England return to action for the first time since June as they prepare to face Italy in their penultimate UEFA Nations League game on Friday, where a win is essential if they are to avoid relegation.
The Three Lions currently sit bottom of Group 3 in League A, having drawn two and lost two of their opening four games, leaving them three points from safety and now unable to qualify for the Nations League finals next summer.
A defeat tonight would relegate them to League B, as they already sit three points behind Italy in third, but a win for Gil Azzurri would keep alive their hopes of topping the group and making the finals next year.
When is Italy vs England?
Italy vs England will kick-off at 7:45pm (BST) on Friday, September 23 at the San Siro, Milan.
The last meeting between these two sides came in the reverse fixture three months ago, when England were held to a 0-0 draw by their visitors in a behind-closed-doors game at Molineux Stadium.
The result ensured that The Three Lions had failed to win any of their first three Nations League Group A3 fixtures, having already lost to Hungary and drawn with Germany, while Italy remained unbeaten in competitive fixtures against England since November 1977.
Will England have enough to beat Italy tonight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
How to watch
The match has been selected for live coverage and will be televised on Channel 4 and Channel 4 HD, while it can also be streamed via the All 4 app.
Coverage begins at 7pm.
Match odds
Italy vs England odds from Betfred
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Italy - 19/10
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Draw - 11/5
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England - 8/5
*odds subject to change
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Team news
Roberto Mancini knows how important a win is for his side tonight if they are to qualify for the Nations League finals next year, following their failure to make it to this year’s World Cup in Qatar. However, he has a number of players out through injury ahead of England’s visit.
Lorenzo Pellegrini, Matteo Politano and Marco Verratti have been forced to withdraw from the squad, with Davide Frattesi and Manolo Gabbiadini called up as replacements. Davide Calabria and Nicolo Zaniolo have been left out, but Leeds United's Wilfried Gnonto and West Ham United's Gianluca Scamacca have both made the cut.
This will be Gareth Southgate’s final chance to work with England before the World Cup in November, so it can be expected that he will field his strongest side available for tonight’s clash with Italy, although injuries to certain players have impacted his squad selection.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (thigh) misses out through injury, meaning Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale will fight for the no.1 spot, while Jordan Henderson has replaced Kalvin Phillips (shoulder). John Stones is suspended, but Dean Henderson, Ben Chilwell, Eric Dier and Luke Shaw are back in the squad, while Ivan Toney has received his first ever call-up.
