England 1-2 Italy: Mario Balotelli header condemns Roy Hodgson's men to defeat in World Cup opener after Daniel Sturridge had cancelled out Claudio Marchisio strike

• Claudio Marchisio fired Italy into a 35th-minute lead with a crisp low drive
• Daniel Sturridge equalised almost immediately when he turned in Wayne Rooney cross
• Mario Balotelli nodded in cross from Andrea Candreva early in second half
  
• Raheem Sterling came within a fraction of scoring early on but found only  side-netting
• Phil Jagielka headed Balotelli chip off the line shortly before half-time
• Candreva fired against the post with Joe Hart beaten
  
• Andrea Pirlo hit crossbar with stoppage time free-kick
  
• England physio Gary Lewin taken away on stretcher with suspected broken ankle while celebrating goal
• Costa Rica stunned Uruguay 3-1 in earlier Group D fixture
• England must beat Uruguay in second match on Thursday
  

By Rob Draper for The Mail on Sunday

Published: 19:54 EDT, 14 June 2014 | Updated: 05:04 EDT, 15 June 2014

So now comes the test for us as a footballing nation: which option do we prefer?

The drab, the dour and effective; or would we rather live our World Cup life on the front foot, seeking adventure along the way?

England sparkled in the Amazon Arena in Manaus on Saturday night, maintaining the energetic and entertaining start to this World Cup. Raheem Sterling was selected and delivered exquisite moments; Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck frequently stirred the crowd, out-stripping their opponents for pace; even Ross Barkley came on and shone in moments.

And yet, ultimately England lost and their World Cup hangs on a perilously finely-poised game against Uruguay on Thursday, in which the losers can go home early. England were good last night but Italy were marginally better.

Heads you win: Mario Balotelli celebrates after heading Italy back into the lead five minutes after half-time

Rising high: Balotelli gets above Gary Cahill to power the ball past Joe Hart and restore Italy's lead

Super Mario: Balotelli is congratulated by his teammates after scoring

He knows the score: Mario Balotelli gestures '2-1' to the camera as he walks off at the end

Number one: Balotelli signals to the viewers watching on TV back home after the final whistle

Level terms: Daniel Sturridge celebrates after scoring England's equaliser just a couple of minutes after they fell behind

No mistake: Sturridge turned in Wayne Rooney's perfect cross from the left wing to make it 1-1

First blood: Claudio Marchisio wheels away in celebration after giving Italy the lead with a crisp low shot after 35 minutes

Eye of the needle: Marchisio found the back of the net through a number of England players

Better in possession - that we expected – and better at exploiting defensive weaknesses, though, at that England too demonstrated they have considerable strengths.

Play like this against Uruguay and Costa Rica and England should win twice.

Still, after dreadful tournaments in 2006 and 2010, many football folk have said they would rather go out early playing entertainingly than eke a passage through the group stages in miserable fashion. Roy Hodgson might be about to make good on that promise.

Yet until everyone tired at the end, in the 31 degree heat and the 61 per cent humidity of the rain forest, England played their part in another exhilarating game. 

No-one truly expected Hodgson fully to indulge all his adventurous young attackers. But from the moment it was known that Raheem Sterling was starting, about three hours before kick off, eyebrows were raised in true English understated fashion; not only starting but playing at No 10, with Wayne Rooney shunted to the left.

The eagerness of the 19-year-old to impress was evident. His first touch on five minutes saw him beat a man and launch a thunderous, curling strike into the side netting.

Yet Italy had their own young tyro in Matteo Darmian, who only made his debut three weeks ago against the Republic of Ireland, at right back.

He had been detailed to try to expose Leighton Baines and Wayne Rooney and Italy had some early forays on that flank, which would become a feature of the game.

