England supporters will not need reminding of their team's most recent meeting with Italy as the pain of last summer's Euro 2020 final defeat to the Azzurri is still fresh in the memory. 

Things have not gone smoothly for Roberto Mancini's European champions since that triumph at Wembley and they go into Saturday's Nations League clash at Molineux as underdogs. 

The Italians missed out on automatic qualification for the World Cup in Qatar before suffering a shock defeat to North Macedonia in March's play-off semi-final, while they lost 3-0 to South American champions Argentina at the start of this month.

They have, however, banked four points in two Nations League outings thanks to a 1-1 draw with Germany and a 2-1 win over Hungary so Gareth Southgate's men will face a tough test.

England started their Nations League campaign with a surprise 1-0 defeat in Hungary and they needed a late penalty from Harry Kane, his 50th goal for his nation, to pinch a 1-1 draw in Germany on Tuesday. 

A UEFA punishment means only around 3,000 supporters, most of them children, are permitted to attend the game in Wolverhampton but Southgate's players will not be short of motivation for their rematch with Mancini's side.

Team news

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been released from the England squad after a gruelling club campaign for Liverpool and there are fitness doubts over Phil Foden, Kalvin Phillips, Fikayo Tomori and James Justin. 

Foden's Manchester City team-mate Jack Grealish should earn a place in the starting XI after a sparkling display as a substitute in Munich but Kane, now just three goals behind England's record scorer Wayne Rooney, could be rested with Roma's Tammy Abraham ready to deputise. 

Italy will be without several of their Euro 2020 winners as Giorgio Chiellini has retired from international football, Federico Chiesa is injured, and Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Belotti and Jorginho have been rested for the trip to England. 

Star goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was Player of the Tournament at the Euros, is expected to play and the midfield looks an area of strength for the Azzurri with Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella and Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini both in fine form.

The stats

Recent meetings between these teams have tended to be tight and the last three encounters, including the Euro 2020 final, all ended 1-1. 

Both teams have scored in six of the last seven games between the two and the Azzurri's defensive standards have slipped a little since their European Championship triumph. 

Mancini's men have kept only one clean sheet in their last nine internationals and that statistic should encourage England's attacking players. 

Southgate's side have only a Kane penalty to show for their efforts in the first two Nations League matches but they rattled in 30 goals in seven World Cup qualifiers after their Euro 2020 disappointment, signing off with a 10-0 rout of San Marino. 

Predictions

Southgate is often characterised as a cautious manager but England need a win after a slow start to their Nations League campaign and a positive approach could pay off against a depleted Italy. 

Strong defensive performances helped these nations reach last summer's Euro 2020 final but they have both been less convincing at the back in recent outings and fatigue is also likely to be a factor after an exhausting season of club football. 

The visitors are without several of the stars who helped them become European champions and they are short of experienced attacking options so Sassuolo youngster Giacomo Raspadori could lead the line. 

Despite that, Mancini's men can be confident of landing a blow on England's defence at Molineux although the hosts have great depth of attacking talent and could come out on top in an entertaining clash.