England fell to a hugely embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Hungary on Tuesday night, rounding off a miserable batch of Nations League games for Gareth Southgate’s men.
The Three Lions dominated the ball in the first period but were often frustrated as Hungary’s energetic press disrupted their play, and a defensive lapse was ruthlessly punished to leave them trailing at the break.
England’s clearest opening came just six minutes in following some nice combination play between Harry Kane and Reece James on the left flank. The latter’s deep cross reached Jarrod Bowen unmarked at the back post, but the West Ham attacker made a complete mess of his close-range header.
The hosts found themselves behind in the 16th minute after they failed to deal with a free-kick delivery. The ball was allowed to reach Roland Sallai, and the forward controlled the ball on his thigh before lashing a finish beyond Aaron Ramsdale’s outstretched arm.
It was very nearly two shortly before the half-hour mark, but Reece James was on hand to clear off the line when Dominik Szoboszlai whipped in a wicked free kick from close to the corner flag.
John Stones should have done better with a free header from a corner just a minute later, before Hungary keeper Denes Dibusz was finally called into action when teammate Willi Orban headed Bukayo Saka’s dangerous cross back towards his own goal.
England shifted to three at the back in the second period but were comfortably held at arm’s length by the visitors, who were incredibly clinical as they delivered two sucker punches on the break.
With 20 minutes to go, Phillips mis-controlled in his own half and substitute Martin Adam pounced, laying it off for Sallai to prod a toe punt through Ramsdale’s legs.
After Kane had hit the bar as England pushed to get back into the game, it was put beyond them altogether. Hungary broke again and the ball eventually made its way to wing-back Zsolt Nagy on the edge of the box, and he blasted an unerring finish into the back of the net.
Things went from absolutely terrible to even worse two minutes later when John Stones was given his marching orders for what was harshly considered a second bookable offence. Substitute Daniel Gazdag completed England’s humiliation in the final minute, running through and dinking a cute finish over Ramsdale.
The result is England’s worst home defeat since 1928 and – obviously – leaves them rooted to the bottom of Nations League Group A3.
GK: Aaron Ramsdale – 3/10 –Â Got an arm to Sallai’s strike but not too much he could do. Should have done better with more than one of the remaining goals.
RB: Kyle Walker – 4/10 –Â Didn’t provide his usual attacking impetus from right-back before dropping into a back three.
CB: John Stones – 3/10 –Â Too easily beaten in the air before the opener, and his passing was a little loose. Booked for catching the troublesome Adam Szalai with his elbow. Shown a harsh second yellow for a perceived block late on.
CB: Marc Guehi – 5/10 –Â Looked composed and passed well with both feet. Battled well with the physical Szalai. Unable to stop England being torn apart late on.
LB: Reece James – 5/10 –Â Deserved an assist for Bowen but the forward fluffed his lines. Made a vital goal-line clearance from Szoboszlai’s free kick. Shifted to right wing-back and looked more at home.
DM: Kalvin Phillips – 2/10 –Â Conceded a needless foul and then lost Sallai from the subsequent free kick before he controlled and rattled it home. Looked fatigued and passed poorly. Things went from bad to worse when he was dispossessed and outmuscled in the build-up to the second.
CM: Conor Gallagher – 5/10 –Â Unsurprisingly matched Hungary’s early energy. Showed good endeavour but couldn’t make a difference before being subbed.
CM: Jude Bellingham – 5/10 –Â Looked leggy and struggled to impose himself initially. Grew into the game somewhat but not the influence you would hope for.
RW: Jarrod Bowen – 4/10 –Â Made a hash of a glaring early headed opportunity. Wasted a couple of other good positions in the first half too. Withdrawn at the break.
ST: Harry Kane – 6/10 – Unfortunate air-kick meant the ball reached Sallai to finish. Popped up across the attack looking to get England going. Played a wonderful pass to Saka but the chance was spurned by the Arsenal man. Bad luck hitting the bar late on.
LW: Bukayo Saka – 5/10 –Â Involved early on and looked fairly dangerous but faded. Shifted to left wing-back at the break.
SUB: Raheem Sterling (46′ for Bowen) – 5/10 – Always went looking for the ball but his decision-making was questionable.
SUB: Mason Mount (56′ for Gallagher) – 5/10
SUB: Phil Foden (67′ for Bellingham) – 5/10
SUB: Harry Maguire (85′ for Saka) – N/A
