Italy scored a 98th minute equaliser against Croatia. (Photo by Alex Pantling – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Former England strikers Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer were far from impressed as Italy booked their spot in the Euro 2024 knockout stages.
The Italians scored a 98th minute equaliser to effectively knock Croatia out of the tournament in Germany on Monday.
It means Italy progress to the last-16, with four points but the current holders have been far from impressive as they look to defend their crown.
Their second-place finish means they face Switzerland in the last-16 and the winner of that could take on England in the quarter-finals – provided Gareth Southgate’s men finish top of their group and overcome their last-16 opponent.
But Rooney and Shearer were in agreement that Italy will not go deep into the knockout rounds.
‘I think on what we’ve seen tonight they were poor,’ Rooney told the BBC.
‘There seemed to be a lack of ideas when they got into the final third and when it got to the two forwards there was a lack of movement,
‘They’ve done well to get through but I can’t see them going far.’
Italy will face Switzerland in the last-16 (Photo by Halil Sagirkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Shearer agreed and was particularly critical of Italy’s frontline.
‘I’ve not been impressed with them up front at all,’ said Shearer.
‘The balls that were going in, the chances they missed, the lack of movement, the ball was bouncing off both Retegui and Scamacca when he brought him on, but they certainly didn’t impress me.’
England take on Slovenia on Tuesday night and a win would guarantee the Three Lions finish top of their group.
Italy’s draw means England are already through to the knockout stages, as their four points mean they’d be guaranteed a route through to the last-16 as one of thebest placed third-placed finishers.
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