England vs. Italy: Why Italy Are There For The Taking

• No Italian striker has scored more than 12 international goals (the “quirky” Mario Balotelli). Compare this to England’s leading international marksman Wayne Rooney holding 39 international goals to date.
• Despite taking 5 specialist forwards to the World Cup to England’s 4 Italy’s strikers have only cumulatively scored 23 international goals to England’s 54.
• Italy’s entire squad have only 68 international goals to their game to date. England’s have 115.
• Italy are 2-3 against the first European teams they have faced in the last 5 World Cups. Losses to Slovakia, Croatia & the Republic of Ireland, compare unfavorably to wins against Austria & the Czech Republic.
• The last time England played Italy at a neutral venue: 15 August 2012 – Italy 1 England 2.
• The last time Italy beat England without the help of penalties was 27 March 2002 when Raheem Sterling was 7 years old.
• Italy’s recent form is patchy to say the least: 0 wins 6 draws & 1 loss in their last 7.
• England have only lost 3 of their last 34 matches against European opposition.
• Whilst Italy have beaten England 10 times & lost only 8 times they enjoyed almost no success until as late as 1973 – needing 9 attempts to first beat England.
• The only previous meeting at a World Cup proper between the two nations was on 7 July 1990 in a largely meaningless 3rd place game which Italy won 2-1.
• Only 6 of England’s starting 11 from their Euro2012 meeting with Italy have made the 2014 World Cup squad. This compares to 9 of 11 for Italy.
• England have 14 of 23 of their squad coming from teams who have qualified for next season’s Champions League. Italy have 11.