Humiliated England are torn apart
Rampant Hungary heap pressure on Southgate as fans call for his head
SOME fans have made up their minds. ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning,’ they sang as they watched England embarrassed on home soil.
It will not come to that. Manager Gareth Southgate has credit in the bank and will have time to come up with an answer ahead of a World Cup his team have a realistic opportunity of winning. But it was a humiliating experience at Molineux — England’s worst home defeat since 1928.
Make no mistake, the mental scars from this will raise doubts within the squad. Are we as good as we think we are? Can we really win the World Cup?
They are not the kind of thoughts you want in the lead up to a major tournament. But that is where England are after a summer of misery. Four games, no victories, no goals from open play and six conceded paints a bleak picture.
Perhaps the only shred of comfort from a miserable 10-day period that has seen them lose twice to Hungary is that the World Cup is five months away. Because if it was in Qatar now, then England would be in trouble.
For 15 minutes or so, they appeared to be in the ascendancy against Hungary. Reece James, deployed in an unfamiliar role at left back, was making threatening inroads down the flank, Bukayo Saka was causing trouble and Jude Bellingham’s driving runs from central midfielder had the visitors scurrying.
One move that saw Harry Kane and James rip through Hungary’s right flank was particularly easy on the eye. Jarrod Bowen’s tame header at the end of the move was less convincing.
The signs were promising and most welcome after a disappointing run of games. Southgate was not to know that events were about to turn — and his team only had themselves to blame.
John Stones’ attempt at heading Dominik Szoboszlai’s free-kick clear was horribly misdirected, Kane swung at thin air as he tried to rectify his colleague’s mistake — all that was left was for Roland Sallai to put England out of their misery. The Hungarian forward’s strike was clinical, his effort whizzing past Aaron Ramsdale at the near post.
That sinking feeling has become all too familiar for Southgate this month. England have fallen behind in three of the four matches they have played. It is a problem that needs rectifying before the real business starts in Qatar in November.
Hungary’s opener did arrive rive against the run of play and this was not a full strength England and team. But they were again ain trailing to Hungary — a team m ranked 35 places below them in n FIFA’s rankings.
They tried to rally but their best opportunity of the first half came courtesy of Hungary defender Willi Orban, whose header from Saka’s cross was heading towards his own net before goalkeeper r Denes Dibusz spared his is team-mate’s blushes by punching ing the ball clear.
England could easily have found und themselves 2-0 down before hhalftime lf after another Szoboszlai free-kick sparked chaotic scenes in England’s defence as James blocked Kalvin Phillips’ miscued header on the line.
Boos echoed round Molineux at half- time. No wonder. Taking England on the road seemed a good idea earlier this year. The Molineux crowd seemed less enthused.
Southgate reacted, moving to a back three, having started the game with the four-man system he is expected to employ at the World Cup. He also sent on Raheem Sterling, in place of Bowen, who can be satisfied with his introduction into the international scene this month.
But this was a needs must moment for Southgate. Avoiding defeat was key and Sterling was clearly needed to achieve that. England were more incisive and Kane just failed to get a toe on a dangerous low cross from James. But still England toiled in attack as Southgate looked to his bench again, bringing on Mason Mount in place of Conor Gallagher, and then Phil Foden, recovered from a bout of Covid. But it did not make any difference as Hungary rubbed salt into England’s wounds.
Phillips was lax in possession and
paid the price as Martin Adam set up Sallai for his second.
Jeers echoed round Molineux for a second time and the discontent continued after the goal.
This was not what the city of Wolverhampton had expected when they heard England were coming to town. Because this was turgid, dreadful and feeble. England’s embarrassment was complete in the 80th minute when Zsolt Nagy slammed home before Daniel Gazdag scored Hungary’s fourth. It almost went unnoticed that Stones was sent off in between the two late Hungarian goals.
‘You don’t know what you’re doing,’ roared the Molineux crowd. Time to prove them wrong, Gareth.
ENGLAND (4-3-3): Ramsdale 6; Walker 4, Guehi 5.5, Stones 3, James 6; Gallagher 6 (Mount 56min, 6), Phillips 6, Bellingham 6 (Foden 68, 6); Saka 5.5 (Maguire 85), Kane 6, Bowen 5.5 (Sterling 46, 6.5). Booked: Stones, Walker. Sent off: Stones. Manager: Gareth Southgate 3.
HUNGARY (3-4-2-1): Dibusz 7.5; Lang 7, Orban 7.5, At Szalai 7.5; Fiola 7, Schafer 7, Styles 7 (A Nagy 55min, 6), Z Nagy 8; Szoboszlai 7.5 (Gazdag 56, 8), Sallai 8 (Nego 78); Ad SZALAI 8.5 (Adam 68, 7). Scorers: Sallai 16, 70, Z Nagy 80, Gazdag 89. Booked: None. Manager: Marco Rossi 9. Referee: Clement Turpin (Fra) 6. Attendance: 28, 839.