adminBUDAPEST – England played their full part as Hungary turned what was meant to be a punishment into a party inside the vast bowl of Budapest’s Puskas Arena with a 1-0 victory.
This opening Nations League fixture was due to be played out behind closed doors as part of sanctions imposed by the governing body for racist and homophobic behaviour by Hungarian supporters at Euro 2020.
But Hungary exploited what is clearly an obvious loophole in Uefa’s regulations to ensure England were greeted by a large crowd, comprised mainly of children 14 and under accompanied by adults, and the sort of noisy hostility that made a mockery of the idea this night would act as a warning against future transgressions.
What should have been stony silence became instead a wall of noise and the game was concluded amid wild scenes of joy and a lap of honour by Hungary’s players after Dominik Szoboszlai’s disputed 66th-minute penalty gave the hosts a 1-0 win.
Hungary’s elation was aided by an England display dripping with mediocrity and fatigue in a truly surreal atmosphere.
England’s day started badly as their players were booed by many Hungarian supporters, the vast majority children, when they took the knee in their public gesture against racism and discrimination before kick-off.
Nothing that happened afterwards would make manager Gareth Southgate feel any better – or offer any firm conclusions – as he plots a path towards the World Cup in Qatar in November.
The validity of classing Nations League matches as competitive fixtures has been questioned by many, including Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne, who has condemned them as glorified friendlies.
Southgate will never play any part in talking down England games and things may improve (they will have to) when they face Germany in Munich on Tuesday but this laboured, flat effort carried all the evidence of games too far for some of his players.
All eyes were on two debutants, West Ham’s Jarrod Bowed and Leicester City defender James Justin.
Bowen created a good impression with his usual industrious style and was actually one of the visitors’ more dangerous performers, providing the occasional threat on goal. He certainly did himself no harm and will be keen to impress further in the remaining three games of this international programme.
Justin looked composed playing on the left side of defence but took a knock and was replaced at half-time.
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, in particular, struggled to find his best form on the right flank but this should hardly come as a surprise given his gruelling season chasing four trophies, winning two, and only seven days after the mental anguish of the Champions League final loss to Real Madrid.
England’s lack of freshness was exposed as Hungary troubled them on the flanks, especially the gifted Loic Nego, and through the middle, where tired legs were exploited throughout.
There might have been an undeserved draw in this to further bolster an impressive England record of one defeat – to Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final – since they lost to Belgium in the Nations League in November 2020.
“We have to accept that we did not do enough to win the game,” said Southgate. “A draw would have been the fair outcome. We did not create too many clear-cut chances and the actual result hinged on a decision which is harsh but probably wouldn’t be overturned.
“It has been a long season. The heat was a factor and took a lot out of the players and we tried to refresh the team earlier than normal.” – BBC Sport
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter