It needed another big effort to come out of the friendly in Algeciras unscathed, but this time the Azzurre could not repeat previous games and were punished by an excellent England team, who ran out 5-1 winners. After beating Spain and drawing with Sweden in the Nations League, Italy were comfortbaly beaten by the European champions and 2023 World Cup finalists. Sarina Wiegman's team (fourth in the FIFA rankings) opened the scoring in the game's first attack, a header from Wubben-Moy, doubled their lead in the 20th minute, a fortuitious second by Hemp from a corner, who then grabbed her second in the 34th minute. From then on in, they controlled the match without too many problems.

In the 45th minute, Italy pulled one back for 3-1 through Cambiaghi, created a couple of excellent opportunities, with Cantore in the thick of the action, but couldn't cope with their opponents' physicality and pace, who closed out the result with goals from subs Toone and Daly after the break. The Azzurre will have to immediately turn a page and start focusing towards Euro 2025 qualification, which begins in April (the group draw will be on 5 March). “We started a bit sluggishly, but at times I saw positive things", declared Soncin. "Looking beyond the result, these matches must give us the conviction of what we can do and achieve. It's not a loss, against such a strong national team, that makes us lose awareness: we could have scored more goals and this must convince us that we can do even more against top-level sides and champions."

THE MATCH – As seen in the two games with Spain in the Nations League, Soncin lined up with a 3-4-3 formation that became a 5-4-1 when out of possession. In goal was Giuliani, with Bergamaschi and Boattin out wide and Di Guglielmo taking up the central defensive position with Linari (captain) and Lenzini either side. In midfield were Caruso and Galli, with Cantore - who scored in the game one year ago - and Catena supporting Cambiaghi up top.

England replied in a traditional 4-3-3, with five of the seven stars chosen in FIFA's 2023 team of the year. Starting from the first minute was goalkeeper, Earps, defenders, Bronze and Greenwood, Barcelona midfielders, Walsh and Russo (a striker with Italian roots - her grandfather left Sicily in the 1950s), with Toone and James on the subs bench. Alongside them was Daly who scored the two winning goals in last February's clash.

The world cup runners-up started off strongly, taking the lead in the 1st minute following a corner kick: Greenwood launched a ball in that Wubben-Moy, at the near post, turned into the net with a not so clean header. The Arsenal defender came close to scoring a second a few minutes later, but this time her flicked effort was confidently stopped by Giuliani. The Azzurre looked for an immediate reply and created a couple of threatening attacks through Bergamaschi and Cantore runs, but England were not put aback and continued to attack in-behind with great conviction.

Italy struggled to cope with their opponents' physicality and conceded many dead-ball situations: in the 20th minute, another corner led to the Lionesses' second goal, this time scored by Hemp, whose shot from the centre of the box struck Galli and ricocheted past the AC Milan goalkeeper. The City striker grabbed her second in the 34th minute with an accurate header that flew into the top corner. After being on the back foot for most of the half, Italy finally found an opening and reduced the deficit through Cambiaghi's well-timed header to make it 3-1 from Catena's perfect assist, following a miraculous save by Giuliani and a golden opportunity for Cantore one on one Herps.

The second half opened up evenly, with Italy much more enterprising and attack-minded in search of a sensational comeback; changes made by both coaches also raised the tempo of the game, but it was England who benefitted from them most. In the 68th minute, James set up another substitute, Toone, to get their fourth, shortly after Cambiaghi had come close to getting her a second with an effort that went just past the post with the goalkeeper beaten. In the closing stages, Daly, with a beautiful mazy run, finished off to make it 5-1.

ENGLAND 5-1 ITALY 5-1 (3-1 ht)

Goals: 1’ Wubben-Moy (Eng), 20’ and 34’ Hemp (Eng), 45’ Cambiaghi (Ita), 68’ Toone (Eng), 79’ Daly (Eng)

ENGLAND: Earps; Bronze, Wubben-Moy, Greenwood (80’ Turner), Charles; Clinton (64’ Park), Walsh, Stanway (64’ Toone); Hemp, Russo (46’ James), Kelly (70’ Daly). Unused subs: Hampton, Keating, Carter, Morgan, Mead, Le Tissier. Head Coach: Sarina Wiegman

ITALIA: Giuliani; Bergamaschi (51’ Salvai), Di Guglielmo (70’ Serturini), Linari, Lenzini, Boattin; Cantore (85’ Dragoni), Caruso, Galli (70’ Severini), Catena (51’ Bonfantini); Cambiaghi (85’ Girelli). Unused subs: Schroffenegger, Tampieri, Bartoli, Piga, De Rita, Oliviero, Schatzer, Glionna, Piemonte. Head Coach: Andrea Soncin

Referee: Maria Eugenia Gil Soriano (SPA). Assistants: Andrada Aloman (SPA) and Iragartze Fernandez Esesumaga (SPA). Fourth official: Alicia Espinosa Rios (SPA). Notes: circa 600 spectators, Caruso booked.