England coach Roy Hodgson admits Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo was excellent for Italy's victory last night.

Hodgson knows the player well from his time at Inter Milan and admits it was a challenge to keep the playmaker quiet.

He said: "He was very good wasn't he? I've worked with him in the past and I know what a very good player he is. He seemed to always find time and room and very rarely wasted a pass.

"We worked hard to keep him in check but obviously a player of that quality you can only keep in check to a certain extent. He will find a way of getting the ball even though you get people around him."