Chris Waddle on England's U21s

By Chris Waddle BBC Five Live summariser

England came out of the traps brilliantly, but in the end Italy will be disappointed they didn't win the game and ended up sharing the spoils in a 2-2 draw.

The 4-4-2 system suited England and in that first 25 minutes they played well, created chances and scored two goals.

A draw is still a good result for England

However, after that first half hour Italy dominated and you've got to give them a lot of credit for coming from two goals down.

England were under great pressure and while they looked on their last legs at the end, Italy looked good.

Over they years we still haven't learnt how to keep the ball and in hot, humid conditions and that's essential.

Italy had a superior technique, gradually got on top, created a lot of chances and got their reward.

We've always played the same whatever the level as a national side - a fast tempo, 4-4-2 - because from a young age we're taught to press. Press the ball and press people into mistakes. That's how English football's always been.

Years ago teams couldn't live with it, but they have picked up how to cope with the physical side of English football and even at youth level they can match our physicality now.

And while Italy slowed the game down and quickened it up when they had to, we were and are lacking in technical ability.

How can we get the team to look after the ball? They need to pass it and slow the game down, but they look afraid to pass the ball, and that's the same at senior level.

It goes down the age scale. Kids in England aren't encouraged to play, but when I was at Marseille seven and eight year olds were told not to just kick it. Coaches would urge them to get hold of the ball, ask them if they can beat their man and in short tell them to play.

To turn our philosophy around money has to go into grassroots football.

We keep saying we're trying to change but whatever the level we never have and in England games, unless it's against really poor opposition, decent teams dominate possession.

Italy did, but a draw is still a good result for England and it tees it up for Sunday when they face Serbia in the final group game.

The good thing for England is that Serbia have qualified. Will they rest a lot of their star players and give the squad a run out because they're already through?

I hope Serbia don't rest players for the good of the tournament, but if they do even their second string will look after the ball better than us.

However, if England can keep the ball better than we have so far there's no reason why we can't progress to the semi-finals.

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Chris Waddle was talking to BBC Radio Five Live