Pinpoint: Marchisio lets fly from just outside the penalty area after Andrea Pirlo had dummied the pass to him

Unstoppable: Both Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart were unable to stop Marchisio's shot from finding the crorner

Team effort: Marchisio celebrates his goal with the Italy substitutes in the technical area

Predator: Liverpool man Sturridge continued his excellent form from the season just passed

Lift: Daniel Sturridge (second right) embraces Wayne Rooney (right), as Jordan Henderson (left), Danny Welbeck (second left) and Raheem Sterling (middle) join in the celebrations

Giving thanks: Sturridge points to the heavens after scoring his goal

But though Andrea Pirlo, playing a more advanced role than in his Euro 2012 passing masterclass, was as elegant as ever, Italy had lost their captain in Gianluigi Buffon, the man with 140 caps to his name, injured in training the night before the game.

And despite Italy’s comfort at times in possession, there appeared to be considerably more dynamism about this England side early on.

Apart from that early Sterling strike, Danny Welbeck took on Gabriel Paletta and Jordan Henderson had a sixth minute strike well saved by stand-in keeper Salvatore Sirigu.

On 22 minutes England looked to be a team unleashed, as Glen Johnson and Welbeck combined superbly down the right to allow Sturridge a free run past the increasingly shaky Italian defence.

His cross was heading towards Welbeck, who was poised to tap in and only an excellent sliding interception by  Andrea Barzagli prevented the ball from reaching its intended target.

One-on-one: Joe Hart comes off his line to close down Mario Balotelli as Gary Cahill tries to cover

Old pals: Former Manchester City teammates Mario Balotelli and Joe Hart share a word on the pitch

England were playing as the nation had hoped but as the half progressed Italy were finding their range.

The first signs were when Daniele De Rossi unleashed a marvellous cross-field pass, finding Darmian, who crossed for Balotelli to stoop and head.

England survived that but a worrying stream of attack were developing down the Rooney-Baines flank.

Pirlo, of course, have his say in the goal that undid England’s good start. Antonio Candreva’s corner appeared to be for the Italian playmaker and Sturridge duly rushed to close him down.

If only he were so easy to read: a delightful dummy allowed Claudio Marchisio a free hit at goal form 30 yards. Still, with a forest of players to navigate, he did extremely well to control and to send it soaring past Joe Hart on 35 minutes.

Soaring: Phil Jagielka rises high to head Mario Balotelli's lob off the goalline

Attacking threat: Mario Balotelli steers the ball away from Steven Gerrard

Intricate: The movement that led to Mario Balotelli's winning goal

England responded immediately. Sterling was at the heart of it, delivering a brilliantly timed pass to free Rooney on the left.

He played his part, taking on Darmian and sending an exquisite cross directly into the path of the onrushing Sturridge at the far post two minutes later.

It was a glorious opportunity, but at speed, with the ball bouncing quickly off the ground directly in front of him, it still required some skill to finish quite so decisively form eight yards out.

Never has that silly, wavy dance of celebration performed by Sturridge been more rapturously received, though amidst the hubbub of celebration, Gary Lewin, the England physio required extensive treatment for a dislocated ankle.

Penalty shout: Steven Gerrard tries to get beyond Gabriel Paletta as he breaks into the Italy box

Hitting the deck: Gerrard is felled as Paletta pleads his innocence

The discussion continues: Gerrard makes a point as Paletta offers a handshake

Test of strength: Wayne Rooney tries to pinch the ball from Italy midfielder Marco Verratti

Clean collect: Salvatore Sirigu gathers the ball from a corner under pressure from Phil Jagielka and Wayne Rooney

Brazilian tour: A section of England fans get behind Roy Hodgson's team in Manaus

Fine margins: Daniel Sturridge watches as the ball flashes across the empty goalmouth as Salvatore Sirigu struggles to reach it

Italy, smarting, would respond. Pirlo played in Balotelli who drew Hart from his line. It seemed he had been diverted far too wide though, yet from the most acute angle he delivered a chip that was heading goalbound until Phil Jagielka produced an extraordinary goal-line saving header.

The danger was not clear: from the corner the ball was worked to Candreva, who turned Johnson and shot against the post.

