Summary

  • Southampton's Pelle heads Italy in front

  • Townsend fires in equaliser from 20 yards

  • Kane almost wins it late on in full debut

  1. Text us on 81111published at 19:02 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    Rod in London: Hart, Clyne, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Carrick, Wilshere, Welbeck, Sturridge, Sterling

    No Wayne Rooney?

    We are asking your England team for Euro 2016. Get in touch at #bbcfootball, external, pop on to the BBC Sport Facebook page, external or BBC Sport's Google+ area., external

    You can also text us on 81111 in the UK only - don't forget to say who you are and where you are texting from.

  2. Rooney keen on Kanepublished at 18:57 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    Even England captain Wayne Rooney is excited about seeing what Harry Kane can do at international level.

    "I'm as excited as everyone else in the country about Harry. He's had an unbelievable season," said Rooney.

    Harry Kane and Wayne RooneyImage source, PA

    Kane won his first cap as a second-half substitute for Rooney in the 4-0 win against Lithuania at Wembley on Friday, and scored 79 seconds after coming on.

    "Going into the season, there were even questions about whether he would start for Tottenham," added Manchester United captain Rooney, who also scored against Lithuania.

    "He was starting Europa League games but not the Premier League games - but he gave his manager Mauricio Pochettino no option but to play him and he's not looked back, scoring goals every week."

  3. Karry on Kanepublished at 18:54 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    Tottenham striker Harry Kane makes his first England start tonight, lining up alongside captain Wayne Rooney. He has had acres and acres of newsprint written about him in the last few weeks, and another good performance this evening could send the hype machine into overdrive.

    Harry KaneImage source, AP

    The 21-year-old, who has scored 29 goals for Spurs this season, found the net just 79 seconds after coming on for his debut in Friday's 4-0 Euro 2016 qualifying win over Lithuania.

    "Harry deserves his chance," said England coach Roy Hodgson.

    "This is a chance for some of the squad players to show they are good enough."

    Kane has scored eight goals in 10 appearances for England Under-21s and may play for Gareth Southgate's side in their European Championship in the Czech Republic this summer.

  4. Pick your team at #bbcfootballpublished at 18:52 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    There's nothing quite like an ill-informed stab in the dark to get us all through international week.

    England look all but certain to qualify for next summer's Euro 2016 finals in France, but what team do you expect Roy Hodgson to pick?

    Presuming everybody's fit and available, tell us your team to start England's first game.

    In true Blue Peter style, here's one we made earlier:

    EnglandImage source, Sharemytactics
    Image caption,

    How will England line up in their Euro 2016 opener? Should they qualify, of course...

    Daniel Sturridge, Harry Kane, Michael Carrick, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Theo Walcott and co will all fancy proving us wrong - but we want to know what you think. Your teams please, and reasons why you've made changes to our side.

    Get in touch at #bbcfootball, external, pop on to the BBC Sport Facebook page, external or BBC Sport's Google+ area., external

    You can also text us on 81111 in the UK only - don't forget to say who you are and where you are texting from.

  5. Join the debate at #bbcfootballpublished at 18:51 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    Van Gaal: Not starting Kane and then playing Phil Jones in midfield, Roy really knows how to please the fans

    Daniel Woodley: Incredibly defensive England side. Why just one winger? Poor team selection from Hodgson

    freddy harper-davis: I think England will win 2-1 tonight with Kane and Cahill with the goals.

  6. Postpublished at 18:49 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    BBC Radio 5 live

    You can follow every kick of this game in Turin on BBC Radio 5 live tonight. The build-up starts at 19:00 BST, with kick-off at 19:45. Commentators John Murray and Alan Green are joined by summariser Danny Mills. I am sure the former England full-back will have plenty to say about the current bunch.

  7. Belt it out Buffonpublished at 18:47 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    Gianluigi BuffonImage source, Getty Images

    Gianluigi Buffon is the world champion in national anthem singing. A master of the art. It's probably going to be the highlight of the entire evening so don't miss out. Watch a craftsman at work before he retires...

