge of the box, particularly

Marchisio, he got a wonderful shot, you have to close them down quicker.

Claudio Marchisio's first major tournament goal.

Likes them even more when they fly in like that.

It is the position of Candreva when he comes in off the side.

Leighton Baines doesn't want to go in.

I was talking a short time ago about his 360-degree vision.

I don't know how you would hear a shout from a colleague

in this noise, but he knew exactly where Marchisio

Sturridge is in the middle, a good ball from Rooney,

Sterling, Rooney, Sturridge, England one, Italy one.

A wonderful cross, the first cross we have got into night.

He was frustrated three or four minutes ago with the amount

of defending that has to be done, and that is what he is in the team

He has scored in three of his last four England appearances now.

There is concern in the aftermath of the goal, because there was

I think the physio is under that pile.

It is suspected that he has injured his leg really badly, really badly.

England's players can't, however harsh it seems,

Chiellini was nowhere to be seen in that cross, and as a fallback,

A first-time finish from Daniel Sturridge.

Scored a superb goal against Djourou, but this matters

Anything can happen when everybody jumps on top of each other.

Sturridge loses the ball to Marchisio.

It is not often you see the physio carried off himself.

He was so long England's manager on the touchline.

We are told it is a suspected broken ankle,

Our thoughts are with Gary at the moment.

Marchisio, well controlled by Balotelli.

The flag is up, and England free kick.

The reorganisation on the bench continues.

He was offside when Rooney was in the left-back position there.

There is clearly a problem out there with Candreva's position.

That was brilliant there from Danny Welbeck.

Trying to stop these three midfield players, possession,

The centre-backs have done well so far, Mario Balotelli looks

Trying to get the ball away to safety.

That is out to Sturridge almost what a ball.

That is the perfect position for Daniel Sturridge,

People like Pirlo are vastly experienced.

That is the fifth cross that is Pirlo has

Leighton Baines is looking frustrated at left-back.

An opportunity for Italy, Darmian again.

Beating Leighton Baines, no cover inside from Steven Gerrard.

They will be hoping to get through to half-time now with

Gabriel Paletta finds Giorgio Chiellini.

Two minutes added onto the end of the first half.

All 11 players behind the ball, giving the Italians no space to go

through the middle, encouraging the ball to go wide.

Pirlo, hammered away by Jagielka.

I think what England have shown in this first half is plenty

Gerard didn't find his usual range there, straight to Marchisio

That was a brilliant attempt, and fantastic defending from

Hart did well not to commit himself there, could have caused a penalty.

I thought for a split-2nd that was to sneak in.

Dan goes Verratti, and Dan goes Sterling.

And there goes the half-time whistle.

England and Italy at each other from the very start.

There is so much to talk about. That was the biggest problem in the first

half, the problem is that Antonio Candreva causes down the right-hand

side. Raheem Sterling will continue where he was, down the middle. Glen

Johnson. Wayne Rooney. Leighton Baines. Daniel Sturridge, and nice

ball into Danny Welbeck, back to Wayne Rooney. He gets it clear. We

have seen Wayne Rooney coming off that right-hand side, more touches.

