LIONS TAMED
Hungary 1 England 0: Horror penalty decision sees Three Lions lose Nations League opener after poor display in Budapest
IN front of a crowd or schoolchildren, England paid the penalty for playing like schoolboys.
If thousands among the Hungarian youngsters had not booed Gareth Southgate’s team taking the knee before the game, all the headlines would have been about the worst England display for some time.
8
8
But if that uncomfortable moment left a bad taste in the mouth, it should take nothing away from a home team who thoroughly deserved their first win over the Three Lions for 60 years.
That win came in the group stage of the 1962 World Cup.
Southgate must be thanking his lucky stars that this year’s edition will begin in November and not later this month.
Yes, there was considerable doubt about the award of the penalty for a challenge by substitute Reece James, which Dominik Szoboszlai converted.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
But the more important debate was when England had last played this badly.
The consensus was you had to go back to September 2020 and a goalless draw in Denmark, or to the lucky win in Iceland that immediately preceded it.
Those games were at the start of the last Nations League campaign.
This one also looks over before it’s even begun.
8
8
Vulnerable in defence, sloppy in midfield, lacklustre in attack, England gave a poor performance that could be explained but not excused by the long season that preceded it.
Hungary were a totally different side to the one beaten here 4-0 last year and added threat to the defensive solidity they had shown in claiming a subsequent 1-1 draw at Wembley.
England can perhaps count themselves lucky there were no travelling fans to boo them off the pitch.
It would have been hard to begrudge the Hungarian kids their raucous celebrations had it not been for the earlier incident.
The near constant noise of horns brought back memories - not entirely pleasant ones - of the vuvuzelas at the World Cup in South Africa.
The jeering of the England team as they emerged to warm up was impressively loud.
And the roars after the name of each member of the Hungary team was read out were enormous.
The kids respectfully refrained from booing the English national anthem and sang their own with touching sincerity.
Most read in football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS - BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
But then there were loud jeers as Southgate’s starting XI - and not Hungary’s - took the knee.
Thankfully, it was time for some football.
Jarrod Bowen, one of two Three Lions debutants, almost had a dream start but Attila the Hungarian (Fenerbahce defender Attila Szalai) blocked his fierce shot.
But England’s other new boy, James Justin, was having something of a nightmare.
When a ball over the top caught out the Leicester defender, home wing-back Loic Nego crossed, Dominik Szoboszlai touched a shot through Jordan Pickford’s legs and Conor Coady arrived in the nick of time to clear the ball from a yard out.
For much of the first half, England looked really ragged down their left-hand side.
Southgate, recognising the young wing-back’s discomfort, made a point of giving him a reassuring pat on the back.
The nervousness was contagious. Jude Bellingham, who often seemed to be trying too hard, turned into trouble and a Hungary break ended with Pickford pushing away a long-range shot by Zsolt Nagy.
8
8
Minutes later home captain Adam Szalai went too close for comfort with an outrageous effort from inside the centre circle.
The visitors could consider themselves a little fortunate that Hungary had not taken full advantage of a poor opening 45 minutes.
It was little surprise to see Bukayo Saka replace Justin for the second half, especially as the Leicester man had taken a knock.
Little changed, though. In the battle of the right wing-backs wearing No 7, Nego continued to be far more effective than Trent-Alexander Arnold.
Szoboszlai hit a shot just wide before England fans, watching and waiting back home, finally had something to cheer.
Saka went on a Vinicius Jr-style run that ended with Gulacsi making his first significant save of the evening.
It was fleeting relief from a Three Lions display that was really threatening to stink in the muggy conditions.
8
8
Southgate made a triple change just after the hour in a bid to salvage something positive.
Within moments of coming on, James committed the clumsy foul on Nagy that gave Szoboszlai the chance to give Hungary the lead from the spot. He did so, to huge acclamation from the kids who idolise him.
Bowen volleyed straight at Gulacsi and Conor Coady feathered a header just wide as the visitors belatedly created some chances.
But the home side should have made it two when Pickford parried a Laszlo Klenheisler shot and Nagy somehow sent the follow-up over the bar.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Another goal would not have flattered Hungary.
Harry Kane - note that this is the first mention of his name - had a couple of late sights of goal, but an equaliser deservedly eluded England.
Topics