Harrogate’s Rachel Daly scored twice as England beat Italy in the Arnold Clark Cup.
Daly, who made her first start up front, secured the Lionesses their second win of the competition with two headers in a 2-1 victory.
The tournament is hosted by the Football Association and sees four teams play against each other during the February international break.
The 31-year-old was given the start up front after scoring 10 goals in 13 appearances for Aston Villa this season.
Daly’s performance will prove a headache for head coach Sarina Weigman ahead of the final game of the Arnold Clark Cup on Wednesday.
Sunday’s victory over Italy sees England top the tournament table on six points.
The Lionesses will play Belgium for the Arnold Clark Cup at Ashton Gate, Bristol, on Wednesday at 7.45pm.
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Italian Harrogate restaurateur backs his country to win
The owner of an Italian restaurant in Harrogate is backing his national team to win the 2020 European Championship against England.
The owner of Al Bivio, Daniele Bojo, said his employees are also excited . He said:
“It (Euro 2020) makes people who are not usually interested in football more interested.”
Italy’s football team didn’t qualify for the World Cup in 2018 but have played spectacularly and mad their way to the final match.
Daniele described his country’s achievement as “amazing”:
“I thought England would be doing all right as they did all right with the World Cup, whereas Italy didn’t even qualify! But the fact they went to the final straight after a competition where they didn’t even qualify is amazing.”
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Al Bivio customers Rosie and Chloe wearing Italy’s colours
In the Uefa Euro 2020 qualifying tournament the Italian team won every match and scored 100%, the last time this was achieved was by England back in 2016.
Daniele said that Italy’s accomplishments have inspired national pride but it won’t stop him from getting an early night:
“Being Italian, you obviously want your team to win, you know? I just hope it doesn’t go to extra time and penalties because I don’t want to be too late to bed.
“As long as it’s a good match and there’s no bad playing on either side, let the best team win.”
Daniele’s score prediction: 2-1 to Italy …..the winning goal sealed by the FC Torino Captain, Andrea Belotti… oh dear. Most of us will hope Daniele is wrong.
Italian Ripon restaurant owner thinks England will winRipon restaurateur Franco Fantoni has got the blues when thinking about the Azzurri’s chances at Wembley on Sunday.
The owner of Prima Ristorante Italiano in Kirkgate is pessimistic as he prepares for the big match.
He believes that Roberto Mancini’s team will be beaten by Gareth Southgate’s golden boys.
Mr Fantoni told the Stray Ferret:
“Sadly, I think we’re going to lose.
“England have played better football than us and I predict they will win 2-0.”
Will Gareth Southgate’s team have the last laugh against Italy on Sunday?
The lifelong football fan comes from Bergamo in the Lombardy region of northern Italy and is a seasoned student of football in his native and adopted countries.
Back in the place of his birth, he supports Serie A team Atalanta BC, but he also enjoys the English version of the beautiful game and said:
“Since moving to England in 1973, I’ve followed Leeds United and have been a season ticket holder for more than 30 years.”
Mr Fantoni, who has owned the multi-award-winning Prima Ristorante for 36 years, is convinced that his countrymen will taste defeat, but the four-times Fifa World Cup winners go to Wembley with an unbeaten run of 33 games behind them.
They were also the 1968 Euro Champions.
In contrast, England have just the 1966 World Cup win to their name in major international tournaments and are attempting to bring 55 years of hurt, disappointment and under-achievement to an end.
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The Azzurri have been tactically astute when the heat has been on, most noticeably in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of quarter and semi-final games against Belgium and Spain respectively.
If Italy can serve up yet another winning Euro performance in the three lions’ den, Mr Fantoni will have to eat his words – but it’s a dish he will happily swallow.