England suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at home to Hungary in a shock result in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday night.
It was the night of dreams for the visitors, who were clinical in front of goal and are now top of a strong Nations League group.
Some fans have made up their minds. ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning,’ they sang as they watched England embarrassed on home soil. It will not come to that. Manager Gareth Southgate has credit in the bank and will have time to come up with an answer.
But this humbling experience in Wolverhampton tonight will leave its mark. It will raise doubts ahead of a World Cup England have a realistic chance of winning.
But there are few positives to take from England’s summer. Four games, no victories, no goals from open play and six conceded paints a bleak picture.
Perhaps the only shred of comfort England can take from from a miserable 10-day period that has seen them lose twice to Hungary is that the World Cup is still five months away. Because if it was in Qatar this summer, then England would be in trouble.
For 15 minutes or so, they appeared to be in the ascendancy against Hungary. Reece James, deployed in an unfamiliar role at left back, was making threatening inroads down the right, Bukayo Saka’s pace had caught his opposing number Attila Fiola on the hop a couple of times while Jude Bellingham’s driving runs from central midfielder had the visitors scurrying.
One move that saw Harry Kane and James rip through Hungary’s right flank was particularly easy on the eye. Jarrod Bowen’s tame header at the end of the move was less convincing, however.
The signs were promising, though, and after a largely disappointing international break the improvement was most welcome.
Southgate was not to know that events were about to turn — and his team only had themselves to blame.
John Stones’ attempt at heading Dominik Szoboszlai’s free-kick clear was horribly misdirected, Kane swung at thin air as he tried to rectify his colleague’s mistake — all that was left was for Roland Sallai to put England out of their misery. The Hungarian forward’s was clinical, his effort whizzing past Aaron Ramsdale at the near post.
That sinking feeling has become all too familiar for Southgate this summer. England have fallen behind in three of the four matches they have played in June. It is a problem that needs rectifying before the real business starts in November.
Yes, Hungary’s opener arrived against the run of play but what does that matter?
Yes, this was not a full strength England team but, again, what does that matter?
England were — for a second time in 10 days — trailing against a team ranked 35th place below them in FIFA’s rankings. Now that does matter.
They tried to rally but their best opportunity of the first half came courtesy of Hungary defender Willi Orban, whose header from Saka’s cross was heading towards his own net before goalkeeper Denes Dibusz spared his team-mate’s blushes.
Indeed, England could easily have found themselves 2-0 down before half-time after another Szoboszlai free-kick sparked chaotic scenes in England’s defence as James blocked Kalvin Phillips’ miscued header on the line.
Boos echoed round Molineux at half-time. No wonder.
Taking England on the road seemed a good idea earlier this year. The jam-packed crowd here at the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers seemed less enthused.
Southgate reacted, moving to a back-three having started the game with the four-man defence he, in an ideal world, would start with at the World Cup.
He also sent on Raheem Sterling on half-time, in place of Bowen who, despite the collective disappointment of England’s summer, can be quietly satisfied with his introduction into the international scene.
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But this was a needs must moment for Southgate. Avoiding defeat was key and Sterling was clearly needed to achieve that.
As you might expect, England were more incisive with Sterling on the pitch. Kane just failed to get a toe on to a dangerous low cross from James, who was giving a good account of himself despite being out of position.
But still England toiled in attack as Southgate looked to his bench again, bringing on Mason Mount in place of Conor Gallagher.
Southgate turned to his calvary with Phil Foden, recovered from a bout of Covid, next on the field.
But it did not make any difference as Hungary rubbed salt into England’s wounds.
Phillips was lax in possession and paid the piper; Martin Adam robbing the Leeds midfielder before setting up Sallai for his second.
The Hungary bench were in hysterics, most of them storming the pitch to celebrate. The home support were just as animated, as jeers echoed round Molineux for the second time.
The audible discontent continued well after the goal, too. This wasn’t what the city of Wolverhampton had expected when they heard the country’s elite were coming to town.
Because this was turgid, dreadful, feeble.
England’s embarrassment was complete in the 80th minute when Zsolt Nagy slammed home before Daniel Gazdag scored Hungary’s fourth.
It almost went unnoticed that Stones was sent off in between the two late Hungarian goals.
‘You don’t know what you’re doing,’ roared the furious Molineux crowd.
Time to prove them wrong, Gareth.
- MailOnline
