ENGLAND 1, ITALY 1
Former Oldham Athletic player James Tarkowski’s remarkable rise and journey from Boundary Park culminated in a first England cap in the draw against Italy at Wembley.
And the 25-year-old Burnley centre-back did not look out of place to stake his claim for a place in the squad for this summer’s World Cup, though he conceded a late penalty to blot an otherwise flawless debut.
It needed the video assistant referee to rule Tarkowski stood on the foot of substitute Federico Chiesa and Lorenzo Insigne scored from the spot.
Earlier, barely had 30 seconds elapsed when Tarkowski, lining up alongside Kyle Walker and John Stones in a 3-5-2 system, had his first serious test, a vital interception/clearance to thwart Insigne who was through on goal.
By contrast moments later, the far more experienced Stones was caught dallying on the ball and could easily have given away a goal.
Tarkowski was even a threat at the opposite end as, following a corner, his header looped on to the roof of the net, and still only five minutes had been played in an eventful opening.
And still early in the game, Tarkowski showed he was not fazed by shoving Italian great Leonado Bonucci off the ball at a free kick.
Tarkowski was one of five changes from the side that won in Holland on Friday.
Jack Butland took over in goal from Jordan Pickford, Ashley Young from Danny Rose at left back, Eric Dier from Jordan Henderson in midfield while Jamie Vardy was preferred to Marcus Rashford.
There was a poignant moment before kick off with one minute’s applause in memory of three lost internationals who had recently died, former England internationals Jimmy Armfield and Cyrille Regis and Fiorentina captain and Italy’s Davide Astori.
Italy ought to have taken a 17th minute lead when Ciro Immobile planted a free header over the crossbar.
England had a great chance mid-half when Raheem Sterling released Vardy whose shot forced a decent save from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The breakthrough came in the 26th minute when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain took a quickly-taken free kick to release Vardy who powered clear to rifle a shot high into the roof of the net, his eighth goal for England.
Italy complained that the free kick was taken too quickly, but German referee Deniz Aytekin deemed no infringement so the goal stood.
Immobile had a shot deflected narrowly wide as Italy remained a threat.
England looked to build on their lead as Tarkowski had a shot blocked following a corner and Young’s drive was deflected narrowly wide.
Immobile remained Italy’s dangerman and he forced another save from Butland.
England rejigged their side on the hour as Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Trippier made way for Adam Lallana and Danny Rose.
And that was soon followed by two further changes as Vardy and Jesse Lingard were replaced by Rashford and Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook who was also winning his first cap.
Stones, who was hit full in the face and needed lengthy treatment, was taken off to be replaced by Henderson as Dier dropped into defence.
Italy never gave up in their pursuit of an equaliser as Insigne’s free kick cleared the bar and then he shot narrowly wide.
And they were rewarded when they won an 87th minute penalty that Insigne converted.