Lions are undone by Real hero
ENGLAND were taught a lesson in finishing by a Brazilian striker young enough to still be at school.
It broke the Three Lions’ run of 21 matches without defeat at Wembley, and left England manager Gareth Southgate with a lot to ponder ahead of his final, big friendly before the Euros, against Belgium on Tuesday.
Southgate said: “There were lots of very good performances.
“It is a top-level game and we have controlled long parts of it.
“We had as many attempts as them on goal tonight, but, in the end, it is that ruthless moment that decides the game. We’ve had a lot of players go on, a couple of debuts and some really important individual performances for us.”
England were missing injured captain and all-time leading scorer, Harry Kane, who watched from the sidelines. He will return to Germany and miss the Belgium game.
His clinical finishing could have made a difference on a night when England had a flurry of good chances in a first half they controlled.
Anthony Gordon and Ollie Watkins both started, with a chance to show that they can provide a striking threat in Kane’s absence.
Gordon impressed, but Watkins missed the best chance of the game and at times looked isolated.
“Very good,” Southgate said of the strike pair’s performances. “Anthony was excellent, both sides of his game.”
Gordon, meanwhile, was thrilled to have made his debut at last.
“Tonight was the best day of my life,” said the Newcastle forward.
“I envisioned it a bit different, with a win and a goal. I thought we were the better team, but we lacked that cutting edge that they had at the end.
“This is my long-term dream I have had.”