England boss Gareth Southgate comes out fighting over two players and sets challenge after Italy win

Gianluca Scamacca put Italy ahead in the 15th minute, silencing the home crowd in the process.

But England came roaring back, with Harry Kane netting a brace and Marcus Rashford also on target as they claimed all three points.

There were many good performers for England on the night as they booked their place in next summer's competition.

Kane and Rashford were both impressive, while Jude Bellingham ran the show in the middle of the park.

Yet Southgate, speaking to Channel 4 after his side's win, looked to prove a point by fiercely defending his decision to pick both Phillips and Maguire from the start.

Phillips has toiled for Manchester City ever since his move from Leeds last year.

As for Maguire, his form has dipped drastically over the past two seasons with the centre-back no longer a regular at Manchester United.

For Southgate, however, they're the right men for the job.

And the England boss has also set his players the challenge of ensuring they're among the top seeds for next summer's Euros, too.

"Ideally, we would have everyone playing regularly, but you can see Kalvin [Phillips] and Harry [Maguire] were both outstanding tonight," he said.

"They are both important for us. They are up against really good players at their clubs.

"Kalvin has Rodri and [Mateo] Kovacic to compete with. But every time Kalvin plays for us he does a good job.

"We need to make sure we are one of the top seeds next month. We need to win our next two games.

"We want to be in control of that. We need to keep building. There is more to come from this team.

"This was the toughest qualifying group, with the seedings. People have criticised us for not beating the top teams enough.

"But we have performed really well."

Southgate was left delighted by England's victory - and feels their attitude was perfect as they put their opponents to the sword.

"So hungry, so eager to learn, so together," he said.

"And you saw that in the performance tonight.

"We said before that mentality was the main thing. The performance was relentless tonight.

"What was really pleasing was that when we went behind we stayed calm and used the ball calmly from the back.

"In other big games we have lost the ball too easily. Our forwards worked so hard. When your front players play like that it is a great thing for the team.

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"There were times in the first half we were passive near our own goal.

"The biggest difference in the last couple of years is that we have more legs and physicality in midfield.

"You need to be outstanding without the ball against world class teams.

"They [our forwards] are all different and bring different qualities. We have dribblers, speed in behind and players who can come short.

"But you always need the work ethic. In the biggest games you can't carry players and that really pleased me in the performance."

England are next in action against Malta on November 17. They've already beaten the minnows once in qualifying, winning 4-0 back in June with Kane, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Callum Wilson among the goalscorers.