Hammers defender Angelo Ogbonna came off the bench to help Italy beat Finland
Hammers defender Angelo Ogbonna earned his eleventh Italy cap on Monday night as a substitute in a 2-0 win over Finland.
The Azzurri completed the victory thanks to goals from Antonio Candreva – from the penalty spot – and Daniele De Rossi.
Ogbonna played the final five minutes of the fixture in Verona, replacing Leonardo Bonucci – the Juventus defender, who will head to the Hammers’ new Stadium on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the Betway Cup tie against West Ham on 7 August.
It was Ogbonna’s first appearance for Italy in 20 months, having last appeared in his national strip against Malta in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier in October 2014.
Monday's fixture was Antonio Conte’s side’s final warm-up friendly prior to their Euro 2016 campaign, which begins on 13 June against Belgium in Lyon.
Sweden are their next opponents in Toulouse four days later, before Ogbonna could potentially face West Ham teammate and Republic of Ireland stopper Darren Randolph in Lille on 22 June.
Elsewhere, young Hammers stopper Sam Howes was in action for England U19s in Mexico on Monday night as the Three Lions were beaten in their final European Championship warm-up friendly.
In the 1-0 defeat, Howes was brought into the match for England at half time, replacing Reading keeper Luke Southwood between the sticks.
Despite a good England performance, their central American opponents netted a late header to take the win when it looked as if a stalemate was on the cards.
It was the second defeat in the double header just outside Mexico City, after Aidy Boothroyd’s men went down 2-0 in the first fixture on Saturday.
Finally, Doneil Henry’s Canada take on Uzbekistan at Bad Waltersdorf in Austria at 3pm on Tuesday in a FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying preparation fixture.
The Reds were held to a 1-1 draw by Azerbaijan on Friday, with defender Henry playing 90 minutes.
The Azzurri completed the victory thanks to goals from Antonio Candreva – from the penalty spot – and Daniele De Rossi.
Ogbonna played the final five minutes of the fixture in Verona, replacing Leonardo Bonucci – the Juventus defender, who will head to the Hammers’ new Stadium on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the Betway Cup tie against West Ham on 7 August.
It was Ogbonna’s first appearance for Italy in 20 months, having last appeared in his national strip against Malta in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier in October 2014.
Monday's fixture was Antonio Conte’s side’s final warm-up friendly prior to their Euro 2016 campaign, which begins on 13 June against Belgium in Lyon.
Sweden are their next opponents in Toulouse four days later, before Ogbonna could potentially face West Ham teammate and Republic of Ireland stopper Darren Randolph in Lille on 22 June.
Elsewhere, young Hammers stopper Sam Howes was in action for England U19s in Mexico on Monday night as the Three Lions were beaten in their final European Championship warm-up friendly.
In the 1-0 defeat, Howes was brought into the match for England at half time, replacing Reading keeper Luke Southwood between the sticks.
Despite a good England performance, their central American opponents netted a late header to take the win when it looked as if a stalemate was on the cards.
It was the second defeat in the double header just outside Mexico City, after Aidy Boothroyd’s men went down 2-0 in the first fixture on Saturday.
Finally, Doneil Henry’s Canada take on Uzbekistan at Bad Waltersdorf in Austria at 3pm on Tuesday in a FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying preparation fixture.
The Reds were held to a 1-1 draw by Azerbaijan on Friday, with defender Henry playing 90 minutes.