MOMENTUM IS MOUNTING
England dump No.1 side to make big statement of trophy intent
GARETH SOUTHGATE hailed a gutsy and resolute performance by his England players as they beat the No.1 team in the world.
Marcus Rashford and Mason Mount scored as they fought back to pass a crucial Nations League test.
And Southgate said: “We’re not going to face a more complicated game defensively. Belgium have everything in their ranks.
“It was a brilliant test, the sort of test we need. That’s the beauty of the Nations League because you get top-level games and top-level opponents.”
The England boss will have enjoyed their mentality as much as their performance. They refused to give up or buckle – even under severe pressure – and battled with everything they had.
What England lacked in craft and finesse, they more than made up with grit, determination and a resoluteness that can bridge the gap with the best at major tournaments.
It was Belgium’s first defeat in two years and it also puts Southgate’s men on top of their Nations League Group.
England struggled early on, went behind and yet found a way to win that is huge credit to Southgate and his men.
Surely no one deserved a goal more than Rashford, now Marcus Rashford MBE if you please, as he slammed home the equaliser from the spot.
Rashford wore special boots with a special message and tribute as he furthers his battle to tackle child poverty. This was a sweet moment.
Then Mount’s def lected goal provided the winner in the second half – and that surely was vindication for Southgate in choosing the Chelsea midfielder over Jack Grealish.
Aston Villa captain Grealish is the popular choice but Mount is a Southgate player. What he lacks in flair, he more than makes up for with consistency.
But Kyle Walker was also superb on his 50th cap on the right side of a back three, two years after moaning about having to play there and having spent a year out in the cold.
Walker showed if you battle hard enough, knuckle down and fall back into line with Southgate there is a way back. He was excellent, strong and tenacious and England’s most aggressive defender.
Southgate added: “It was a huge test to come through that 15 or 20-minute period after they scored.
“The penalty came at a critical level and we went in at 1-1, everything felt a bit calmer for the second half. It was a high-level game, tactically high level and physically high level.
“I was incredibly proud of the players and for such a young team to go and win it, gives us a taste of what they are capable of over the next couple of years.”
Belgium were lively early on, playing at pace and pinging passes all over the pitch as Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Yannick Carrasco had England’s defence chasing shadows.
Carrasco had the ball in the net early on only for it to be ruled out for offside.
It did not take long for them to get one that counted. Lukaku, again looking like the player Manchester United need to sign rather than one they should have sold, bulldozed his way into the box, Eric Dier slid in with a reckless challenge and down went the Belgium striker.
Up stepped Lukaku and smashed home. At that stage, it was all Belgium. England keeper Jordan Pickford made a super save from De Bruyne and Thomas Meunier went close.
But England clawed their way back. Meunier pulled Jordan Henderson’s shirt and Rashford slammed home.
England turned the tide. Belgium were dangerous going forward but hardly laid a glove on them in the second half.
In the 65th minute. Trent AlexanderArnold’s diagonal ball was headed back by Kieran Trippier and it fell to
Mount. His shot deflected off Toby Alderweireld, looped up and over Simon Mignolet and nestled in the net.
On came Harry Kane, missing from the starting line-up due to tight muscles in training, and missed a glorious chance from a point-blank header.
Belgium boss Roberto Martinez was unhappy with the penalty award against his side and also questioned Carrasco’s disallowed goal for offside.
Martinez said: “It was onside. VAR has taken the refereeing to a different level and we need it on key decisions like the penalty.”
But England saw it out and that will give Southgate so much hope.