He could have an easier job with Claudio Marchisio. He is getting

into areas where you do not want to go as a fullback, that was the

problem in the first half. Danny Welbeck perhaps

a little lucky, Jagielka,

all the way back to Joe Hart. 24 goals so far in this World Cup

in six and a half games. That was a good spin from

Mario Balotelli. De Rossi didn't spot him early

enough, or he would have been in. Sturridge wins the throw,

conceded by Paletta. I think it has played better

than we thought, though. Daniel Sturridge has gone in

for a shot here. Positivity again from the England

number nine Positive from England

at the start of the second half. It has gone deep towards Rooney,

and he couldn't get it. This definitely looks like

a thing England have worked on. Darmian is always lying in wait,

ready for the opportunity to get halfway if he can full top and

Balotelli is going to get there! Something just told us he would play

a part tonight. You're expecting Glen Johnson

to be behind him covering. Not managed to pick up

Candreva or stop the cross. Just as he would have wanted it,

that cross. Perfection from Candreva,

a lovely finish from Balotelli, I suspect some of you might have

been thinking about going to bed as the pace dropped a little, but

there is plenty left in this match. Sterling retrieves,

took it away from Pirlo. Gerard was actually tripped

by the referee there. I think it was the way that

Daniel Sturridge went down. Going back to the goal,

as a full-back you have got to cover So difficult for a centre-back

when the ball is in Mario Balotelli pulled

off his shoulder. They are trying to slow it

down a bit. Now we are seeing two Italian

midfield players dropping in. I think it was

the way Danny went down that went Chiellini did seem to bundle him

a little carelessly. Sometimes when you go

down you get the penalty, Bjorn Kuipers is not

a referee to easily be deceived. In goes Gerard,

crunching into Verratti. It is hard to cut it back from that

sort of angle, but insist that Wayne Rooney will get himself into

this game a bit more in this half. He has asked his players to drive

directly at the Italian back four. Italy are in possession,

allowing Darmian to get forward. He is playing almost

as a wing-back at times. Glen Johnson is on to that,

but it was cleared by De Rossi. Steven Gerrard to find Johnson

again. We didn't see them push on

like this in the first half much. They never seem to be far

from each other, those two. That cross

from Glen Johnson there was crying He didn't expect

the cross to be fired so quickly. It is perhaps the one bit

of ruthlessness missing from Glen Johnson is probably going to

get forward more in this five or ten minutes than

in the whole of the first half. Prandelli is blinking first

in terms of substitutions. Cahill back to his feet after

a coming together in the centre. Steven Gerrard is onto it again

but can't go any further. Steven Gerrard wasn't appealing

for a penalty there. It was the reaction from Steven

Gerrard that I was looking at. Should he have been appealing

for it? Marco Verratti, 21 years old,

has had a royal tussle with Prandelli is brilliant

at his game management. He changes things around to nullify

the strength of the opposition. I think he might have put Potter

in -- Thiago Motta Balotelli is caught quite

a way offside. We could be looking

at a performance at the moment is crying out for another

midfield player to go in there. A bit of an exchange between him

and Chiellini, Ross Barkley seems to have got the

call to get his warm up intensified. It is going to be another positive

substitution from Roy Hodgson. England putting another

forward-thinking player on. Fill in the middle

of the pitch a little bit better. It is a goal kick,

and Sturridge doesn't think it Just a quick word about

Mario Balotelli. Do you think there is a

maturing to his game now? Speed,

you wouldn't want face him one-on-one. It is just putting it

together on the main stage. He is the focal point for the

Italian team, the person they look for the free passes, an extra added

response received this he enjoys all He got engaged on Tuesday to

his Belgian girlfriend, so maybe If this carries on, Mario Balotelli

will be the toast of Italy again. Joe Hart had to ignore the run

of his former Manchester City He needs to make sure that he

is not peeling off the corner. A demand for the ball there

from Johnson. That was a good effort from

Danny Welbeck. It was

a two versus one situation here . And Danny Welbeck is

going to make way. He has done his bit,

and now it is Ross Barkley's turn. The 20-year-old Everton player,

seven England appearance, We know what he is capable of

if he shows it He is the player that everyone was

calling for to be selected, and I think Roy Hodgson did well not

to select into early. Raheem Sterling has come out on this

side in place of Danny Welbeck. He turned Paletta nicely,

but he will have to do it again. Slid passed there by Leighton Baines

and the keeper has gone to his left hand side and Wayne Rooney

put it back through the legs He is back in his central position

