UEFA Nations League: Hungary edge out England
Hungary 1 - 0 England
In this Nations League match, England produced one of their worst performances of recent time.
Southgate’s team were strangely passive, lacking bite in the areas that mattered, especially the final third, and they came to threaten too late, playing with the bit between their teeth only after they fell behind to Dominik Szoboszlai’s 66th minute penalty. The award was soft, but it was correct and punishment for a moment of clumsiness from Reece James, who had only just entered as a substitute.
🇭🇺 Hungary beat England for the first time since 1962! 👏👏👏#NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/62Y3bS88X8
— UEFA Nations League (@EURO2024) June 4, 2022
James touched a cross back towards his goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, and worried that he had not put enough on it. And so he stepped across Zsolt Nagy to make sure that the Hungary wing-back could not give chase. Nagy went down theatrically and England had a sinking feeling.
Szoboszlai once told Neymar before he took a penalty that he never missed and his conversion here, dragged low into the bottom corner, bristled with conviction.
Highlights
Watch the key moments from the match in the video below. Footage from Channel 4 Sport.
Hungary came to play here, eager at the outset to exploit the spaces behind England’s wing-backs, Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Justin, who toiled defensively on his debut and was taken off at half-time. Alexander-Arnold looked OK when facing forward; less so in the other direction.
Hungary almost made the dream start. Addressing a high diagonal from left to right, Loic Nego volleyed over a sumptuous first-time ball, low along the corridor of uncertainty behind England’s back line, and it was made to measure for Szoboszlai. Out flew Pickford and he certainly spooked Szoboszlai.
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The tone had been unusual, to say the least, before kick-off, with England emerging to boos for their warm-up, albeit the pitch of them rather squeakier than normal. What would happen when England took the knee? In the controversial fixture here last September, the anti-racism gesture had been met with ear-splitting whistles. Here, incredibly, there was another round of boos.
England were too open in the defensive transitions in the first half, offering Hungary hope. Szoboszlai sent Zsolt Nagy galloping pastAlexander-Arnold on the half hour, and the wing-back made Pickford save.
At least 20,000 kids in. Some booing as ref and #eng players take the knee. pic.twitter.com/t3BiqJaYDH
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) June 4, 2022
There was also a heart-stopping moment for the goalkeeper shortly afterwards. Hungary won the ball high up and, when it broke to Adam Szalai just inside the England half, he saw Pickford off his line and went for the spectacular. It looked as though he had pulled it off only for the long-range lob to veer off target at the last moment.
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England lacked punch. Jarrod Bowen was a willing runner off the right on his debut and, after seeing an early effort blocked by Attila Szalai, his eyes lit up when Alexander-Arnold picked him out with a cross from the right. Bowen fluffed the side-on volley. Coady then headed high from an Alexander-Arnold corner. Mason Mount also missed an opportunity when he could not finish from a Harry Kane cross.
Bukayo Saka, had a nice moment when he glided away from two red shirts to work Peter Gulasci from a tight angle and England pushed after the penalty. Bowen sent a second side-on volley at the goalkeeper, the disappointing Jude Bellingham had an effort blocked and Coady headed narrowly wide from a set piece.
Reaction
Hungary beat England for the first time in 60 years.
— Gregg Evans (@greggevans40) June 4, 2022
Dull and disappointing. Even the changes didn’t kick #ENG into life.
Onto Germany which, you presume, will be even tougher 🤷🏼♂️
One England fan commented on The Guardian's match report: "This is a very talented England squad with very good players in almost all positions. They've reached the semi finals of the last World Cup and the final of the last Euro's. They ain't bad are they. One bad game doesn't change that does it."
Another posted their thoughts on the YouTube video above: "Hungary played very well and some of their passing moves were brilliant . Ok it was a penalty but a well deserved win just the same . Southgate made error with substitutes and should have it as it was. Well done Hungary, you played well!"
England disjointed, starting system didn't work, James still arguing with officials over pen, but can't argue over the result. Pickford prevented a worse scoreline. Hungary deserved winners. #eng first loss (not shootout) since November 2020, Belgium away. #HUNENG
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) June 4, 2022
This England fan was unhappy with all the booing of the knee: "Another display of racism. The booing of the knee was terrible!"
