And make themselves heard
The Italian fans have embraced the Amazon
Out come the players ready for the match, with Daniel Sturridge entering the field backwards as always
The teams line up and listen to the national anthems
England huddle before kick-off
England youngster Raheem Sterling is given a start by Hodgson and what a start he nearly gives England. Just three minutes in he bamboozles the Italian defence as he sprints goalwards …
Before firing a screamer goalwards from outside the area ...
Half the stadium thought it was in but it rifled into the side netting
It's a pretty open start to the game with both sides creating chances. Italy seem very content to wander about, keeping possession and here's Andrea Pirlo doing just that
Sturridge causes chaos in the Italian box
Mario Balotelli attempts to explain himself to Pirlo
Midway through the half England go so close to opening the scoring. Danny Welbeck makes a surging run into the box and crosses from the right, with Daniel Sturridge waiting to finish at the far post, the ball is cleared by a last-ditch defensive hack that puts the ball out for a corner
However it's Claudio Marchisio who does open the scoring when, after a wonderful dummy by Pirlo, he fires a low shot from outside the area ...
It flies through a thicket of legs, past Joe Hart and into the bottom left-hand corner
The Italian's lead lasts just 90 seconds. Raheem Sterling won the ball as Italy attacked, played it forward up the left flank to Rooney, who sent a wonderful cross to the far post, where Sturridge clipped it home on the half-volley from the edge of the six-yard box
He's got every reason to be chuffed, it was a cracking finish
There was a casualty during the celebrations as England
But not in the second half, as five minutes in Mario Balotelli gives Italy the lead again. The Italian forward heads home from a few yards out at the far post, getting on the end of a Candreva cross from the right and beating Joe Hart
Ross Barkley comes on as a sub – but picks up James Milner's jersey – as Roy Hodgson makes changes to get England back in the game
Wayne Rooney looks to have equalised for England, but his low drive from the left side of the Italy penalty area is rifled inches the wrong side of the left upright
Roy Hodgson looks despondent on the bench
Rooney shoots but alas it fails to find the target
Ciro Immobile chests the ball down as Italy continue to thwart England's attempt to equalise
England's players are really flagging
During injury time the woodwork saves England when Pirlo hits a free-kick about 30 yards it swerves this way and that and makes a fool of Joe Hart, sending him the wrong way before rattles the cross-bar
The final whistle goes and Italy's players celebrate a win which gives them a huge advantage in the group
Jordan Henderson and the defeated England players trudge off
Final score: England 1-2 Italy"> Where they are greeted by a glum looking Roy Hodgson. With Uruguay losing 3-1 to Costa Rica, England's next match against Uruguay has now turned into a must win game for both sides.
Final score: England 1-2 Italy
