Sarina Wiegman's side backed up Friday's 7-2 win over Austria as another goal-filled outing in Marbella capped off a strong start to 2024
There were only 60 seconds on the clock when Lotte Wubben-Moy, making just her third England start, set the tone for the Lionesses' second fixture of 2024. With exactly a minute played, the Arsenal defender adjusted brilliantly to direct Alex Greenwood's corner up and over Italy goalkeeper Laura Giuliani in what was the first of three set pieces the Azzurre would concede from in an emphatic 5-1 win for Sarina Wiegman's side.
There was a lot of talk about Italy ahead of this game. After disappointing at back-to-back tournaments, at the European Championships in 2022 and then last year's World Cup, they have made big improvements under new head coach Andrea Soncin, with an impressive and intense pressing game even helping them to beat world champions Spain recently. But England faced up to the challenges Italy presented and exploited one big weakness that Soncin is yet to fix, that inability to defend dead-ball situations.
Wubben-Moy nearly had a second only moments after breaking the deadlock, Chloe Kelly's delivery wreaking havoc this time, before Lauren Hemp made it two on 20 minutes when an attempted clearance ricocheted off her and into the back of the net. If she couldn't take much credit for that one, she could for the second, a fantastic header from Stanway's cross far too well-placed for Giuliani to reach.
Italy did pull a goal back before the break, capitalising on sloppiness at the back from Greenwood with an incisive move that Michela Cambiaghi finished off. But England restored that three-goal cushion thanks to the impact off the bench when Lauren James teed up Ella Toone for a brilliant volley in the latter stages and then Rachel Daly made it five, pouncing on a mistake and showing wonderful composure to net for the second successive game as a substitute.
GOAL rates England's players from Estadio Nuevo Mirador…
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Mary Earps (6/10):
Made herself big for a fantastic stop to deny Cantore in the first half but nearly gave Italy a goal when she passed right to the same player in the second.
Lucy Bronze (7/10):
Brilliant effort to keep the ball in play in the build-up to Hemp's second. Defended well.
Lotte Wubben-Moy (7/10):
Broke the deadlock with a fantastic header after 60 seconds and almost had a brace moments later. Solid performance.
Alex Greenwood (6/10):
Delivered superb set pieces, including the assist for Wubben-Moy's opener, and played an excellent ball for James for England's fourth. Made a sloppy error that led to Italy's goal, however.
Niamh Charles (5/10):
Better going forward but a poor backpass nearly allowed Italy to pull a goal back and her marking wasn't tight enough when they eventually did. Off at half time.
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Keira Walsh (8/10):
Dictated play well with some nice passes to break the lines and get attacks going. Classy display.
Georgia Stanway (8/10):
Excellent with her trademark late runs into the box and her energy in the press. Great assist for Hemp's second.
Grace Clinton (8/10):
Lovely footwork in midfield, which often helped England win free-kicks in dangerous positions. Always positive when she picked the ball up.
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Chloe Kelly (6/10):
She and Greenwood were a great tag-team on set pieces to cause Italy problems.
Alessia Russo (5/10):
Didn't have many chances and did well to hit the target with her only notable opening. Off at half time.
Lauren Hemp (8/10):
Didn't know much about her first goal but took her second brilliantly. So close a hat-trick at the end, too.
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Lauren James (7/10):
Replaced Russo at half time and nearly got on the scoresheet with a wicked left-footed effort from range that was well saved. Got an assist, though, with a superb run and cross for Toone.
Jess Carter (6/10):
Also on at the break, at left-back for Charles, she was solid in her defending and got forward well.
Ella Toone (7/10):
Replaced Stanway just past the hour and volleyed home impressively just a few minutes later.
Jess Park (6/10):
Had just under half an hour to make an impact and did get involved, though not as much as other subs.
Rachel Daly (7/10):
On for the final 20 minutes or so and managed to get on the scoresheet, pouncing brilliantly on a poor pass at the back.
Millie Turner (N/A):
Made her long-awaited England debut in the final stages of the game.
Sarina Wiegman (8/10):
Got a look at several different players again with another round of rotation. Will have liked what she saw from Wubben-Moy and could be onto something with the midfield trio of Walsh, Stanway and Clinton.