Wolverhampton, England, June 15 (BNA): Hungary beat England away 4-0 on Tuesday to top their group in the Nations League and hand the host their worst home defeat in 94 years in a competition Gareth Southgate’s side had hoped to boost morale. Enhanced World Cup warm-up.
Southgate made nine changes from the team that drew with Italy at the weekend to give some marginal players a chance. But despite their dominance on the ball, England created few chances and the experience backfired against Hungary’s side that beat them in Budapest earlier in the month and they’re out in blood again, Reuters reports.
“Tonight is a lively experience,” Southgate said, after last year’s national champions when they reached the European Championship finals were booed at Wolverhampton’s Molineux Stadium.
Hungarian Roland Sly started the defeat when he controlled the ball on his knee after a wrong header from John Stones before past Aaron Ramsdale in the 16th minute.
Salai scored the second goal in the 70th minute with a superb finish with the outside of his boot after Calvin Phillips lost a tackle. Zsolt Nagy broke Ramsdale and Daniel Gazdag drove from distance into the corner to score two late goals causing pain for England.
Adding to the disastrous night, England defender Stones was sent off for two yellow cards.
Southgate said he picked a young demo team, heavy on attacking talent, leaving his team exposed when the game turned against them.
“This is my responsibility at the end of the day.
We couldn’t keep beating our best players…but I think I gave them a lot to do tonight. I understand the reaction to that on the field.”
“I wouldn’t say it doesn’t hurt… We’ve seen you have to be at your full potential. It’s been an important experience for the young players across this set of matches.
“This group of players have been fantastic for the country and it’s important that they stay with them,” added Southgate, who also led England to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia in 2018.
Kane: “Night of Oblivion”
The result left Hungary’s tough Marco Rossi team at the top of Group C with seven points, with England occupying the fourth and final place with two points. Germany comes in second place with six points after its 5-2 victory over Italy, which is in third place with five points.
With two matches remaining, the group winners advance to the Nations League finals next June while the latter team is relegated.
England captain Harry Kane, who delivered some iconic England moments and headed the crossbar, admitted his team’s second-half surrender was “unacceptable” but urged the fans to forgive.
“It’s our first big defeat in a long time,” he said. “It’s not time to panic, it’s time to keep our heads up.”
“A night to forget but we have to take it on the chin and move on, prepare for the big World Cup and we will learn a lot… Let’s not forget where we came from. It won’t be like that. Every match is perfect.”
After a slow loss in last year’s Euros against Italy, England’s hopes are pinned on the World Cup in Qatar at the end of this year. But their poor form in the Nations League baffled fans, with some critics citing fatigue of players after the rigors of the Premier League and other competitions for many.
It was the first time England had lost a home game by four goals or more since March 1928 when Scotland beat them 5-1. It was the first time a team away from home scored four goals against England since the Hungarians themselves won 6-3 in 1953.
Hungary did not qualify for the World Cup.