Evolution rather than revolution was Gareth Southgate‘s mantra ahead of England‘s match with Hungary in Budapest, their first since that spirit-sapping shootout defeat to Italy at Wembley 54 days ago.
Southgate selected virtually the same squad that reached the Euro 2020 final, with 20 of the 26 included and a few familiar faces – Nick Pope, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jesse Lingard – recalled. Leeds striker Patrick Bamford was the only newcomer to the group.
It was practically the same starting line-up too, Kieran Trippier making way for Jack Grealish in the only change. It took Grealish 96 Premier League appearances in an Aston Villa shirt to make his first three competitive starts for the Three Lions. After only three league outings in Manchester City’s colours, he made his fourth.
It didn’t take long to decipher Hungary’s plan to stop him, their defenders demonstrating the same level of zeal to snap about his comically colossal calves as the obnoxious – and let’s face it, outright racist – black-shirted supporters showed for booing the visitors’ taking of the knee before kick-off.
Both wing-backs, Bendeguz Bolla on the right and Attila Fiola on the left, were ticked off by the stony-faced Cuneyt Cakir inside the opening 14 minutes for being overly zealous in their pursuit of England’s No.7. Bolla’s name was the first to be jotted down in Cakir’s notebook after he sunk his studs into Grealish’s left ankle.
Grealish drew his customary fouls in the opposition third but the playmaker brings more to the England party than just theatrical belly flops and wide-eyed indignation. A slick one-two with Mason Mount led to an early sighter for Harry Kane and a delicate dink over the top almost set Luke Shaw away soon after.
Much of England’s most promising passages of play were funnelled down their left flank and it was no surprise that their opener originated from that side. Declan Rice turned the ball over in midfield and fed Grealish who tiptoed with intent into the final third before inviting Mason Mount to pick out Raheem Sterling to score. Cue more frothy-mouthed fury in the stands and a torrent of lukewarm beer to toast England’s celebrations.
Soon after a second Hungarian was penalised for attempting to take a chunk out of Grealish, this time RB Leipzig enforcer Willi Orban. England’s decisive second was sourced from the opposite flank when Sterling crossed for Kane to head in his first of the campaign.
Grealish was involved in the third too, another deceptively nimble advance into enemy territory culminating in a feathered pass through to Kane who should have doubled his tally only for Peter Gulacsi to make a save with his feet. From the resulting Shaw corner, Harry Maguire headed in England’s third.
Grealish, along with Rice, savoured the moment by taking a sip from one of the errant cups tossed in their direction. A flare was also let off. Football without fans is nothing; unless it involves this hateful mob. Sterling and Jude Bellingham were allegedly subjected to racist abuse from the home fans.
Kane spurned another one-on-one from a Grealish pass, but the City man eventually got his assist when Rice squirmed a speculative effort under Gulacsi for the fourth. The night ended with Grealish as England’s most creative player, a title that he could become accustomed to in the build-up to Qatar 2022.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3zTGoDi
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