England skipper Steven Gerrard could not match Italy counterpart's Andrea Pirlo's control of the game.

Just waking up? This is what you might have missed...

England manager Roy Hodgson says he has "great confidence" his side can qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup despite defeat by Italy.

England captain Steven Gerrard says making the knockout stages is "certainly do-able".

Swansea striker Wilfried Bony and former Arsenal winger Gervinho score the goals as Ivory Coast open their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 win over Japan.

Image source, Getty Images

Daniel Sturridge says Uruguay's defeat by Costa Rica changes little for England when the two teams meet on Thursday in Group D.

"If they'd have won their game they'd still want to beat us and secure their advance to the next round as early as possible," he told the Football Association website., external

"Tonight's result doesn't change anything. We've still got two games to show what we can do - two games to win."

QPR manager Harry Redknapp on BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek

"We played ever so well. There were some outstanding performances - Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck were excellent. We were well in the game, but our final ball let us down. Looking at the group and the result with Uruguay, I still think we can qualify.

"Rooney is a difficult one. He is an outstanding player; you try and balance your team and you have one of your best players out of position and it does not quite work.

"He has to play, he is a top player, but we have to get the balance right. I'd play him, and Sterling out wide."

He's had his espresso this morning.

More from Rio Ferdinand:, external "Sturridge, lovely goal, grew into the game, brought others into play well at times, when in the box very direct & unlucky with the curler.

"Rooney put the ball on a plate for Sturridge goal with a great cross, put in a shift but didn't see as much of the ball as he would've liked."

It is 05:45 in Rio de Janeiro, but Rio Ferdinand is up and at 'em, and in the mood to mull over last's night's England defeat.

Rio Ferdinand on Twitter:, external "Sterling was direct & played a part in Sturridge goal, put 1 great cross across the face of goal, almost scored in 1st minute....a threat.

"Welbeck was everywhere, 1 great run & cross where we almost scored, retrieved & kept the ball well. Defenders hate playing against him."

Image source, MB459

Mario Balotelli took his international tally to 13 goals in 31 games by scoring the winner last night.

The AC Milan striker scooped the sponsor's man of the match award for his efforts and took to social media to show off his latest piece of mantelpiece clutter. , external

Image source, AP

You thought it was in, didn't you?

Just four minutes into last night's game, Raheem Sterling screamed a shot goalwards from 25 yards, rippling the side-netting and propelling a million bums off sofas back in England.

The Liverpool teenager had three shots off target by the time the final whistle blew, but his determination to drive at the Italy defence impressed throughout.

He had four successful dribbles - more than any other England player.

Former England midfielder Alan Mullery on BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek

"I don't think Wayne Rooney should start against Uruguay. He did not look like he was enjoying himself. If you are playing in a World Cup you should be enjoying it. Yes, he worked hard but how many shots did he have on target?

"Paul Scholes has said he is past his best. He is someone who knows him so well and something clicked for me when he said that. I would leave him out because we have to get the balance right. Rooney is a big star but he cannot play wide on the left so we should pick someone who can."

Image source, Tuttosport

Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport hails Cesare Prandelli's side as the "Lions of Italy" after their victory over the Three Lions of England.

Graham Taylor
former England manager on BBC One

"If you look at the game overall you would say that we were a little unlucky to lose.

"I think when you are a player of Wayne Rooney's quality and you don't match those high standards, you are going to get criticised. If you are not playing in your normal position it can affect you. I think Wayne should be allowed to be played centrally - he does not like playing wide and, from a personal point of view, I would want to see him play up front. That is his best position."

Today's morning-after-the early-morning-before headlines are:

England manager Roy Hodgson says he has "great confidence" his side can qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup despite defeat by Italy.

England captain Steven Gerrard says making the knockout stages is "certainly do-able".

Swansea striker Wilfried Bony and former Arsenal winger Gervinho score the goals as Ivory Coast open their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 win over Japan.

Image source, Getty Images

Just as in England's Euro 2012 defeat by Italy, Juventus' Andrea Pirlo played a major part in the downfall of Roy Hodgson's men.

The 35-year-old made 108 passes - the most so far in a 2014 World Cup match - of which 103 were completed.

He also hit the bar late on with an outrageous swerving free-kick.

Less obvious was his defensive work. Pirlo recovered the ball six times - Giorgio Chiellini was the only Italian outfield player to manage more.

Image source, Getty Images

Despite their defeat, England manager Roy Hodgson is still confident his side can qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup.

"It's tough to accept we lost," Hodgson told BBC Sport. "But I've got great confidence we can do well enough in the next games to qualify."

Image source, AP

I presume you were all glued to your screens for England's defeat by Italy, but there was plenty more action in Brazil yesterday with Ivory Coast, Colombia and Costa Rica registering wins over Japan, Greece and Uruguay respectively.

For all the goals from those and a round-up of bloopers and best bits from Saturday's action, can we heartily recommend MOTD World Cup catch-up.

Image source, Reuters

Much of the post-match discussion focused on Wayne Rooney's performance with Italy making inroads down England's left side, where he was playing an unaccustomed role.

BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty gave the Manchester United man a six in his ratings.

Rooney had three shots on target, along with Raheem Sterling the highest number in the England team, and created three chances, more than any other England player.

Image source, Getty Images

How do you think England's players played last night? Our chief football writer Phil McNulty has rated the performance of Roy Hodgson's men. Do you agree?

While England's performance may have been encouraging, some of the statistics to come out of last night's game were not...

• England have lost their opening game at a World Cup for the first time since 1986 (lost 1-0 to Portugal but reached quarter-finals)

• England have conceded six goals in their last two World Cup games, as many as the previous 13 games combined

• Only four of 46 sides to lose their opening group game since 1998 have gone on to qualify for the knockout stages (Spain in 2010, Ukraine and Ghana in 2006 and Turkey in 2002).

Image source, Corriere dello Sport

The Italian press are full of it this morning, and rightly so, as they've made a wonderful start to their World Cup campaign. Mario Balotelli is the image leading most of the front and back pages.

Richard Southworth:, external People would say we should be beating Uruguay & Costa Rica no matter what the result last night. Prove them right, and we're through.

Chris Ward:, external Rooney will get all the criticism, but frankly none of the senior players shone, including Gerrard but particularly Johnson.

Sean Macleod: , externalIf England don't get out the group they need to keep Roy, as that's the best England have played in years