England offer reminder of 2022 World Cup credentials with simple but sublime Hungary win
So much for the toughest game on the road to the World Cup. If it was a calculated gamble from Gareth Southgate to give John Stones his first start last night since the Euros final against Italy 53 days ago with Manchester City having given him an extended break after the tournament, it turned out to be a continuation of his holiday.
It was an evening of leisure time for Stones and co as England’s miserly defence put their feet up in Budapest and watched the show at the other end.
The meanest rearguard in town at the Euros enhanced its reputation further with another clean sheet in Budapest in a game which turned into a walk in the park. Jordan Pickford had only one save to make all game.
England had reverted to a back four – the cross-Manchester mix – after the three-man unit Gareth Southgate had picked for the final and, protected energetically by the Declan Rice-Kalvin Phillips axis in front of them, there was nothing to concern them.
Stones did cause a minor flutter when he allowed the ball to bounce over his head in the 19th minute and onto Roland Sallai outside the England penalty area but he reacted quickly to tidy up his error. Maybe it was a way of involving himself in the game. All the action was in the other half.