now, Wayne Rooney, You can feel the anguish of Roy

and Ray. I think as an attacking force I

think they've created a lot of chances and problems

for the Italian back four tonight. Sturridge was hoping for the Italian

defender to be switched off Barkley,

not quite quick enough into Pirlo. Then there was a double block,

Jagielka and Cahill were on guard. Sirigu beats it clear,

not for the first time tonight. The counter-attack, so important

for us to commit Daniele De Rossi. He doesn't look comfortable

in one-to-one situations. Ross Barkley will not be overawed

by this occasion. Particularly the goal he scored

against Manchester City. It's a moment of - I've arrived,

fantastic in the warm-up games A penny for his thoughts,

you should know them! He will be looking to keep that

forward, keep counter-attacking. That final shot we just

need to get better. Temperature not deemed hot enough to

have a cooling break, to avoid the When the temperature gets to 32

degrees there will be one break each The players able to take

on drinks in every break possible His body language tells you,

give me that ball. Sterling who has had

the cramp stretched out of himself. Good skill again from

Raheem Sterling. Wayne Rooney had just pulled up

into the penalty spot. So effective

from these positions against Peru in England again looking

for that delivery to the far post. We saw this

in the first half where there are Players just getting

their energy back. The game is played

in little bursts of speed. What do England need to

do to recover this? It would be a huge blow losing

the opening game. Possibly one that England

wouldn't recover from. Candreva again

on that right hand side. He's habitually the best player

tonight. We have not picked him

up all evening. Going back to your point

about what England have to do. Committing more men into the box

when we are putting crosses in. Some of our attacking play has

been really good at times. Sterling wasn't able to turn

his head to see him. Mario Balotelli,

when you are up front on your own, when you clear the ball, you need

the centre forward to sit with him. The referee has got most

decisions right tonight. In a tournament so far when we

have not seen the best referees. Common sense giving us a European

referee to take this No yellow game. I don't think we have had

a game yet with not one caution. Sticking rigidly the England

captain to that deep line role. Would you

like to see him get forward more? There is time later

in the game to gamble more. We need to keep possession,

keep probing. Here is Johnson,

wandered into the crowd. Back into that back four to make

a back five. We see it so often with the Italian

teams. Got

the ball again to find Henderson. It is in these areas where we

need to find the right pass now. I thought there was a rule about not

making a substitution at a corner. Jack Wilshere is ready and Italy

has a replacement as well. I think both teams are

going to hold on. Leighton Baines hasn't been

given that message yet. The first time we have varied

our corners. The four corners have got to

the far post. Cahill made

a fantastic run there against Something else

a little different now. Goes him

self rather than shifting it. Wasn't quite sure it was

going past his post. It was a similar makeup to

the Marchisio goal. The England staff,

down on the bench there, screaming at the midfield players to

keep the ball moving quick. Don't let the Italians settle

in possession. It might prove to be the man who

wins the game for Italy, but he Ciro Immobile, who had

a fantastic campaign for Torino. Jordan Henderson will be replaced

by Jack Wilshere. A positive change from Roy Hodgson

again. No need now to have two defensive

midfield players in there. Jack Wilshere loves driving

forward with a ball. Great combination lay play with

Ross Barkley. We saw that last week

in the friendly against Honduras. Just under 17 minutes left

on the clock. England 1,

Italy 2 in the heart of the Amazon. You have De Rossi dropping

into the back three now. Telling his team to play with

more speed, they are passing No need

for England to go forcing the play. There is still lots of time left

on the clock. Leighton Baines on one side

and Sterling on the touchline. England have great width

on the pitch now. Try to stretch

the Italian back five, which it is. Sturridge met strongly

and unfairly by Chiellini. Came through the back of

Daniel Sturridge. That is what you do when you work

the ball side to side and you are patient you can get the slide

passes in to Daniel Sturridge. As a defender they can be fire

burners when you are working Do you feel like Chiellini did there

the frustration and you rush in You are consistently moving,

sometimes you go looking Particularly someone like Chiellini

who likes to feel men against him. From the experience you would go for

Gerrard on the side of the field. This is the side

of the pitch that he likes. Corred scored two goals against

West Ham, both And cleared the wall

but couldn't beat Sirigu. It's funny, the referee puts

