GEORGE V MAGAZINE
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As many as seven starters from the starting eleven that defeated Albania (2-0) in the ‘TT’ debut were retained . In addition to Real Madrid’s midfielder, who moved from attacking midfield to double pivot, and Bayern’s number 9, we must add Rashford, Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Konsa and Pickford . Walker, Burn, Jones and Foden, on the other hand, left their places to James, Guéhi, Rogers and Bowen.
The Three Lions, who kept another clean sheet, dominated from start to finish, but lacked fluidity in their play. Incredibly, the score was almost 1-0 before it was 1-0. Gutkovskis found an empty net after a misunderstanding between Guéhi and Pickford, but his shot, with barely any angle, went wide.
Little by little, chances began to fall, most of them from set pieces and almost all of them capitalized on by Bellingham . By far the clearest came in the 22nd minute. The Real Madrid player connected with a header that hit Rashford’s back, and Konsa took advantage of the rebound to shoot past Zviedris, but the goalkeeper turned it out for a corner.
In the 38th minute, England finally found the net . From a set piece, of course. Reece James blasted a free kick into the top corner, over the wall, to score his first international goal . Great news after so many injuries: he hadn’t played for the national team since March 23, 2023, two years ago.
Already in the second half, Bellingham , who had received a yellow card in the 42nd minute, was given a red card for a low challenge on Jurkovskis . A lay-off to Kane, whose left-footed shot grazed the post in the 63rd minute, was the Real Madrid player’s final act of service before making way for Foden in the 67th minute.
Bellingham went off… and England scored in the 68th minute . Rogers doubled for Rice, who provided the perfect pass for Kane, just as he had against Albania, to make it 2-0 . A total of 71 goals underpins the Three Lions’ all-time top scorer.
In the 75th minute, with a headwind and fresh legs, the Three Lions made it 3-0. Foden released Eze in space, and the Crystal Palace winger, thanks to a pair of bicycle kicks, beat Zviedris with a shot that bounced off Cernomordijs before going in .
England could have ended up winning, especially from set pieces, but they didn’t deserve it. Tuchel’s second game produced more goals than football. As with Southgate, they can and should improve.
BRRRRRRRRRR
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