England's bid to gain a measure of revenge for their Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy fell flat as the Three Lions were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw by an experimental Azzurri outfit at Molineux on Saturday.
Exactly 11 months on from Italy beating England on penalties at Wembley, Gareth Southgate's men failed to kick-start their Nations League campaign against a side who have not qualified for Qatar 2022 and were battered by Argentina in the Finalissima.
England had chances but were arguably second-best in the first half, as they were cheered on by a massively reduced crowd made up mostly of children as a consequence of the crowd trouble at last July's final.
The hosts had the better of the second period but nonetheless slumped to three successive games without a win for only the second time under Southgate.
A gripping start saw Davide Frattesi and Tammy Abraham miss presentable close-range chances before Gianluigi Donnarumma tipped a Mason Mount effort onto the crossbar all inside the first 10 minutes.
The flurry was followed by something of a lull, but Italy threatened again just before the half-hour mark as Aaron Ramsdale produced a fine stop to thwart Sandro Tonali from point-blank range.
Italy finished the half dangerously, too. Gianluca Scamacca smashed over from eight yards and Matteo Pessina saw his drive turned over.
England should have made it 1-0 early in the second half, but Raheem Sterling failed to convert from Reece James' delivery across goal.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo then made a mess of Lorenzo Pellegrini's lofted pass into the box, neither squaring to the unmarked Scamacca nor getting a shot away, and the game ultimately petered out to a goalless draw.
Source: beinsports.com
