BLANK OF ENGLAND
Three Lions fail to get teeth into Bravehearts
THE Battle of Britain turned into a drab stalemate as England and Scotland cancelled each other out at Wembley.
John Stones, right, was closest to making himself a hero for the Three Lions with an early header that crashed against an upright. At the other end, Stephen O’Donnell brought a smart stop from
Jordan Pickford with a volley the England keeper tipped wide.
But defences were on top for the most part, leaving England needing a point to qualify from Group D, while Scotland must beat Croatia and hope other results go their way.
THE Battle of Britain ended in a goalless stalemate with England captain Harry Kane the major casualty in a war of attrition.
Kane was withdrawn 16 minutes from time as the hosts could find no way past their fiercest rivals, who on a different night might have taken a win back north of the border.
Nobody could argue it was a fair result, although it is unlikely anyone will be talking about this clash in 25 years’ time with the fervour reserved for Euro 96 and all that.
Every time this week Paul Gascoigne has performed that divine flick and stroked the ball in, Colin Hendry must have cursed.
Uncharacteristically, the England players looked too worried about being the ones left metaphorically, if not physically, laid out embarrassed on their backsides. Within four minutes they seemed frozen when a Billy Gilmour pass sent Stephen O’Donnell clear.
When he set up Che Adams 10 yards from goal, the striker should have provided a better shot than the one blocked by John Stones.
Phil Foden, watched cagily by a line of six Scotland defenders, then picked out Mason Mount for an early shot that deflected wide.
From the corner, the unmarked Stones should have scored instead of firing his header against the post, and Scotland had another let-off a minute later when Raheem Sterling picked the pocket of Scott McTominay and nutmegged him – only for Mount to shoot wide.
But that seemed to be it as the visitors got their shape right and England became stilted.
When Scotland got the ball, they knew it might only be briefly so they were more dynamic – not least on the half-hour when Kieran Tierney’s deep cross was volleyed goalwards by O’Donnell to produce a brilliant save from Jordan Pickford that ricocheted up too quickly for Adams to react.
Foden produced a couple of moments of Gascoigne-like purpose in a bid to get Wembley rocking like it did 25 years ago, but the persistent rain seemed to wash away any of the England players’ drive.
Kane struggled to escape the confines of his own socially distanced bubble to join in with the rest of the team.
No wonder Jack Grealish was stretching from the moment he took
his seat for the second half. As it was, England started the second period brightly, Kane and Sterling almost combining to put Foden in and, moments later, Mount forcing David Marshall to make his first save of the night.
Kane then picked out Reece James but his shot was too high – it was definitely Grealish time.
The Aston Villa star finally made his Euros bow for Foden after 63 minutes to the delight of three-quarters of Wembley.
His first touch won a corner; the second he earned a free-kick, though neither came to much.
But he did get on the ball, which is what Foden has perhaps lacked the confidence to do in either of the opening games. More surprising was the second substitution from Gareth Southgate, below. Kane was removed when there were still 16 minutes to steal the game. Suddenly, it seemed like Euro 92, not Euro 96 – you half expected Alan Smith to replace him. As it was, Rashford was the man to fill those golden boots in a bid for late glory – but to no avail.
A late shout for a Sterling penalty was given short shrift and England were left accepting they can take nothing for granted. They now have what looks like their toughest group game to come against Czech Republic – and who knows what path into the knockout stages they might be left with.