The pressure from Italy was relentless. Every time England tried to build possession, they were suffocated by the Italian players, who swarmed with aggression and purpose. It was as though Romano's half-time adjustments had injected an entirely different spirit into the team. The scoreline might have been 4-1, but Italy's momentum made it feel like they were in control of the game.
Elian found himself running harder than ever, not to create chances but to defend. He wasn't used to being this isolated. Myles and Declan, England's wide forwards, had dropped deep to assist the midfield, leaving Elian stranded at the top of the formation. Despite being one of the fastest players on the pitch, he couldn't break free from the coordinated effort of Italy's defense.
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