England began qualification for the 2024 European Championship with an historic win in Italy, despite a spirited second-half fightback from the hosts in Naples.
Harry Kane's record 54th international goal from the penalty spot and Declan Rice's close-range finish earned England a first win Italy since 1961 after an opening 45 minutes which suggested Southgate's side are still improving after an encouraging but ultimately disappointing World Cup campaign in the winter.
But the visitors suffered from all-too-familiar familiar problems after the interval, including a lack of control in midfield and some jittery defending, as Italy raise their game.
Kane's penalty was comfortably the standout moment, taking him beyond Wayne Rooney as England's all-time top scorer and cementing the 29-year-old's place in history. There was something fitting in the Tottenham striker breaking the record from the spot after his costly miss in the quarter-final in Qatar and, in the circumstances, it was cool as you like, the England captain sending Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way.
The moment capped a striking first half from England, who had made the European champions look ordinary at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
This is clearly not a vintage Italy side - they did not even qualify for Qatar, after all - but Roberto Mancini began with the same midfield three who started the final of Euro 2020, when England's historic possession problem was again exposed.
But England underlined their progress by dominating the middle of the park for 45 minutes, with Rice - who opened the scoring after Kane's shot was blocked from a corner - Kalvin Phillips and particularly Jude Bellingham imposing.
Jorginho, Marco Varetti and Nicolo Barella were overrun and struggled to build any sort of meaningful possession.
It looked like England were on course to lay down the marker called for by Southgate before the game but Italy were a different side after the interval, and the visitors finished the game with 10 men after Luke Shaw's dismissal.
England were particularly nervy in the moments before Mateo Retegui, the Argentine-born full debutant, galloped into space and pulled a goal back with a crisp finish to cap a fine move 10 minutes into the second half.
With the crowd behind them, Italy began to control the midfield, with Veratti growing in influence and Mancini's host of substitutes, notably Leeds' Wilfried Gnonto, causing England increasing problems.
A messy second half for Southgate's side got worse when Shaw was dismissed for a second yellow card for a foul, having earlier been booked for time wasting. England displayed impressive maturity to see out the game with ten men, with Kane particularly impressive at holding up the ball.
They came away with a landmark win, their best against a major nation away from home since the win over Spain in October 2018.
Indeed, in terms of away qualifiers, this was England's first win over a major nation since the win in Croatia in 2008, and over a previous tournament winner since the infamous 5-1 thrashing of Germany in 2001.
Southgate's side have started a new cycle by breaking down another barrier, although some familiar questions remain after Italy's fightback.
