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• Italy-England fixture has become a classic – Mancini

  Roberto Mancini believes Italy's rivalry with England has become a "classic" as they prepare to do battle in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier on Thursday.

  The Azzurri won the last European Championship by beating Gareth Southgate's side on penalties in the final at Wembley in 2021.

  Italy and the Three Lions then played out a goalless draw in the Nations League last June, before Giacomo Raspadori secured a 1-0 victory for Mancini's men in their last meeting three months later.

  England will get another chance to gain a measure of revenge in a Group C clash at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this week and Mancini is expecting an almighty challenge in Naples.

  He said: "For me, it's become a classic. England and Italy seem to meet a lot, a bit like Italy and Germany in the past.

  "For a long time now they've become a fantastic team, full of talented players, with strength and technique. It'll be a tough game just like all the others have been. 

  "They have more choice than us for many reasons, but in Naples we want to play a good match, play well and start these qualifiers well."

  Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar last year and head coach Mancini says they are in a rebuilding process. 

  "Unfortunately there was the difficult interlude of the World Cup, but apart from a few games, the team has always done well," Mancini continued.

  "We arrived twice in the Nations League finals [they face Spain in a semi-final in June], this means that there is value [in the team]. We have to rebuild something important because to win there must be solid foundations. There have been some good things in the Nations League."

  Mancini expects his players to do Gianluca Vialli – who was Italy's head of delegation when they won the rearranged Euro 2020 two years ago – proud after he died at the age of 58 in January.

  He added: "I've already talked about it with the boys, it will be important for us to remember him, as if he were here with us. He had his space and it's not easy for us, we have to try to do well for him."

• “We are in a very good space mentally,” says West Indies Interim Head Coach Andre Coley ahead of third South Africa ODI

  The West Indies will enter the third and final ODI against South Africa on Tuesday with an opportunity to complete a series win over the hosts for the first time.

  Interim Head Coach of the West Indies Senior Men’s team Andre Coley says the group are in a good place mentally ahead of the decisive game.

  “Every game brings new possibilities. We are in a very good space mentally and we are happy with our preparation,” he said in a press conference on Monday.

  “We are just making sure we are ready for this game. We will have to see the conditions and work out the best approach. We have been taking it on a match-by-match basis so we are in a good place and have had good plans,” Coley added.

  The tourists went 1-0 up in the series thanks to an excellent batting display, including an unbeaten century from Shai Hope in his first innings as ODI captain.

  Coley, while being pleased with the team’s exploits with the bat, hopes other batsmen can go deep into the innings after getting starts.

  The Windies amassed 335-8. While Hope made 128*, Brandon King (30), Kyle Mayers (36), Nicholas Pooran (39) and Rovman Powell (46) all got starts and failed to kick on.

  “It was satisfying. Firstly, getting a total of 300 plus on the back of Shai’s hundred batting through the innings. We had significant partnerships,” he said.

  “It would still have been good to see more batters go on from their starts but very encouraging signs, nonetheless,” Coley added.

  On the bowling front, Coley did not make much of the fact that South Africa got off to a fast start, putting it down to the state of the game.

  “Chasing a total like that, they wanted to make the powerplay count. We expected that. That is the nature of the game,” he said before acknowledging how well his team responded to the early onslaught.

  “We were put under pressure quite early and I thought we responded well. Kyle (Mayers) got that key wicket of Quinton (De Kock) who was going well for them. As the innings progressed, we were able to respond and, in the end, we ended up with a comfortable win,” he added.

  The game is scheduled for 3:00 AM Jamaica Time (4:00 AM ECT).

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

• Rashford and Pope withdraw from England squad as Forster earns recall

  Marcus Rashford and Nick Pope have withdrawn from England's squad for their Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine after sustaining injuries.

  As confirmed by Chelsea head coach Graham Potter last week, Mason Mount has also pulled out through injury.

  Pope reported an injury following Newcastle United's 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest on Friday, while Rashford suffered a knock during Manchester United's 3-1 FA Cup quarter-final victory against Fulham on Sunday.

  Tottenham's Fraser Forster has been called up to replace Pope, though England boss Gareth Southgate has decided not to bring in cover for Rashford or Mount.

  Veteran goalkeeper Forster has been getting game-time for Tottenham since Hugo Lloris' injury in February.

  The 35-year-old has played 13 times for Spurs this season, keeping five clean sheets with a save percentage of 68.8.

  Losing Rashford will be a particular blow for Southgate, with the United forward in the form of his life having scored 27 goals in 44 appearances for his club this season.

  England play Italy at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 23 before hosting Ukraine at Wembley Stadium three days later.