It was in his next game in Nantes, however, that he showed what he could bring to the international fold with a sensational display on his full debut, against Italy in Le Tournoi, a competition that also featured Roberto Carlos’s astonishing bending free-kick against France.
This was the chance Scholesy craved and he grabbed it with both hands, proving instrumental in securing a first win for England over Sunday’s Euro 2020 final opponents in 20 years. One glorious example of his vision was the 50-yard through ball that split an Azzurri defence containing Ciro Ferrara, Fabio Cannavaro and Alessandro Costacurta, allowing Ian Wright to lash in the opening goal on 20 minutes.
He followed it up with his first Three Lions goal, firing past keeper Angelo Peruzzi after being set up by Wright, now one of ITV’s passionate pundits on the Euros.
Check out footage of the goals in the 2-0 victory in the England tweet posted above – from when Paul celebrated his birthday.