the imaginary line down there. The Italians were a yard in front

of it by the time that He's made one goal, other than that,

it has not really been his night. I think the turf gave way

on that left hand side. There isn't anything

you can do about that. Because we are committing

so many men forward we have to be What can Italy do,

as they pick up the pace and try Candreva is coming off, and Marco

Parolo will go on. Parolo is 29, age range going up, but this is only his

fifth international appearance of Italy. Candreva has made it

impossible for Leighton Baines on this left-hand side. And England go

like for like with the change of their own. Daniel Sturridge who

doesn't look to be moving 100% freely as he goes off, and Adam

Lallana is coming on for his Adam Lallana has gone into this

left-hand side position, the There are three white shirts in the

middle, but there is nobody there. They are getting into good

positions. Good opportunities to fire that ball across or make that

final pass. Sirigu let himself down with that pass, he played it

straight out. Another throw-in down in the corner.

When you get to the last ten minutes, there are always

opportunities, particularly in this heat. There could be a lack of

attention. They just have to be patient and wait for that

opportunity. Barkley bottles away from Immobile. This is good stuff

from Cahill. It is always the worry when you commit so many men forward.

The threat of counterattack from They will have to handle defending

one against one at the back. Jagielka can do that, he has

experience. All of a sudden,

crosses coming in from that part It is all from that area,

and nothing is working. People back home will probably look

at that area of the pitch and think They were working

on the pitch yesterday, A few England players now

suffering from cramp. The England supporters

in the crowd in contemplative mood. I think at times tonight,

the attacking players have been They have created really

good opportunities. Joe Hart ordering Gary Cahill to

get up and carry on playing! England need to get the game going

as quickly as they can again. Lallana is brought down,

De Rossi went in. Another England opportunity

from the free kick. Rooney has the ball in his hands and

doesn't look as if he wants to let Lallana has that ability to turn

on either foot. Who wins this argument,

captain or Number ten? It looks

like Steven Gerrard fancies this. Those Italian feet shuffling over

the white line again, There is still time,

they have to keep probing. Lots has been said

about the spirit in the camp. This is a big test for this team, a

goal down with five minutes to go. Trapped by sterling,

and how did he get out of that? Pirlo plays the game at walking

speed at times, we have not seen Immobile hasn't touched the ball

since he came on, it is as if he Ross Barkley is looking at Rooney

as if to say, that was mine. There was an opportunity

on the right-hand side, Raheem He was on his weaker foot well,

Wayne Rooney. Italy are just retreating

by the minute. They need to keep

the ball moving quick. It is very difficult as a defender

to pick that kind of movement up. And that was sliced behind

by Barzagli. There was a period before when

the momentum was growing for Italy. You see this in training every day,

trying to break down the opposition. Can you see a shot

from outside the box? There should be no panic

in these situations. A club that have always played right

to the very death and will always believe you are

going to get the opportunity. Cahill, one of

the few mistakes he has made there, There have been a couple

of stoppages. A lot can happen in five minutes

in football. England might be open,

but the flag was up will tap Didn't it use to be

a professional foul? That came about with Jack Wilshere

in the box trying to get back three Another chance for them to take

as long as they like about it. There is still time left

on the clock. Coming up to 48 second-half

minutes played. Minutes they are wasting,

giving silly fouls away. Pirlo here could make

it all academic. Joe Hart, stranded, beaten,

helpless. Pirlo with

the back header to Chiellini. Plays

a different game to most players. That is why Juventus have given him

a two-year deal, at the age of 35. People on the streets tomorrow will

be trying that free-kick, We are almost

in the last 30 seconds. Looked as though he was

going to fall at one point. I don't think it will make any

difference to the outcome Italy are off to a winning start

in Manaus. Mario Balotelli is

the match winner and the hero. The former Manchester City man,

now with Milan. Tired look on Andrea Pirlo's

he has been perfect again. I'm sure they will

continue to do that. What a game is set up, Uruguay

losing to Costa Rica could mean winner takes all when those sides

meet in their game in Sao Paulo. Defeat England leaves them in third

place, three points off Italy and surprise leader Costa Rica after

their shock win over Uruguay. England Uruguay next on Thursday.

That is a game they will need to win. A long way to go near -- a long

way to go yet, so keep the faith.