On the morning of June 5, 2014, it rained all day in London yesterday, and although the rain stopped today, the weather was still a little gloomy.

Once again, Benjamin is at Sky Sports' headquarters in West London.

Don't get me wrong, I'm here for business.

At 11 o'clock in the morning, in the second match of the first round of Group D of the World Cup, England vs. Italy was contested at the Amazon Stadium in Manaus.

The Three Lions have won just two of their last eleven meetings with the Azzurri.

And the last time the tournament was in the quarter-finals of the European Championship two years ago, England were eliminated by Italy on penalties.

Veteran coach Hodgson lined up a four-two-three-one formation.

Sturridge, the lone striker, is followed by Wayne Rooney, Raheem Sterling and Welbeck.

Liverpool's midfield duo of Jordan Henderson and Steven Gerrard are in the national team.

Left-back Leyton Baines, right-back Glen Johnson, centre-backs Gary Cahill and Jagielka were partnered and goalkeeper Joe Hart.

For Italy, goalkeeper Gianluigi Gianluigi Buffon is out injured, while there are also a number of injuries at the back, with De Sciglio suffering a thigh strain and Abate and Leonardo Bonucci also unavailable.

Prandelli was in a four-one-four-one formation.

The four players of the single striker, Balotelli, Marchisio, Pirlo, Verratti, and Candreva lined up, and the single midfielder De Rossi.

Chiellini made a cameo appearance at left wing-back, Darmian at right-back, and Barzagli and Paletta in central defence.

Benjamin was in the studio, and he was invited as a guest commentator.

Veteran commentator Martin Taylor introduced the starting line-ups of both sides to the audience in front of the TV set, and then asked Benjamin:

"Benjamin, from the point of view of a professional football manager, what do you think about today's game?"

'Even though Italy had a number of injured players and had to make changes, I still think it will be difficult for England to win.

"Oh? Do you mean to say that you think Italy will win this game? Where do you think England is weak?

It has been 277 days since Italy qualified from the Italian group last September, and the Azzurri have not won any international competitions. ”

'Roy Hodgson has brought in a group of new players into the England national team, maybe they are dynamic and driven, but at the same time they mean they are inexperienced.

I can understand why he brought in 19-year-old Raheem Sterling, the young Liverpool winger who scored nine goals in the league last season and did a good job.

But I can't understand why he would turn down a member of the league champions.

Harry Kane, Danny Rose and Kyle Walker in our team are all absolute mainstays and are the heroes of the team's championship.

Kane scored nearly 30 goals in all competitions last season, and such a result can't be in the eyes of his old man? ”

Just as Benjamin was complaining about his own players, England came up with a dangerous attack.

"Let's look at this attack! Sturridge splits the ball, Sterling gets up from the right and shoots angrily into the side netting!

It can be seen that Sterling, a young player who played in the World Cup for the first time, played very confidently, but unfortunately this goal was not scored, it was still too reluctant. ”

Before the words could be spoken, England regained possession again.

'Raheem Sterling passes back, Henderson's powerful volley from the edge of the box is saved sideways by Italian goalkeeper Sirigu!'

The Three Lions' attack came to an end for the time being, and calm returned to Martin Taylor, who had just turned the conversation back to what Benjamin had just finished talking about.

"But we saw England's attack after the opening kick-off, which shows that there is nothing wrong with Hodgson's tactics, right?

Could it be that the old coach has his own considerations, so he didn't choose to select several Tottenham players into the national team? ”

"I don't think so, I think it's just because he deliberately works against the cries of the outside fans out of the stubbornness and arrogance of an old man.

As for the advantage on the field, I don't think it exists, these two attacks looked quite strong and didn't actually pose much of a threat to the Italian goal.

The Azzurri game has always been like this, especially since it has only just begun. ”

Martin Taylor smiled slightly, and he didn't refute either.

"Alright, let's get back to the game."

In the eighth minute, Pirlo burst into the box and his pass touched Glen Johnson's right arm.

The Italian players raised their hands to signal that the opposing player had handballed, but the referee, Dutchman Keppers, did not say anything.

Chiellini's low shot from the left side of the box goes wide of the far post.

The two Englishmen in the studio were a little embarrassed, and judging from the slow-motion replay, the ball did hit Glenn Johnson's arm.

"Glen Johnson's arms are not open, they are close to his body, and probably the referee decided that it was not a penalty."

"Yes, the Dutch referee was calm and a premature penalty would obviously have a serious impact on this wonderful conversation."

Benjamin pouted, then you haven't seen a World Cup champion with an average of a little per game.

In the 11th minute, England cooperated in front of the field, and the ball was cut off by an Italian defender.

However, Paletta's pass from the edge of the box was then mistaken and Welbeck's long-range shot from outside the box went too wide of the left-hand post.

"A ball like this can be slowed down, whether it's a pass to a teammate or two steps forward yourself, it's better than such a brainless outrageous long-range shot."

Benjamin knew that Welbeck was at this level, but he couldn't help but complain.

'The shot at the end was really subpar, but it was Welbeck's own active run that took the chance.

Three minutes later, Glen Johnson cut inside on the right and fired a low left-footed shot wide of the line.

In the 19th minute, Balotelli passed the ball in front, Candreva turned and volleyed from outside the penalty area, Joe Hart held the ball and got away, but fortunately there was no one around to shoot.

"What a hanging! If there were other Italian players in the penalty area just now, England would be in danger! ”

"Joe Hart shouldn't be right with this ball, it's too deadly to save the ball, I can only say that he is lucky this time."

Italy had nearly 70 per cent of the possession after the opening kick-off, but England also played well on the fast break.

Halfway through the first half, the score was still 0-0.

Benjamin, which side do you think will score first? ”

Benjamin smiled confidently, "Italy scored first, and then England would equalize in the first half." ”

Martin Taylor's expression at this time was like that of many viewers in front of the TV, his mouth was wide open.

As if to say that you are a god stick? Just to give you a guess, you give such a specific prediction as if it were true.

Not to mention the English fans who don't know much about Benjamin, even the fans of Tottenham are muttering in their hearts.

"It's so categorical, it's a shame to guess wrong."

In the 35th minute, Candreva took a tactical corner from the right side, Verratti's knockback was cleverly missed by Pirlo, and Marchisio's powerful low shot near the sideline of the penalty area went straight to the bottom left corner of the goal!

"The ball is in! Marchisio's long-range shot scores!

Italy broke the deadlock on the field! ”