England suffered relegation to Nations League B after a 1-0 defeat to Italy at the San Siro — a result which also equalled their worst run of form in eight years.

Giacomo Raspadori curled home the only meaningful attempt of the game for the hosts, capitalising on sloppy defending from Kyle Walker.

Italy's win was only their third in 10 matches, though the performance did little to ease concerns around Roberto Mancini's side.

It is England who face more immediate problems with just 90 minutes of football left before the World Cup begins — and Gareth Southgate's men looked far from ready here.

Italy took the lead with their first meaningful chance early in the second half as Leonardo Bonucci pumped the ball forward and Raspadori was given time to curl into the far corner beyond Nick Pope.

Despite making changes to try and change the flow of the game, England could not break the Italian resistance and slumped to defeat.

0 - England are one of only two nations yet to score a single non-penalty goal in the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League. The other nation is San Marino. Gulp. pic.twitter.com/UqYk9u66eM

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 23, 2022

World Cup worries for England

The mid-season fall of the World Cup in Qatar means no pre-tournament friendlies for the teams competing, giving England just 90 minutes of football before the opening group game against Iran, who beat Uruguay 1-0 earlier on Friday in a friendly.

Now five games without a win and 495 minutes without a goal from open play, Southgate is under intense scrutiny and his team selection continues to baffle — particularly Bukayo Saka starting at left wing-back.

While a lack of goals will always be concerning, the inability to even create opportunities despite an array of attacking options is a problem without an easy fix.

Raspadori's return

Raspadori's winner against England was his fourth in an Italy shirt since making his debut in June 2021 — level with Nicolo Barella and with no player within Roberto Mancini's squad having scored more.

Italy's absence from the World Cup remains a bitter pill to swallow but Raspadori is already showing he can be a key player in the defence of the European Championship title in 2024.

Southgate's sorrows compounded

The Three Lions have failed to score from open play in five games in the Nations League having only nertted from the penalty spot — an unwanted record they share with minnows San Marino.

With just 56 days before the World Cup, Southgate received boos from the travelling contingent at the San Siro and requires a massive upturn in form if England are to equal their exploits in last year's European Championship.

What's next?

England's Nations League campaign comes to a close against Germany at Wembley on Monday, while Italy will face Hungary to decide the group winner.

Source: Live score