Mismatch of the day as energised England march on
Just 93 seconds. that’s all it was. the difference between England the sterile, the tame, the getting-booed-offdefinitely and England marching into the World Cup knock- out stages, buoyant and energised, senegal standing between Gareth southgate’s players and a quarter-final.
that’s tournament football. England struggled to break down Wales in the first half when 11 men gathered behind the ball and sometimes retreated en masse to their own penalty area. And then in minutes 50 and 51, came two lovely goals and blessed relief.
England finished top of Group B with seven points and a goal difference that eventually read +7. to put this into perspective, the Netherlands qualified from Group A also with seven points but a goal difference of +4.
Once again, as against Iran, southgate made several big calls and they came up trumps.
Marcus Rashford, selected ahead of Raheem sterling, scored goals one and three and started the move for goal two. Phil Foden scored and won the free-kick that ultimately broke the deadlock. Jude Bellingham did look better with Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice doing the bulk of the midfield dirty work.
Kyle Walker got valuable minutes in his legs which will be very much needed if senegal are overcome and Kylian Mbappe awaits later next week.
But we’re ahead of ourselves already. this was about beating Wales and England were a different class. We hear a lot about passion and emotion but talent matters, too.
With Gareth Bale reaching the end of his international road, Wales no longer have a player that would make England’s team. When the XI on one side of the team sheet do not have an individual capable of making the XI on the other, that spells trouble.
so the first half was a mismatch without goals, and the second a mismatch with them. ultimately, the goalless draw with the united states was useful because at least England know what it is like to be in a tough game at this World Cup. the meetings with Iran and Wales — 9-2 on aggregate — were hardly preparation for senegal at all.
It was only after Bale had been withdrawn that England scored but that is sadly no testament to Wales’ greatest player. He barely touched the ball. And whatever Rob Page had planned without him in the second- half was consigned to the dustbin once two goals were scored in quick succession. that was Wales done.
And what lovely goals they were. For the first, Foden went straight at Wales’ back line, until eventually upended by Chris Mepham. With Kieran trippier in reserve, England had to look to another free-kick taker.
southgate is not short of options. Harry Kane can hit them, but Rashford looked like he fancied it, 25 yards out. Danny Ward, Wales’ understudy keeper, deputising for the suspended Wayne Hennessey, shifted his weight to the wrong foot, and Rashford lashed the ball over the wall and into the far corner. Ward was in no position to scramble. It was perfect. Wales were rocked and England, as good teams do, took advantage. Almost from the restart, Rashford dispossessed Ben Davies deep and played in Kane along the right flank. Wales’ back line were all over the place and his cross was met by Foden at the far post, the simplest conversion.
that was goal No 99 for England at World Cups and the century wasn’t long coming. Kalvin Phillips played a long ball up, Rashford bamboozled Connor Roberts and struck a low shot that went through Ward’s legs. It was comfortable, in the end. England’s critics almost have to invent their own crises these days.
Even in a goalless opening 50 minutes — including five minutes stoppage time — England were so much better than Wales. Jordan Pickford did not have a save to make, there was not a shot at goal until the fifth minute of additional time and barely a defensive tackle. It was all England.
And yet, frustratingly, given southgate’s overhaul of his frontline, there was hardly a glimmer of an English goal, either. Pressure and plenty of possession, yes, but few clear cut chances. the best came after 10 minutes when Kane dropped into that No 10 slot he increasingly occupies for his country and slid through to Rashford, now one on one with Ward.
It was a huge moment for the understudy and he rose to the occasion. He saw the danger early, sped from his line and thwarted Rashford towards the edge of the area. this chance aside, England saw a lot of the ball but little of the target. In the 15th minute, a freekick from Luke shaw was cleared but fell to Foden. He shot low, but it was tame and inaccurate. He
had another try after 38 minutes min nutes following a sublime piece of skill from Bellingham and Walker ker involving a smart interchange ge of passes, and a back heel from m each man. Eventually the ball was worked to Foden who this time shot over.
A minute later, Rashford attempted an overhead volley of the type Richarlison executed so magnificently in Brazil’s opening game. Rashford’s timing and technique, e, by comparison, needs work. k. The ball came off his shin and spun harmlessly wide.
Yet if one moment epitomised mised England’s first half frustration it came when Harry Maguire broke and saw space opening up ahead of him in Wales’ penalty area. He looks so much more comfortable for England right now than for his club, and is clearly encouraged to bring thet ball forward. He surged into enemyen territory and with the goal in sight, launched a shot. It wentwen out for a throw-in. Down theth Wales end, too. You can imagineim what the red wall madem of that.
Wales were poor, and no arguing. They offered nothing. Not through Bale, not through the physical presencee of Kieffer Moore. The soles mitigation is that they didn’tdi have much luck early on when Neco Williams took a RashfordRash shot flush on the top of his head, h as he stooped to clear. He wawas knocked backwards and referee Slavko Vincic immediately stopped the game. Williams tried to continue but 12 minutes later sat down and called for further treatment. He was unable to continue; suspected concussion. It was a tremendous blow. Roberts, of Burnley replaced him.
By the second-half, Wales had made another substitution and this was the big one. Bale, off.
Ultimately, time and a season in which he has barely played 90 minutes caught up with him. It is hard to remember a contribution of significance in what is almost certain to be his final 45 minutes of international football, and that is a pity.
Bale found a way of inserting himself into Wales’ narrative in the first game at this tournament but, from there, no more. Page was even asked about starting him from the substitutes’ bench on the eve of this game. Maybe he wished he had. Brennan Johnson came on but, within six minutes, was two goals down and like the rest of the Principality, heading home.