An early own goal and a late goal from Kane were reported to have given England victory in Group C, but Gareth Southgate’s side failed to impress against their lower-ranked opponents.Marcus Rashford withdraws with injury ahead of the Three Lions’ final qualifier in North Macedonia on Monday
England had a disappointing 2-0 win over Malta at Wembley on Friday, but Harry Kane’s late goal only added to a lackluster performance.
Gareth Southgate’s side have suffered a series of injuries in the run-up to their European Championship qualifying round, but this is a terrible blow for a side with ambitions of winning next summer’s tournament in Germany. It was the result.
Their qualification has already been confirmed and the top spot in Group C may be assured, but this performance leaves no one in doubt about this team’s ability to make it all the way to the Euros.
When the two teams met in June, England won a resounding 4-0 away victory, thanks to a Marta own goal eight minutes into the game. Incredibly, Enrico Pepe repeated this gift just eight minutes into the match. But any notion that the floodgates would open evaporated as Southgate’s ragtag squad struggled to create any big chances against the 171st-ranked nation in the world.
39 minutes into the game, Trent Alexander-Arnold took the team’s first shot. And in the 64th minute he scored his first goal. A near-capacity crowd arrived at Wembley hoping for a big win until substitutes Kyle Walker and Bukayo Saka combined with standouts Phil Foden and Kane to double the advantage 15 minutes into the match. I was hungry for excitement.
There was an unbelievable decision to order Kane to dive when he was brought down by Maltese goalkeeper Henry Bonello in the first half, but when Declan Rice fired what would have been his third goal. , the England captain was found to be in an offside position by VAR. However, the concern for Southgate is not so much the injustice, but rather England’s inability to dominate their opponents.
He travels to North Macedonia on Monday and will aim to conclude his campaign with a near-certain spot in the pot for Euro 2024 in the Euro 2024 draw on December 2. He will also be hoping for an even more encouraging performance. A disappointing effort.
How did England cross the line against Malta?
It was a topic of conversation even before the match as England supporters arrived expecting a goal fest on Friday night. By the end of the match, the fourth official, who added six more minutes, was booed.
Things could have been worse had Teddy Theuma’s drive bounced inside the post instead of going past it, 29 seconds after Conor Gallagher gave the ball away. It was the shade of Davide Gualtieri in San Marino in 1993.
Pepe’s own goal from Foden’s cut-back quieted any signs of shock but did not spark England into life. It was an unforgettable first half for the hosts.
Harry Maguire’s poor pass out allowed Paul Mbong to shoot from distance, but England were still unable to get a clear shot, but Kane was denied a blatant penalty and was beaten by goalkeeper Bonello. When caught, it became the subject of a simulation.
Maguire’s meek header from a corner was registered as England’s shot in the 25th minute, but the Three Lions’ first real shot of fury didn’t arrive until six minutes before half-time, with Alexander-Arnold’s effort It went way over the bar. He summed up England’s performance. It’s several miles away.
Walker and Saka were sent on at half-time and would later combine for England’s second goal, but the initial improvements made by Southgate’s reshuffled team were modest.
Rashford struggled to link up in the first half and produced some threatening moments individually, but his lack of sharpness was clear and his painful collision with Alexander-Arnold highlighted England’s lack of cohesion. It symbolized. He was sent off for a blow and Cole Palmer made his debut in his place. Jordan Henderson was booed.
Alexander-Arnold had the first shot on target of the game in the 64th minute, but Kane finally found the back of the net shortly after as England finally showed the quality of their passing they always display in the final third.
Rice took a shot immediately after the restart, and Malta’s gears seemed to go out of whack, but VAR ruled him offside, and the ball likely hit Kane midway through, allowing the team to collect themselves and end the game. The whistle was heard. Commendable results and performance. Their hosts will have a completely different perspective on the game.
Southgate: I’m not going to hit the players.
To England manager Gareth Southgate Channel 4: “It was a game where we didn’t get off to a good start. I’ve been involved in football for a long time, and if you don’t get a good start, it’s difficult to pick up the game.
“We scored a goal out of nothing, but the quality of the ball is usually not at that level and I think it was one of those days where the players knew they could win in the canter and we didn’t try too hard. We usually do that.
“I don’t blame them for that because they played so many games and did a great job.
“We could have scored more in the second half. We obviously didn’t create as many chances as we would have liked.”
England buzz: Alexander-Arnold to move into midfield role
Benground on Sky Sports:
Something went wrong in the first half at Wembley. Jordan Henderson and Conor Gallagher, playing on either side of quarterback Trent Alexander-Arnold, weren’t easy to watch.
When Gallagher was stripped of the ball within the first 29 seconds, creating an early chance for Teddy Theuma, the profile was all too similar and yet unfamiliar.
It wasn’t until the second half that Alexander-Arnold’s passing width was truly demonstrated. He was involved in Harry Kane’s build-up to the clincher and was involved in the disallowed movement of Declan Rice’s fierce shot.
Although his own finish wasn’t great, he never hesitated to try to make things happen in his new role.
Southgate said of Alexander-Arnold’s performance: “I thought he used the ball really well. He has outstanding quality and he and Phil really sparked the game in the first half. The two looked like they were about to break up.
“I thought it was Mark Gehi. [also] He was very good at the back. He looked very, very calm with his next game coming up. And that change has also brought some quality.
“We could have scored more in the second half. We obviously didn’t create as many chances as we would have liked.”
What’s next?
of england Euro 2024 final qualifying will be held away north macedonia Monday – 7:45pm kick-off.