England kids spare blushes
AIDY BOOTHROYD was in no mood to joke but he recognised the dark humour of his verdict. ‘The best part of the night was the view of the Pyrenees,’ he said after England’s Under 21s toiled to a 1-0 win over Andorra. ‘I’m not kidding. This is a really good lesson for us — myself included.’ The young Lions are unlikely to play in more spectacular surroundings in the months to come but there is no question they will play better. Here was a display to show that complaints about mundanity are not exclusive to the senior side. Fortunately for Boothroyd, a goal from Everton’s Tom Davies — one of eight changes to the side who beat Scotland last Friday — was enough to secure three points and extend England’s lead at the top of their
Euro 2019 qualifying group but it was far from satisfactory. ‘Did I make too many changes? Maybe,’ said Boothroyd. ‘But the lads who travel everywhere deserve a crack and I thought it was a good game to play them in. I should have known better.’ Tedious, laborious, ponderous were the three words that best illustrated the charmless nature of the game. Boothroyd warned his side not to over-elaborate but, if anything, they were too regimented. Eventually they made the breakthrough in the 53rd minute. Kyle Walker-Peters worked an angle to cross and his precise ball was met with a glancing header from Davies that broke the tension. It did not, however, burst the dam. And they were grateful Chelsea’s Fikayo Tomori was in the right place to block a goal-bound shot from Roger Nazzaro in the final minute. It was a small mercy for which Boothroyd was indebted. ‘We were desperate to score and when you are edgy and nervous, there is always a good chance they will have chances,’ said Boothroyd. ‘It could have been 4-0 or it could have been 1-1. We’ll take the win and move on.’