Summary

  • Striker Harry Kane becomes England's all-time top goalscorer with his 54th goal, breaking Wayne Rooney's record

  • Defender Luke Shaw sent off late in second half for second bookable offence

  • Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the most-capped men's international footballer after starting Portugal's game against Liechtenstein

  • England are in Group C alongside Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:54 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    Tweet #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Kane at Tottenham is like Robbie in Take That. Time for him to break free.

    Frosty, London

    Remember when Harry Kane was "a one season wonder"?

    Paul

    Love Harry Kane and as a Spurs fan, it’s time to let him go and win a trophy elsewhere.

    Anon

  2. Postpublished at 48 mins

    Italy 0-2 England

    Italy win a corner on the right and it's whipped in dangerously over Jordan Pickford's head and takes a flick off Harry Maguire.

    The second corner hits Harry Kane in the midrift and bounces it - he feels it too.

    Finally, Jordan Pickford punches the third one away.

  3. 'Tough first half for Italy'published at 20:51 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    Italy 0-2 England

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It was a tough first half for Italy. Mancini needs to look at it and think, what can we do?

    They started well but couldn't maintain those energy levels from the first 10 minutes.

    I can only see Italy scoring if they force an error.

  4. KICK-OFFpublished at 46 mins

    Italy 0-2 England

    Can Harry Kane add to his record-breaking tally? Back under way in Naples.

  5. KICK-OFFpublished at 20:49 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    San Marino 0-1 Northern Ireland

    Back underway in San Marino.

    Just the 71% first half possession for Northern Ireland, with six shots to zero by the hosts.

    Surely a chance to boost the goal difference in the second half?

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:48 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    Tweet #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    You have to admire Kane after the World Cup penalty, especially against a keeper 8 foot tall!!

    Nick

    It just had to be a penalty didn't it? Congratulations to Harry Kane for having the goalscoring record outright!!

    Paul J Newmarket

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:46 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    Tweet #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Superb Harry Kane. Amazing achievement and yet there will be many who decry his goalscoring record and mock his lack of medals

    Anon

    If Harry Kane would like to come and have a go at Rooney's Man United goalscoring record now, he's more than welcome!

    Martin, Manchester

  8. 'You have to admire Kane'published at 20:45 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    HT: Italy 0-2 England

    Former England midfielder Joe Cole on Channel 4: "It's redemption. You can't help but admire him [Kane] and respect him.

    "He stands alone at the top of that chart. The likes of Wayne Rooney and Bobby Charlton below him."

  9. 'You're talking about greatness'published at 20:44 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    HT: Italy 0-2 England

    Former England captain Steven Gerrard on Channel 4: "Incredible moment. Ironically it came in the form of a penalty.

    "Harry Kane was so determined to make up for the penalty miss in the winter. Congratulations, he deserves it.

    "You're talking about greatness and one of the greatest number nines in the world right now.

    "It's no surprise he's linked away from Tottenham every window. Maybe now is the time for him to move."

  10. Postpublished at 20:41 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    HT: Italy 0-2 England

    It's worth pointing out that both of those England goals came from set-pieces.

    The first, Declan Rice on the rebound from the corner. The second, a penalty, earned by a handball from a corner.

  11. 'Records can become a burden'published at 20:40 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    HT: Italy 0-2 England

    Paul Robinson
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Strikers love scoring goals and when records come near they become a burden. Kane's now got it and done it so much quicker than Wayne Rooney.

    He can now go on and set a record that will be so difficult to pass in the future.

  12. 'Italy can't deal with England'published at 20:39 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    HT: Italy 0-2 England

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Brilliant half for England. They rode the storm after five minutes but it has been plain sailing ever since. They've looked confident on the ball.

    Jude Bellingham has been on another level and has bossed midfield.

    Italy can't deal with Bukayo Saka, they can't deal with Harry Kane and they can't deal with the set-pieces. It has been a fantastic half for England.

  13. Latest scorespublished at 20:37 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    All games at half-time unless otherwise stated

    Group C

    Italy 0-2 England

    North Macedonia 0-0 Malta

    Group H

    Kazakhstan 1-2 Slovenia (FT)

    Denmark 1-0 Finland

    San Marino 0-1 Northern Ireland

    Group J

    Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 Iceland

    Portugal 1-0 Liechtenstein

    Slovakia 0-0 Luxembourg

  14. Postpublished at 20:37 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    What it means.

    .Image source, Getty Images
    .Image source, Getty Images
    .Image source, Getty Images
  15. England's best goalscorerspublished at 20:36 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    HT: Italy 0-2 England

    Harry Kane - 54 goals

    Wayne Rooney - 53 goals

    Sir Bobby Charlton - 49 goals

    Gary Lineker - 48 goals

    Jimmy Greaves - 44 goals

  16. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:34 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    Italy 0-2 England

    What a half! England are 2-0 up against the side who beat them in the Euro final a few years ago and Harry Kane has created history in Naples.

  17. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:34 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    San Marino 0-1 Northern Ireland

    A solid C grade first half for Northern Ireland. Satisfactory.

    It's also C for Charles after Dion Charles scored his first international goal to give them the lead at the break in San Marino.

  18. 'Out there on his own now'published at 20:33 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    Italy 0-2 England

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    The emotion of Harry Kane to keep it in check... He knew it was a penalty but he had to wait. He knew what he was up against in Donnarumma, what he was up against in recent history.

    The way he takes the penalty says everything about him. He's so consistent and so regimented in his practice and his drills. It leads him to being the man out there on his own now.

  19. CLOSE!published at 45 mins

    Italy 0-2 England

    It should be 3-0!

    Jack Grealish is completely unmarked as it comes across the face of the goal by Harry Kane.

    He slices it and misses an open net from a few yards out!

  20. Postpublished at 20:31 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    Italy 0-2 England

    Alex Howell
    Football reporter in the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium

    The announcer in the stadium even acknowledges a 'historic goal for England by Harry Kane' over the speaker. That was the record breaker.