It's Been Five Years Since Raheem Sterling Definitely Scored Against Italy

It was June 14th 2014 and we all did what we always do, we started with high hopes and enthusiasm. 90 minutes later and it was back to the usual heartbreak but that wasn't until Raheem Sterling had given us a moment of magic, hadn't he?!

Five years ago today England kicked off their World Cup campaign in Brazil with a game against Italy.

Roy Hodgson's team found themselves in the Group of Death as they'd also have to take on Uruguay, as well as the unfancied Costa Rica, but hopes were high ahead of the opener.

The Three Lions started with Raheem Sterling on the wing after the then teenagers brilliant season with Liverpool and it took just four minutes for him to make a huge impact, kind of.

Sterling's long range shot looked to have gone in, to the point that BBC even changed the score on screen to 1-0, and the entire country celebrated but the ball had just hit the side netting:

I've not known such short lived excitement and instantly disappointing anti-climax since, well you get the idea.

From there things only got worse.

Claudio Marchisio put Italy in front just after the half hour mark after Andrea Pirlo's dummy from an Italian confused every England defender and fell to his midfield partner on the edge of the area.

Daniel Sturridge actually got England level just minutes later, finding the back of the net after Wayne Rooney's brilliant cross and, whilst the Three Lions arguably deserved at least a point, Mario Balotelli's header five minutes into the second half dealt England a defeat.

England players leave the pitch after losing to Italy. Image: PA Images

Hodgson's side next faced South American's Uruguay and it was another then Liverpool forward who destroyed their dreams of getting out of the groups.

Luis Suarez scored twice and, despite Wayne Rooney's goal in between, England knew they were heading home before they played out a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica.

But we'll always remember that one seemingly everlasting moment when Sterling put England ahead, it just wasn't real!

Topics: Liverpool, Football News, Nations League, England, Roy Hodgson, Gareth Southgate, World Cup, Brazil, Raheem Sterling

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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