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Italy 1-1 England: five talking points from the friendly in Turin

England’s first-half diamond dulled their shining lights, while Italy’s reputation as masters of the defensive dark arts remained undimmed

• Italy 1-1 England: Daniel Taylor’s match report from Turin

• Dominic Fifield: Kane gets real taste of international football against Italy

England’s first-half midfield diamond, with Fabian Delph on the left and Jordan Henderson on the other side, offered very little width, therefore putting the onus on the full-backs to get forward. This did not play to the players’ strengths, with neither the left-back, Kieran Gibbs, nor the right-back Nathaniel Clyne renowned for their creativity – both has contributed four Premier League assists over the last two seasons combined (though as Giorgio Chiellini showed, a historic inability to create goals does not make it impossible). Clyne also struggled in defence, particularly against the excellent Matteo Darmian, who proved his success against England in Manaus last summer – on the right that time – was no one-off.

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Second-string Portugal humbled at home by battling Cape Verde

• Portugal 0-2 Cape Verde

• Goals from Odaïr Fortes and Gegé seal win

A second-half sending off for André Pinto capped a miserable evening for a second-string Portugal side, who were beaten 2-0 at home by Cape Verde in a friendly in Estoril.

Portugal fielded none of the players who beat Serbia in Euro 2016 qualifying on Sunday and were undone by two first-half goals scored within six minutes of each other.

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England’s Harry Kane gets real taste of international football against Italy

Harry Kane is left isolated leading the England line on his first start although he had chances to beat Gianluigi Buffon

• Match report: Italy 1-1 England

• Talking points from Turin

In hindsight, the writing had been on the wall from this game’s opening exchange. Only 16 seconds had elapsed when Jordan Henderson collected in midfield, spied Harry Kane apparently free of Giorgio Chiellini’s shackles and pinged a pass into the striker’s path. The Tottenham Hotspur forward had a yard of space in which to gather and weigh up his options but, instantly, Chiellini was on him. Illegally, as it happens, but the tone had still been set. A bodycheck to start, a reality check to follow.

Scoring within two minutes of his debut against a beaten and tiring Lithuania is one thing but this was Italy. Admittedly a much changed Azzurri from their own competitive fixture in Bulgaria last Saturday, from which they had made eight alterations, but a starting lineup offering steel and needle. A side who retain some of the streetwise qualities the other teams traipsing in behind the English in Group E of Euro 2016 qualifying clearly lack. Chiellini was winning his 76th cap and had been primed to leave an early impression on the upstart from White Hart Lane. Kane juddered and fell upon impact. By the time he had picked himself up he had a clearer idea what awaited in Turin.

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USC athletic director to skip playoff meetings due to 'religious freedom' law

USC AD to boycott College Football Playoff meetings over new law

Pat Haden, who has a gay son, made the announcement on Twitter

Indiana is home to NCAA headquarters and next week’s Final Four

USC athletic director Pat Haden said on Tuesday he will boycott the College Football Playoff selection committee meetings in Indianapolis this week due to a new Indiana law critics allege could allow businesses to discriminate against gay people.

Haden, who has a gay son, made the announcement days after NCAA president Mark Emmert promised to ‘closely examine’ the impact of the controversial bill, set to take effect in July.

I am the proud father of a gay son. In his honor, I will not be attending the CFP committee meeting in Indy this week. #EmbraceDiversity

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