Italy boss Mancini insists 'great 'England' can still improve' despite poor summer results

Roberto Mancini said England were "one of the best teams in the world" ahead of their Nations League game against Italy.

England, who cannot qualify for the Nations League final, will face Mancini's side in their penultimate Group A3 game in Milan on Friday.

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Mancini said: "I think England are one of the best teams in the world. They're full of talent, especially the forwards.

“They have a lot of players apart from Harry Kane, who is an amazing player, but the young players around him can make a difference. So it will be a very difficult game for us.”

The two sides drew goalless at Molineux in June in their first meeting since Italy won on penalties in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.

The Three Lions are winless in the Nations League this season. They are bottom of their group having taken two points from four games and will be relegated if they do not win in Milan.

Their 1-0 and 4-0 defeats against Hungary, in Budapest in June and at Molineux in July, followed by draws against Germany and Italy.

But Mancini, whose side will stay in the final if they avoid defeat to Gareth Southgate's side, pays little attention to recent results.

"The England team is a great team," said Mancini. "They were a great team at Euro 2020 and they were a great team before.

"It's a national team full of talented players and I think they can still improve, even though they lost two games against Hungary.

"I think the English players at the end of the season are very tired because they play a lot more matches than the other national teams."

Italian skipper Leonardo Bonucci thinks his side can use England's visit to Milan to move into the world order after failing to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.

Bonucci said: "It will be a very important game because it will tell us where we are in this renaissance, let's say.

"Because after failing to qualify for the World Cup, the coach changed many players, so tomorrow we will understand where we really are, where we need to improve and if there is something something to improve.

"But I think it will be the best game possible to start over and build something new and important for the future.

"England are a great team, so we have to pay attention to their individual qualities because offensively they have very talented players, who can change the game in the blink of an eye."

Mancini has confirmed that AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali has to withdraw from the squad due to injury.

The San Siro clash is the penultimate game before Southgate's side face Iran in Qatar on November 21.

Friday's game is the first time England's senior men's team will take to the pitch since the Queen's death.

They will wear black armbands to mark the occasion, with further tributes planned for the game against Germany at Wembley on Monday night.

Southgate and its players will also sing 'God Save the King' before kick-off in honor of King Charles III, the first time this version of the national anthem has been used before a football match in England since November 1951.< /p>