England forced to play Nations League clash against Italy without fans

Uefa uphold ban after trouble in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley

Italy players celebrate winning the penalty shoot-out against England in the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley Stadium on July 21, 2021. AP

Italy players celebrate winning the penalty shoot-out against England in the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley Stadium on July 21, 2021. PA

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saves from England's Jadon Sancho during the penalty shootout.

England defender Luke Shaw celebrates after scoring.

England captain Harry Kane battles for a header with Giorgio Chiellini of Italy.

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is beaten by Luke Shaw's early strike.

Italy manager Roberto Mancini with his England counterpart Gareth Southgate in the background.

England midfielder Kalvin Phillips fights for the ball with Italy's Federico Chiesa.

Luke Shaw scores for England.

Leonardo Bonucci taps home for Italy.

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford talks to his teammates during the first half.

England fans at Wembley.

England celebrate after Luke Shaw's goal.

England manager Gareth Southgate consoles Jadon Sancho following defeat at Wembley.

Italy's Matteo Pessina with the trophy.

England’s reunion with Italy in the Nations League will be played behind closed doors as punishment for the disorder that marred the Euro 2020 final.

Gareth Southgate’s side suffered an agonising penalty shootout defeat to the Azzurri in July, when Wembley witnessed chaotic and ugly scenes before, during and after the showpiece.

A number of ticketless supporters forced their way in and Uefa announced in October that the Three Lions would play their next home competition match behind closed doors as punishment.

European football’s governing body has now confirmed that the ban will be served when Italy return to England on June 11 after the Euro 2020 finalists were drawn in the same Nations League group.

Germany and Hungary complete Group A3, which Southgate’s side will also kick-off in an empty stadium as the latter start a two-match stadium ban for homophobic and racist behaviour at Euro 2020.

But that sanction did not apply for England’s World Cup qualifier in Budapest in September as it was a Fifa competition, with Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham subjected to racist abuse.

England v Italy player ratings

Gianluigi Donnarumma 10 - Nothing to do in the first half other than pick the ball out of the net for Shaw’s opener. Commanded the box well when his defence looked messy at times. Beat John Stones to Harry Kane’s ball which curled dangerously towards the Italian goal. An unbelievable performance in the shootout – a generational goalkeeper.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo 5 - A nervous start saw the right-back unconvincing on the ball while leaving enormous amounts of space down his flank early on. Whatever advice the defender received at the break seemed to work.

Leonardo Bonucci 6 - Sloppy with the ball unnecessarily at times. The Juventus defender reacted first to a loose ball to equalise for Italy.

Giorgio Chiellini 5 -. The captain was too narrow at times during the first half and this pulled Italy’s fullbacks in with him. Mancini’s side looked much more assured in the second half. A strong block denied Raheem Sterling from cutting back on his right foot.

Emerson 5 - Assisted Italian attacks with good movement but it was a different story in defence for Emerson who struggled against England’s link-up play. Settled down in the second half.

Nicolo Barella 6 - The Inter Milan midfielder has had a good tournament but looked uncomfortable at times on Sunday night. Unable to influence the game as much as usual. Booked for a foul on Harry Kane.

Jorginho 7 - Overcame a knee injury and kept the play ticking for Italy as usual. Slow to get started but eventually crucial as Italy began to enjoy spells of possession.

Marco Verratti 7 - Helped settle Italy down in the midfield and looked the most assured on the ball for Roberto Mancini’s side.

Federico Chiesa 7 - Positive on the ball as ever; the Juventus man looked to get the ball forward with urgency and hit a warning shot just after the half-hour mark that whistled wide. Italy’s brightest spark, on the night. Forced off with injury.

Ciro Immobile 4 - Isolated amongst England’s three central-defenders with a half-chance struck and blocked comfortably. Anonymous.

Lorenzo Insigne 4 - A blazed freekick over the bar and woeful effort from range made up a poor first half. Moved the ball well into space in moments but the end product was something Italy fans would have wanted to have seen at the start of the tournament rather than in the final.

Bryan Cristante (Barella 55) 6 - On for Barella who was playing on a yellow card. Flicked on the ball that led to Bonucci’s equaliser.

Domenico Berardi (Immobile 55) 6 - Involved early with a shot from a tight angle that Pickford saved comfortably. Added more mobility upfront for Italy. Dispatched his penalty confidently.

Federico Bernardeschi (Chiesa 86) N/R - Not as effective as Chiesa and his free kick in a dangerous area amounted to nothing.

