England 2-0 Ukraine (Kane 37′, Saka 40′)
England made it back-to-back wins in Euro 2024 qualifying with a 2-0 victory over Ukraine at Wembley.
Harry Kane continued where he left off against Italy as the Three Lions’ record goalscorer added No. 55 for his country at the far post, before Bukayo Saka wriggled into space and struck from 20 yards to double the hosts’ lead – just three minutes after assisting Kane.
If Gareth Southgate had wished for a multi-dimensional front three as he threw James Maddison into the mix for the first time in more than three years, he could not have asked for more from Kane and Saka for England’s first-half goals.
Kane switched the play to the Arsenal winger as he continued to toy with Vitalii Mykolenko, before Saka put in the cross and found the Spurs striker. The 21-year-old then turned from provider to goalscorer with a sensational finish, but he had his captain to thank for holding off Oleksandr Zinchenko until Jordan Henderson could place the final pass into Saka’s feet.
That did not tell the whole story, with a well-organised Ukraine frustrating England for large spells. But once Southgate’s men had lowered the tempo there was still time for Ivan Toney to be handed his debut – becoming the first Brentford player in over 80 years to win an England cap.
It leaves England top of Group C with six points from their opening two matches.
England player ratings
- Pickford – No shots on target from Ukraine, so a quiet afternoon of entertainment and another clean sheet for the England stopper 6
- Walker – A big ask to contain the pace of Mykhailo Mudryk but he did it and couldn’t be beaten on that side until the introduction of Eduard Sobol 7
- Stones – A high line from England that might have caught him out but Stones did his chances of starting at the Euros no harm 6
- Maguire – Also instrumental in containing Mudryk and in the right place at the right time to halt Ukraine’s best chance at close range. Missed a late header 7
- Chilwell – Heavily involved in England’s early spells down the left. The suspended Luke Shaw might struggle to get back into the XI 7
- Rice – Understated but composed. The midfield was a little congested alongside Henderson and Bellingham, so he did not dictate the play as much as he might have liked 6
- Henderson – His passes stretched Ukraine’s defence and notwithstanding being the oldest England player on the pitch, spent plenty of time pressing without the ball 7
- Bellingham – Key to England’s forward drives from midfield, with the highlight a pirouette through two defenders near the halfway line 8
- Saka – Four goals in his last six appearances for England. Even before his goal had caused Mykolenko as many problems as he did for Arsenal against Everton 9
- Kane – Deserved yet another goal, though his role in the build-up to his opener was even more impressive. A couple of early misses but was only a matter of time before he was on the scoresheet again 8
- Maddison – Looked lively on his first start. Largely attacked from the left to accommodate Saka and just overhit his best opportunity 7
Substitutes:
- Toney – His first time in an England shirt at any level but didn’t get a chance to make any real statement 6
- Grealish – Busy as England hunted a third in the dying minutes and his driving effort earned a corner 6
- Gallagher – Shot straight at goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin from close range after coming on 7
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/bf4uO2v
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