Italy 1 England 0

Tuesday February 25, 2003

Stadio dei Pini, Viareggio, Italy

Scoring

Italy Piacchi, Moriac 37 minutes

Game

England began well with Walker and Smith going close, but Italy began to apply more pressure as the half wore on. Placchi made the most of Leanne Champ¹s mistimed tackle to score from eight yards on 37 minutes and she close to repeating in the last minute of the first half.

CoachPowell gave another new player a chance in the second half, giving England Under-19 star McDougall her first cap. Everton¹s McDougall came in on the right side of midfield, replacing Exley on the right-hand side of midfield.Williams again could have got on the scoresheet, sending another free-kick wide of the left post as to look for the equaliser. England pushed forward as Powell brought on new caps Bassett, and Walker. Team captain Walker was substituted and it was left to 20-year-old Stoney to take the captain¹s armband. England played better in the second half than they did in the first with Walker and Bassett impressing but they were unable to equalize.

Comments

England gave four new caps out and tried out several fringe players in their first friendly international since losing the World Cup play-off final to France in November. England started with new names in their starting line-up, Hope Powell giving Leanne Champ her first cap and Jody Handley playing in her third game up front with captain Karen Walker.

The new central midfield pairing of Carly Hunt and Fara Williams looked impressive throughout the first half, with Hunt¹s terrier-like tackling allowing the creative Williams time to start off England¹s attacking play. Williams came close to scoring twice, putting a header over the crossbar in the 26^th minute and sending a 30-yad free-kick just wide of the post on 33 minutes.

England

Brown, Rachel

MacArthur, Rachel (Bassett, Laura,62)

Champ, Leanne

Stoney, Casey

Phillip, Mary

Hunt, Carly

Williams, Fara

Exley, Vicky (McDougall, Kelly, 53)

Smith, Sue (Yankey, Rachel, 72)

Walker, Karen (captain) (Walker, Carmaine,72)

Handley, Jody

Subs not used Cope, Pauline- Barr, Amanda- Burke, Karen - Nwajei, Una Pealling, Kirsty- Unitt, Rachel Wayne, Toni-Anne

Italy

Comin, Fabiana

Tesse, Manuele (Masia,53)

Perelli, Giulia

Piacchi, Moriac

Doni, Balentina (Diana, 61)

Zorri, Tatiana

Conti, Pamela

Puttino, Alessia

Panico, Patrizia

Guarino, Rita (captain) (Pasqui,64)

Gazzoli, Ghiara (de Fillipo,89)

Referee: Ms Ditoni (Italy)