Destiny Udogie has received some praise after his first start for Italy even though they fell to a 3-1 loss to England at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.
Udogie, who won his first cap for Italy as a second-half substitute in the Azzurri’s 4-0 win over Malta last week, came into the starting eleven against the Three Lions.
As Spurs fans have come to expect from the 20-year-old, he stepped up to the occasion and did not look fazed by the big stage.
He was arguably Italy’s best player in the first half, with his impressive work down the left paving the way for Gianluca Scamacca to open the scoring for the visitors against the run of play on 15 minutes.
However, England mounted an impressive fight back, with a Harry Kane brace and Marcus Rashford goal seeing them emerge comfortable 3-1 winners.
(Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Destiny Udogie was a bright spark in Italy defeat
Udogie was replaced by Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco just past the hour mark as Luciano Spalletti’s men went in search of an equaliser but the reigning European champions failed to muster any sort of fight in the latter stages of the game.
The Tottenham man was one of the few shining lights on a disappointing night for Italy and his rating reflects that.
Football Italia have given him a rating of 6.5 out of 10, which is the highest of any Azzuri star and wrote about the left-back: “Was involved in Italy’s opener by linking up with El Shaarawy. Came close to scoring his first Italy goal in his senior debut as a starter.”
The Telegraph gave him a rating of 6, which was the second highest in the Italy side after Scamacca, and they wrote about the Spurs man: “Showed both sides of his game. Good game management to take booking for Foden foul. Broke forward to goal but flat-footed when Rashford scored.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I believe Udogie easily deserved a 7 as he was one of the best players on the pitch in the first half, dealing impressively with the threat of Phil Foden and Kyle Walker down the England right and striding forward confidently with the ball when space opened up for him.
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