Italy decides the heat of battle from Manaus 2:1 for themselves. The English are frustrated because they play creatively designed – but not arrived to the Italian pragmatism.

Cesare Prandelli is known for his well-groomed appearance. The custom-made suits of the Italian national team coach sit always perfect, shining the shoes underneath, as if he had still fresh polished on the football field. Even in the sweltering heat of the Amazon city of Manaus managed the 56-year-old, to maintain this flawless impression. While the journalists at the press conference following the World Cup group match Italy against England (2-1) still nachschwitzten Prandelli looked on the podium again refreshed and recovered from.

Of his players were indeed still far away so soon after the final whistle, although the image Prandelli matched her appearance that evening: Italy had the game won and why, because it’s under the difficult climatic conditions – 30 degrees and a humidity of about 90 percent – better with its energy reserves had been able to economize. It was a victory of efficiency and smart power metering.

It seemed England cope especially at the beginning well with weather and opponents. The attack trio of Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge and the 19-year-old Raheem Sterling whirled the Italian defense messed up neatly. The first good chance of the evening belonged to the team of coach Roy Hodgson, Italy, however, was limited to long shots – and succeeded, thanks to a clever played Eckballvariation suddenly to 1:0 by Claudio Marchisio (35th minute). Although Sturridge equalized two minutes later, but the decisive goal was scored Mario Balotelli (50).

Italy 2 England 1:Prandelli raves about of England’s offensive

“It is a disappointing result, we need time to digest the” Hodgson, who looked clearly entrained than his colleague Prandelli said. “Our plan had been that everyone gives his best, and we have shown some good things. Ultimately, the goals have been missing.” He could not blame his team, none of his players have let him hang. On the contrary: “If we make a presentation in the next two games, we have the opportunity to get ahead,” he said.

In fact, England had had to hide at any time, but can be multiple guess that it can still play a role, especially with its offensive in this tournament. “England has the strongest storm of all championship teams,” Prandelli praised, “and that is no exaggeration.” Why was it then that his team has still won? At the stable defensive line with rookie Matteo Darmian, experience – and to Andrea Pirlo.

The captain now playing his third World Cup, he was against England in front of not only the game ideas, but also the pace. One may wonder how Pirlo could run ten miles to the end of the game – but they had the feeling that the 35-year-old used his feet only for basic necessities. Frequently he moved into his midfield as if it were an exact abgezirkelter circle. From there he distributed the balls calm and collected to the right and left.

Italy 2 England 1:”We have won this battle in midfield”

Too often he and his neighbor Marco Verratti would have fit in the vertical, criticized Prandelli, the game in the top’ve suffered. But that did not matter this evening. Because Pirlo seemed to have seen through pretty quickly that it would be most important to run the highly motivated Englishman simple and intercept at the right moment. Thus, the own forces could be spared after the opening goal during the opponents with increasing humidity ran out of breath. The plan worked, Hodgson’s players schwächelten something more, many of them fought because of the fluid deficit with calf cramps. “We have speed a bit, because anything else would have been absurd in these conditions,” Prandelli said: “We have won this battle in the midfield.”

For England that was the frustrating thing: The rejuvenated team had tried to stimuli, and to make the game with creative moments. But against the Italian pragmatism had thus no chance. “Something like this is cruel at this level. We tried to make, have pushed and pushed and gave everything., And get nothing for it,” complained England captain Steven Gerrard, who also chipped came out of the game also.

Before the next game on Thursday in São Paulo against Uruguay is his team under considerable pressure. “We would have to beat Uruguay anyway, but now it is even more difficult,” said Gerrard. Hodgson knows he must now convince above all on his team to believe in the remaining group games to its own power. He endeavored, therefore, despite all the disappointment to highlight its positive findings of the evening. So have about Sterling “as bright blasted, as we had hoped for from him,” and also with Sturridge and Welbeck he was very satisfied, Hodgson said.

Somehow it fits this English evening that one has to leave the team again: physiotherapist Gary Lewin had landed after a leap of joy over the 1-1 on a water bottle and craned the jump steered. “This is very sad, for him the World Cup is over,” said Hodgson. On the other hand, he and his team still have a chance.

Italy 2 England 1:Match Stats

0:1 Marchisio (35)

1:1 Sturridge (37)

1:2 Balotelli (50)

England: Hart – Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines – Gerrard, Henderson (73 Wilshere) – Sterling, Rooney, Welbeck (61 Barkley) – Sturridge (80 Lallana)

Italy: Sirigu – Darmian, Barzagli, Paletta, Chiellini – De Rossi – Marchisio, Verratti (57 Thiago Motta), Pirlo, Candreva (79 Parolo) – Balotelli (73 Immobile)

Referee: Kuipers (Netherlands)

Attendance: 42,500

Possession percentage: 45/55

Shots: 18/13

Shots: 5/4

Won duels in percent: 56/44