Andrea Belotti (Insigne 90) N/R - Ran the channels in extra time but rarely threatened.

Manuel Locatelli (Verratti 96) N/R - On to help Italy maintain their press from the middle.

Alessandro Florenzi (Emerson 117) N/R - On for the final moments of extra time.

Jordan Pickford - 8. Little to do in the first half, and then, when Chiesa cut through England’s defence and had a shot on 62, he was positioned to get down and make a fine save. Terrific save but then struggled to get near Bonucci’s scruffy, easy, equaliser. Saved from Belotti. Did his part in the penalties.

Kyle Walker – 8. Flew forward to support attack in first goal. Swapped with Trippier as England outsmarted Italy tactically, resulting in a fuming Mancini – and he remained frustrated for a long time. Yet they had to be prepared as Italy were most dangerous down their right. Headed a high ball back to Pickford with such comfort he was applauded.

John Stones – 8. One of England’s players of the tournament. Didn’t put a foot wrong in the first half. Shouldered a 64th minute Trippier corner towards goal without a proper connection. Busy man trying to block Italy’s bossing the game.

Harry Maguire – 8. Shaky first minute but then England countered and scored. Thereafter comfortable. Headed a rare set-piece high over on 55. Headed a dangerous Italian cross over just before the goal, then was under serious pressure as Italy pressed high. Booked. Superb penalty.

Kieran Trippier – 7. Cross for Shaw put England ahead after two minutes in the dream start. Combined brilliantly with Walker on the right and they really troubled Italy, pulling them apart. Had to be careful not to show Insigne inside before he moved into the middle. He usually was, but was pushed back by Italy’s dominance.

Kalvin Phillips – 7. Had to be on it as Italy had 62% of first half possession, had more attacks too. He was. Blocked Chiesa, Italy’s most dangerous player, to the point that he struggled to get in the game.

Declan Rice – 7. Screened England’s back line as he has all tournament and sniffed danger from Italy. Moved forwards with confidence. Covered a lot of ground and second player to come off at Italy bettered England in the centre.

Luke Shaw – 8. Goal, two minutes. What a time to score your first goal for England – a measured controlled finish on the bounce which kissed the post. Played just 59 minutes for England between 2015 and March 2021. Didn't feature in 61 of England's 63 games in that time. Perfectly timed runs all night. Sensational at the start, then back to the wall in a one-sided second half.

Raheem Sterling – 7. Vital in the tournament. Comfortable going forward. Gave away a free-kick just after half-time, but was much quieter in the second half as Italy equalised and pushed for a winner.

Mason Mount – 7. Linked with Sterling in the first half. Fine run on 63 to stretch Italy’s ageing and tiring defence – until Bonucci scored. But that was about it in the second half where he struggled to make an impact.

Harry Kane – 7. Sharp in first half. Fantastic movement meant Italy couldn’t get a hand on him, specifically when he dropped deeper. Linked the attacks. Much quieter in second half as Italy dominated and he was so deep he wasn’t a threat at all. Looked very tired by the end but took England’s first penalty well.

Bukayo Saka – 6. On for Tripper after 70 as England needed a player to get forward as Italy dominated and it felt like England were clinging on. Penalty saved.

Jordan Henderson – 6. On for Declan after 74, his fresh legs and experience needed to try and stem the Italian flow. Nice ball in 92nd minute but Chiellini read it perfectly.

Jack Grealish (On for Mount 99) N/R. Gave England attacking impetus, as he ran forward with the ball. Was also badly fouled by Jorginho.

Jadon Sancho (On for Walker 120) N/R. Sent on for with penalties. Penalty saved.

Marcus Rashford (On for Henderson 120) N/R. On with penalties in mind. Sent Donnarumma the wrong way for his penalty, but it hit the post.

The Hungarian federation was ordered to play two home FIFA competition matches behind closed doors, one suspended for two years, and fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($218,000) over that racist abuse.

England’s trip to Hungary on June 4 is followed by a group game in Germany on June 7, before hosting the Azzurri on June 11 in front of empty stands.

The relevant authorities will be on alert three days later when fans return as Hungary visit in the final match of June’s four-game Nations League schedule.

Hungarian fans clashed with police at Wembley in October after officers entered the stand to arrest an individual for a racially-aggravated public order offence in relation to comments directed at a steward.

Their supporters were banned by FIFA from one away match as a result of their conduct, with the Hungarian federation also fined.

England complete their Nations League campaign in September, when Southgate leads the side to Italy before Germany head to Wembley for a mouth-watering conclusion to Group A3.