Blink and it's Easter. The football season rolls on, and we roll on with it. See you at the weekend!

Republic of Ireland (a), Slovenia (h), San Marino (a), Switzerland (h), Estonia (h), Lithuania (a), France (a).

Those are England's remaining fixtures in 2015 - as scheduled. Could they keep this nine-match unbeaten run going right through to Christmas?

Ben, Sunderland: International and club managers all bemoan the fact we don't have a Christmas but are happy to waste a week playing meaningless, boring friendlies when the players could be resting instead. Scrap them!

Stuart in Brighton: It's a shame the time we wasted playing with Gerrard and Lampard. Carrick was the answer all along

Michael Carrick has won just 33 caps in the 14 years since his debut. Has he been massively underused? A victim of timing? He was up against Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard to name but three for the most of his career.

Image source, PA

Mike Hall: British scientists bred Dolly the sheep 20 years ago, so why haven't we developed a new Paul Scholes yet?

Image source, Getty Images

So England have learned that they need to build their midfield around Michael Carrick, 14 years after his debut?

Image source, Reuters

England manager Roy Hodgson talking to ITV: "In the second half we had really good control, but I was very disappointed with the first half. I thought the atmosphere was dead, both teams were guilty of falling into practice match atmosphere.

"In the second half we got back to our high standards.

"Michael Carrick did very well, that is his position. I experimented in the first half with Phil Jones and he did very well defensively. Phil Jones then stepped into centre back and did very well. It was an experiment but we have to do that in these games. There might be a time where we need a Phil Jones type in that position in midfield.

"Both Andros Townsend and Ross Barkley turned the game. Barkley was was very brave. An outstanding talent and I have got to say a word about Andros. We needed someone to do something a bit of special and he has come up with the goods.

"It means a lot to us. It is no mean feat, to come to Italy and get a result, especially to take the game to them like we did. We are indebted to Andros. I haven't forgotten the first half, we can't allow that to happen. I don't think anything was good enough. We were lucky they were pretty tame as well. It keeps the momentum going."

Roy Hodgson calls Ross Barkley 'an outstanding young talent' and says 'nothing in the first half was what we wanted to see'.

Full reaction to come.

Image source, Getty Images

The international break can feel like a drag for some football fans - so rejoice that on Friday there are eight Championship games and a hefty schedule in Leagues One and Two, too. A bonus day! Saturday sees Arsenal v Liverpool and the return of the Premier League, Sunday it's Sunderland v Newcastle and then on Monday it's a full Football League schedule again.

Drink it in.

Check out all of the upcoming fixtures here.

Image source, AP

England striker Wayne Rooney on ITV: "I think we deserved to win it. We had the better chances. Italy were the better team in the first half, partly because of ourselves, and second half we dominated.

"Overall we are pleased with the draw and it keeps us on an unbeaten run since the summer. I thought the best player on the pitch by a mile was Michael Carrick when he came on. He dictated the play for us and was the difference between the two teams.

"It is a friendly, we are missing players, but a good chance for the players who came to give the manager something to think about."

England's next game by the way is a friendly with the Republic of Ireland on 7 June.

Image source, EPA

England goal scorer Andros Townsend talking to ITV: "I was delighted. It was a difficult game and hard to break them down. It was going to have to be a strike from 25 yards to score today. It was all us after the equaliser and we had chances for the equaliser.

"It is a good result against Italy on their home patch. It was a nightmare to be at the World Cup and not play because I was injured. The manager stuck by me through the tough times and every time he has shown me loyalty I have repaid that."

England goalscorer Andros Townsend says it was a nightmare to miss out on the World Cup through injury. Will he be in the squad in France?

Aaron Breddy: Much better second half. Look a different team with proper wingers on the pitch

Chris Mitchell: Much better second half. England can be pleased with that showing. Barkley and Townsend added the energy and Carrick the nous

James Brandon: Much better second half. Had the chances to win. Although it was against Italy's B Team

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I'm not so sure that international football would suffer if we scrapped friendlies - but I'm prepared to hear otherwise.

What do you think?

Chris Waddle
BBC Radio 5 live

"It was a typical friendly. Italy don't like friendlies either. The tempo of the game showed that. After 75 minutes it became a football match and England had chances. I am not a great lover of friendlies in modern football, did we learn anything? The players would have done better with a break than having a game."

Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live in Turin

"It was a fabulous strike from Andros Townsend, the one bright moment in the game. Roy Hodgson will say it was an experimental team which was inexperienced against Italy who are inexperienced. We are away from home and still unbeaten."

Muted applause from the Italy fans as Roy Hodgson's side pick up a 1-1 draw in Turin. England much better after the break as Andros Townsend bags Gianluigi Buffon's shirt to go with his cracking equaliser.

What did England learn tonight then?

Bill: Could be worse. Could be Portugal...

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That's what Ross Barkley can do, rolling his man and making 45 yards right down the middle, a great run, he then lays it off to Harry Kane who thrashes in a first-time strike, stinging the palms of Gigi Buffon from 20 yards. A sign of England's future, perhaps?