  8. Gigi gogopublished at 18:44 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    Capped Italians

    Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon extends his appearance record to 147 for Italy this evening. What a list of players that is!

    Buffon's 147 caps is just 11 fewer than the total accrued by Italy's outfield players put together tonight - and Giorgio Chiellini has 75 of those.

  9. Team newspublished at 18:44 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    England's XI includes four players who started in the World Cup defeat by Italy in Brazil, with Joe Hart, Jordan Henderson, Phil Jagielka and Wayne Rooney surviving.

    Manchester United defender Phil Jones looks like he will start as a defensive midfielder - a role he has played for his club - while Harry Kane makes his full international debut in attack. Theo Walcott makes his first England start since September 2013.

    England XI: Hart, Clyne, Gibbs, Henderson, Smalling, Jagielka, Walcott, Jones, Kane, Rooney, Delph.

  10. Don't get carried awaypublished at 18:40 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    Harry KaneImage source, Getty Images

    Harry Kane's England career could not have started better - with a debut goal after just 79 seconds. It doesn't necessarily mean a golden international future lies ahead though, with David Nugent, Andros Townsend, Francis Jeffers, Kieran Richardson and Shaun Wright-Phillips all having netted on their first appearance for their country.

  11. Postpublished at 18:40 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    I remember Gareth Southgate playing in midfield for England a few times. Is Phil Jones really suited to that role at this level? We shall (maybe) find out this evening...

    Gareth Southgate in action for EnglandImage source, Getty Images
  12. Postpublished at 18:38 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    "A few fans are already milling around the superb Juventus Stadium - although plenty of visiting supporters are still in the city centre enjoying the sights and piazzas of Turin on a gloriously warm evening. There is just enough breeze to make it a perfect evening for Roy Hodgson's side to measure how far they have come since the disappointment of the World Cup in Brazil.

    "England's line-up may have an experimental look but there will still be plenty for Hodgson and his staff to learn and observe against opponents who are never less that organised, battle-hardened and tough to beat."

  13. Graz lifepublished at 18:37 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    Graziano PelleImage source, PA

    There are only 17 international goals in the whole of the Italy squad for tonight's game. It's a largely experimental side with not so many familiar faces to the English fan. Apart from Southampton's Graziano Pelle of course.

    World-class hair given its chance on the biggest stage.

  14. All change for Italiapublished at 18:36 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    EderImage source, Reuters

    Italy boss Antonio Conte named his starting XI on Monday, with only defender Giorgio Chiellini surviving from the team that beat England in their World Cup opener in June.

    Southampton striker Graziano Pelle is included, with Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon starting at his club's home ground.

    Italy are unbeaten since the World Cup, but needed an 84th-minute goal from Sampdoria's Eder to draw 2-2 with Bulgaria on Saturday.

    Italy XI: Buffon; Ranocchia, Bonucci, Chiellini; Darmian, Parolo, Florenzi, Valdifiori, Soriano; Pelle, Eder

  15. BREAKING TEAM NEWSpublished at 18:35 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    Phil Jones starts in midfield - wearing the number eight shirt no less! Jones will play in a midfield three with Fabian Delph and Jordan Henderson. Harry Kane starts, as we knew. Full team news to come.

  16. England on the up?published at 18:24 British Summer Time 31 March 2015

    England in Turin.

    It's enough to set any fan of a certain age back to 1990, perhaps on the search for Chrissy Waddle's penalty.

    Chris WaddleImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Turin was the scene of England's World Cup defeat to West Germany in the 1990 World Cup semi-final

    Tonight it's Italy v England. Yes, it's only a friendly and carries nothing of the significance of a World Cup semi-final but we'll all just have to make the best of it won't we?

    In a boost to sports editors around the land, Harry Kane is playing, and does he bring with him a sense of renewed optimism?

    Are Roy Hodgson's side on the up? Can they be a force in next summer's Euro 2016 finals? Can I get through this intro without mentioning 'The Italian Job' at least once?

    Steve McManamanImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    The nearest Steve McManaman got to owning a Mini

    Almost...