Pearce shrugs off outburst by rival Casiraghi

Casiraghi greeted Pearce's post-match handshake with an invitation to p*** off' — an indication at least that the former Chelsea striker learned something from his brief stay in the Premiership nine years ago.

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Whether his verbal attack, that Pearce dismissed with a smile, was the final act of a dispute that began during a fiery Italy-England friendly 10 years ago or merely caused by something that occurred during this game, it is difficult to gauge.

But Pearce was too wrapped up in his own team's performance to worry about that as he looked forward to a game against Serbia on Sunday, when a win against a team already assured of top spot in the group will see them through to the last four.

Pearce said with a wink: "I think he was just wishing me good luck. The bottom line is that it doesn't matter.

"I'm so proud after that performance. It was end-to-end attacking football and was a great spectacle. If we win on Sunday, it will make this a great result."

Pearce, under a little pressure after an opening draw against the Czech Republic on Monday, was rightly pleased with his players.

Having changed his formation to play two centre forwards — Leroy Lita joining David Nugent up front — Pearce was rewarded with a vibrant display that could have brought him a victory after both players scored in the opening 26 minutes.

A win would have sent Italy home with a game to spare but they managed to haul themselves back into the competition with goals from Giorgio Chiellini and Alberto Aquilani.

Heaven knows what Casiraghi would have said had Italy lost. As it was, he was happy to continue the jousting in his own post-match press conference.

The Italian coach said: "Pearce is not the nicest person and we exchanged some little opinions. But it is not important.

"On the pitch — during the game — he was not very correct with his behaviour towards me. There was an incident during the game where he was disrespectful to me. But it is finished. It is over.

"England are in a better position than us now and I'm sure they are very pleased."

Casiraghi's assessment of his country's position relative to England was correct. But the group is nevertheless interestingly poised after Serbia's afternoon win against the Czechs.

Facing a team who have already qualified in first spot will surely give England an advantage in Nijmegen on Sunday but, understandably, Pearce was cautious.

He added: "If the players think Serbia won't be trying then we're scuppered. We have to show the same guts and determination that we showed today, and if we do that and win the game, then we will have a great chance to do very well in this tournament."

Nugent's opening goal came in the 24th minute as he dived to head a cross from the excellent Leighton Baines and then Lita struck with his left foot after an Italian mix-up allowed Ashley Young to play him in two minutes later.

But it was what preceded all that which made Lita's goal so welcome.

After his penalty failure against the Czechs, Lita contributed two remarkable errors here, side-footing hopelessly wide after rounding the keeper in the 17th minute and then smashing a shot against the bar from barely five yards.

It is to his credit that he recovered his poise to score his goal and just a shame that England could not capitalise on the excellence of their early play.

England's goals woke Italy up and once skipper Chiellini had grabbed a scrappy goal from a corner nine minutes before halftime, the game was back on.

Italy were superior in an equally exciting second half and ended the game having contributed 31 shots.

Aquilani equalised from distance with his right foot with 21 minutes left and Italy pressed hard for victory.

But England had their moments too and will head in to Sunday's game with their confidence lifted, albeit without Young, who picked up a booking and is suspended.