Harry Kane became England's record goalscorer as Gareth Southgate's side clung on after Luke Shaw's red card to begin their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win away at Group C rivals Italy.
Just 103 days ago it was heartache from the penalty spot for the England captain when he blazed over in the World Cup quarter-final defeat to France, but he showed excellent composure to send Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way and double his side's advantage just before half-time in Naples.
His 54th strike for his country takes him clear of Wayne Rooney's record on his 81st cap and helped give England an ideal start in their bid to reach the finals in Germany next summer - although a second-half fightback from the hosts and Shaw's two bookings in quick succession made for an extremely nervy finish.
England - driven by a standout display from 19-year-old Jude Bellingham - had taken control of the contest in the first half and grabbed the lead when Declan Rice (13) answered critics about his own goal return by pouncing on a rebound from a blocked Kane shot.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo's handball from a corner was then eventually given as VAR advised referee Srdjan Jovanovic to check the pitchside monitor, and after Kane converted Jack Grealish should have made it 3-0.
But in the stadium named after Napoli legend Diego Maradona, Mateo Retegui, born and raised in Argentina, fittingly marked his first Italy appearance with a blast past Jordan Pickford (56) and as the bookings stacked up for the visitors - with ref Jovanovic clamping down on any hint of time-wasting - Shaw was shown a second yellow when tempers flared on both sides following his foul on Retegui.
