Postpublished at 30 mins

30 mins

England women 0-0 Italy women

No prisoners, Millie Bright and Alice Parisi go into a full-blooded 50-50 and the Italian playmaker is in big trouble here. Doubled up in pain.

No intent from Bright, the referee actually gave a foul against Parisi, but she needs treatment.  A lengthy stoppage looks to be on the cards.

A rare Italy break looks threatening but Demi Stokes puts on the afterburners to get back and take the ball off Alia Guagni. Corner to the women in blue, nodded wastefully over the top.

Tom Garry
BBC Sport

The England fans' band love a Friday night at Port Vale, clearly. They're making most of the noise inside the ground so far, away in an otherwise-empty block all on their own above the corner flag behind England's right-back position.

On the pitch, England are enjoying most of the possession and controlling proceedings, but just lacking that slight cutting edge up front so far. It wouldn't be a surprise if the vast majority of this game is played in the Italy half.

Midway through the half and England have been dominant - but they are not ahead. Plenty of food for thought for Mark Sampson I'd imagine.

Full-backs Lucy Bronze and Demi Stokes are flying forwards at all times, providing the width as Karen Carney and Jordan Nobbs drift inside. 

Image source, Rex Features

Karen Carney is nominally playing on the left for England but is popping up all over the place, picking up space on the edge of the area and driving a shot just wide as England continue to turn the screw. 

More than 60% possession for England against Italy which is not a stat you get very often in the men's game. England have rather struggled in front of goal of late though, which maybe makes Mark Sampson's decision not to select Eni Aluko all the more interesting.

England are all over Italy here, a goal is on the way. I promise.*

Karen Carney is afforded so much room on the edge of the area and she conjures up a pass over the top that Andres Iniesta would give the thumbs up but again Jodie Taylor is just away from connecting.

*not an actual promise

And almost on cue, Jordan Nobbs sets up a goa...no!

How has that stayed out?! Nobbs puts it on a plate for Jodie Taylor, it's a tap in from two yards out, but the ball just runs behind her at the last second and it's a bit of an air shot from the Arsenal striker. 

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Garry
BBC Sport

Arsenal playmaker Jordan Nobbs, who most frequently plays in a central midfield role for her club, has been instructed to play wide on the right for England tonight in this 4-4-2.

You'd expect her to naturally tuck inside a lot, and try and play off the front two, rather than being a natural winger, hugging the touchline.

But that may actually suit England pretty well, as right-back Lucy Bronze is known for enjoying bursting forward to employ the overlap on the right flank, and to good effect.

Jordan Nobbs takes aim from about 25 yards, a speculator, and she nearly accumulates too as it deflects up and over the top, landing on the roof of the net.

She scored against France recently from similar range.

Karen Carney, one of four members of the Euro 2017 squad with more than a century of caps, cuts inside from the left but can't connect with Jodie Taylor.

Mark Sampson has a wealth of experience at his disposal. Can he get the blend right in the Netherlands though? 

Image source, Getty Images

Italy are currently in their lowest ever Fifa ranking, the sort of stat which puts dread into a cynical English fan. England have made all of the early running though, Toni Duggan doing brilliantly on the left wing to beat her player and cut inside, but the ball had just sneaked out of play. 

Jill Scott takes a whack to the shins but Italy don't kick it out and create a half chance themselves, but Alia Guagni's cross is dealt with at the back stick. 

Left-back Demi Stokes has a shot on goal inside 30 seconds, her toe poke is easy enough for Katja Schroffenegger to handle. A terrific start which has got the crowd in full voice early doors. 

And away we go!

The Italian national anthem is always one of the best at any sporting event. The Italian women may not have Gigi Buffon but there's no lack of passion in their rendition. Forza Azzurri indeed. 

England's World Cup in Canada two years ago was a triumph as Mark Sampson's squad ended up in third place.

But their last Euros was a very different story as the Lionesses picked up one point from three games.

They are a different beast now though. Right?

Tom Garry
BBC Sport

The occasion of Mark Sampson's 50th game in charge of the Lionesses comes on a mild, clear evening in Staffordshire, four days after he made the unprecedented decision to name his squad more than 15 weeks before England's opening game of the Euros. 

The crowd at Vale Park is steadily increasing in number and they'll be hoping for some entertainment tonight, in one of the last chances to see the Lionesses on home soil before the tournament. 

The world rankings suggest England should beat Italy - but this won't be an easy game, against a side who won six of their eight games in qualifying.

Italy have also reached this summer's Euros, after finishing second in a qualifying group - won by Switzerland - which also included Northern Ireland.

The Italians are ranked 19th in the latest Fifa world rankings, 15 places below England, having won six of their eight qualifying games, losing twice against the Swiss.

They have been drawn into Group B for the finals in the Netherlands and will face Germany, Russia and Sweden, while England are in Group D with Scotland, Spain and Portugal.

The Lionesses last faced Italy in the Cyprus Cup in March 2014, with Karen Carney and Toni Duggan scoring in a  2-0 win.

So what are the issues concerning you about Mark Sampson's Euro 2017 squad? Is he right to name them early? Or should he have waited to see who is in the best form?How far can the Lionesses go?

Have your say on the squad, tonight's game or whatever else is troubling/exciting you this evening by texting in on 81111 (UK Only) or tweeting us at # bbcfootball .