Fancying his chances: Raheem Sterling unleashes a ferocious shot towards goal from 30 yards out in the opening few minutes

Inches wide: The ball flew past the post and into the side netting with Italy goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu well beaten

Illusion: Many fans thought the ball had flown in as it rippled the side-netting

England started the second half brightly, Sturridge cutting inside and shooting on 49 minutes but it struck a note of false positivism however.

Within a minute England would be behind again. Candreva, increasingly the most influential player on the pitch, was played in down the right and turned Baines to deliver a deep, looping cross to the far post.

There waiting was Balotelli, the irrepressible former Manchester City man, who had peeled away from Gary Cahill. Diving elegantly, Balotelli headed home from close range.

He's behind you: Claudio Marchisio gets to grips with Glen Johnson as the two sides try to stamp their authority on the match

Midfield battle: Italy's Antonio Candreva tries to intercept a Steven Gerrard long pass

Felled: Marco Verratti is brought down by Wayne Rooney during the first 10 minutes

Eyes on the ball: Danny Welbeck goes the long way round Gabriel Paletta in pursuit of the ball

Appeal: Andrea Pirlo claims handball against an England defender as the ball is played across

Striding on: Wayne Rooney gets beyond Daniele De Rossi

England had to rouse themselves. Gerrard led the way on 54 minutes, charging into the penalty area to be met by a clumsy challenge from Paletta. Referee Bjorn Kuipers was unimpressed.

On came Ross Barkley for Welbeck, further evidence of Hodgson’s willingness to unleash youth. His first touch on 62 minutes was to cut inside and shoot, forcing a Sirigu save.

England at least weren’t going down quietly, though the conditions were clearly sapping strength and Rooney especially looked weary as Italy’s dominant possession became increasingly significant as legs tired.

Touches: Wayne Rooney's touch map is shown on the left, Raheem Sterling's on the right

Extraordinary: England physio Gary Lewin is carried away on a stretcher with a suspected dislocated ankle after celebrating Sturridge's goal

Pass master: Andrea Pirlo is shadowed by Jordan Henderson as he tries to get into that metronomic passing rhythm

Tangle of legs: Danny Welbeck tries to pinch the ball from Giorgio Chiellini during a frenetic opening to the game

Burned: Raheem Sterling manoeuvres the ball past Italian defender Gabriel Paletta during the opening few moments of the match

Thirsty work: Daniel Sturridge squirts water over his face in the hot conditions of Manaus... but this was before the anthems!

Comparison: Andrea Pirlo's touch map (left) from the game next to that of Steven Gerrard (right) 

Jack Wilshere replaced Henderson and Adam Lallana came on for a limping Sturridge.

In truth, by now the jungle had consumed England’s energy and Pirlo, their tormentor, had the last word.

Awarded a free kick in injury time, a safe pass back to keep possession might have been in order but that isn’t his nature. Pirlo went for it and rattled Hart’s crossbar. He is that kind of player and it was that kind of game.

Ready to roar: England line up for the customary pre-match photograph as they begin their World Cup campaign

Biggest stage: Roy Hodgson, who managed Switzerland at the 1994 World Cup, returns with England 20 years on

Community singing: The England and Italy teams line up for the national anthems ahead of kick-off

Charge! An England fan dressed as St George on the front row in the stands in Manaus

Support: One of the thousands of England fans who made their way to Manaus to watch the team

English rose: Some very patriotic clothing on display in the stands at the Arena Amazonia

Mascot: One England fan brought a cuddly Shrek to the match, while another got their hands on the World Cup trophy

Flying the flag: This Italian fan found a novel way of keeping cool in the tropical heat of Manaus

Passion for the Azzurri: Italy were well supported out in Manaus

On tour: England fans make themselves heard in Manaus ahead of their opening game at the 2014 World Cup

Sealed with a kiss: This England fan got up, close and personal with the World Cup trophy at the match

Pre-match preparations: Italy's Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli take a walk on the pitch at the Arena Amazonia ahead of the match

Old friends: Roy Hodgson meets his Italian counterpart Cesare Prandelli in the middle of the pitch prior to kick-off