Bellingham's support cast give Southgate a big headache

Club issues for Henderson and Phillips leave Rice as only banker to add ballast in midfield

- Dan Kilpatrick

ENGLAND's two most important meetings with Italy under Gareth South gate have been defined by the battle for midfield supremacy.

In the European Championship Final two years ago, England's age-old possession problem was again their downfall as they were overwhelmed by Italy's midfield pass-masters Jorginho, Marco Verratti and Nicolo Barella-before an agonising defeat on penalties.

England managed just 34 per cent possession at Wembley and 426 passes to Italy's 820, in the clearest sign of the dominance of Roberto Mancini's side.

It was a different story in March, however, as England took early control of Euro 2024 qualifying - which they can secure with a draw against the Italians back at Wembley tonight - with a landmark 2-1 win in Naples.

Italy used the same midfield three but Jude Bellingham started alongside Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips, and England overran the hosts in a dominant first-half, powered by their brilliant engine room.

South gate believes his squad has evolved since the Euros and England's qualifying win in Italy was further evidence that they increasingly posses the savvy and technical quality to outplay the international game's traditional powerhouses - a point backed up at the World Cup.

"They continue to evolve and have far more belief ahead of these kind of fixtures now," Southgate said yesterday.