Originally a penalty was not given but referee Deniz Aytekin consulted VAR and the spot kick was awarded. Lorenzo Insigne stepped up to smash the ball past Jack Butland to cancel out Jamie Vardy's first half opener.

Speaking to ITV Sport after the game, Tarkowski said: "It's never a penalty. I stood on his foot but I didn't think a lot of it. It is what it is -- I'm not going to complain. It's been a great experience this week.

"It would have been nice to have two wins but I think there's a lot of positives to take. We look forward to the World Cup now."

Manager Gareth Southgate also said the VAR was wrong to award Italy the penalty, as he felt guidelines that only "clear and obvious" errors should be corrected had not been followed.

"I don't think it was clear and obvious," said the 47-year-old. "[But] we have to accept the ruling.

"I'm glad it's not the World Cup just yet. The ruling is 'clear and obvious' and it's not. It's one you can debate all day.

"It looks like James Tarkowski stands on him but it's during the running process and he's going down anyway.

"The referee had a good view already. I don't think with incidents like that VAR will clear things up. An obvious handball and stuff like that then maybe, but we have to get on with it.

"I prefer 'referee's decision is final'. That's my starting point. It's sport. We shouldn't be talking about how much money is lost.

"But if we go with technology it's the right thing to do, but it must be clear and obvious, otherwise it's just opinion again.

"A better way of communicating with the fans [is needed]. That was a little better, but there's a clearer communication with those in the stadium in other sports."

Southgate, who at this summer's World Cup in Russia will be overseeing his first tournament as England manager, also revealed the make-up of "19 or 20" of his 23-strong squad has already essentially been decided.

England secured a 1-0 friendly victory away to Holland on Friday amid his experiments with shape and personnel, and he said: "There have been some strong performances from individuals that have cemented... not their place in the squad, 19 or 20 of those were pretty clear, [but] it's often who are the next ones in if we get a problem in a particular area.

"The things we've tried, we've learned a lot. What's really pleased me is the guys are solving problems on the pitch themselves: changes of formation from the opposition, patterns of working their way through different pressing tactics.

"That's a real plus, and will only improve the more we work together. I'm looking forward to the lead into a fantastic and exciting tournament for us."

Vardy, on 18 goals for club and country this season, added: "We started off strongly in the first half and created lots but in the second half Italy started pushing on and had a few chances themselves so all-in-all I think it was a fair result.

"[James Tarkowski] has done brilliantly. It's his first cap and he's settled straight in.

"The game showed that we could defend as a unit and we had chances in attack which will take care of itself. We will see how far we can go [in the World Cup.]"

Italy's caretaker manager Luigi Di Biagio has seen his team draw and lose his two games in charge. A permanent appointment is scheduled to be made by May 20

"If I'm there, I'll carry on with my ideas: play football, win back the ball in the opposition's half, take the game to the opponents," he said. "Whether I'm the manager or not is not the problem. This group of players are Italy. They are very good and need to know they're not as bad as people say they are.

"We played with personality at Wembley, which is never easy."