Italy vs England match preview

A look ahead totonight's International Friendly at the Juventus Stadium

Wayne Rooney explained to Kane how Italian defenders represent a very different challenge to that usually posed to strikers (Getty)

England will look to extend their run of seven-straight wins when they face Italy in Turin tonight.

Roy Hodgson’s men recorded an impressive 4-0 win over Lithuania in their Euro 2016 qualifier on Friday, but will face a sterner test against a side that they have beaten just once in their last six attempts.

LIVE: Italy vs England latest score

England, though, will be buoyant ahead of the friendly after their emphatic start to the Euro Group Stages – The Three Lions have won all five of their opening fixtures in Group E – alongside the arrival of 21-year-old Harry Kane, who scored after 79 seconds of his international debut on Friday.

Antonio Conte’s Azzurri are unbeaten in their last seven matches, but could only manage a draw against Bulgaria on Saturday thanks to a late strike from Eder. They currently sit second in Group H, trailing Croatia.

Danny Welbeck (knee), Raheem Sterling (toe), James Milner (knee) and Leighton Baines (quad) are all unavailable.

Past three meetings…

England 1 (Sturridge) Italy 2 (Marchisio, Balotelli), June 2014

England 2 (Jagielka, Defoe) Italy 1 (De Rossi), August 2012

England 0 Italy 0, June 2012

Stats…

England have scored 19 and conceded just twice in their last seven games.

The last time England won eight in a row was in the 2005-2006 season.

Italy have conceded just six goals in their last 15 games

A Wayne Rooney brace tonight would see the 29-year-old equal Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 49 England goals

Italy have won ten of their 25 fixtures against England, drawing seven and losing eight

Odds…

Italy to win: 6/4

England to win: 9/4

Draw: 9/4

Classic match…

Italy 1-0 England, November 2000

This match was remembered not for England’s defeat, nor for it being Peter Taylor’s sole game in charge, but for David Beckham being handed captaincy for the first time. The former-Manchester United man was one of three candidates for captaincy according to Taylor, but was given the armband purely for his sheer determination. A stunning 30-yard strike from Gennaro Gattuso proved to be the decider against a youthful England side, but failed to overshadow what was a momentous occasion for both England and Beckham, who would go on to captain his country 59 times.

TV: Live on ITV at 7.45pm.