Jude Bellingham stars with a goal and sublime a assist for Harry Kane as Three Lions win 150th anniversary match at Hampden Park after Harry Maguire own goal gave them scare
- Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham opened the scoring for England within the first half
- Harry Maguire handed Scotland a lifeline with a late own goal at Hampden Park
- England skipper Harry Kane sealed victory with an 81st minute strike
Scotland threw all the things they may at England within the emotion of rivalry and the fury of historical past and the fervour of tune at Hampden Park on Tuesday evening on the event of the 150th Anniversary Heritage match between the outdated enemies. England responded by turning Scotland’s night into soccer’s model of a piper’s lament.
Flower of Scotland was belted out so loudly earlier than the match, packing way more than a century and a half of pleasure and resentment into its phrases as it rolled across the well-known outdated floor, that it despatched chills down the backbone.
At half time, the stadium sang in unison of the ‘bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond’ and, earlier than their gamers got here again out to attempt to put a dent in England’s 2-0 lead, they tried a completely different tack and performed the anthem that has been the accompaniment to their latest successes, ‘Yes, Sir, I can Boogie.’
No one might fault the hassle nevertheless it didn’t work. England took the low highway in the middle of a 3-1 victory the place they typically outclassed their opponents with their slick, fast passing and assured method and the place Jude Bellingham appeared a degree above everybody else on the pitch.
Amid all of the historical past and the pomp, this was a great addition for England supervisor Gareth Southgate after the criticism he was subjected to for the horror of falling to a uncommon draw, towards Ukraine in Wroclaw, on Saturday in England’s most up-to-date Euro24 qualifying tie.
This victory, the fashion through which it was achieved and the efficiency of Bellingham, particularly, was a reminder that for all of the absurdity of among the expenses laid at Southgate’s door, that is a effective England group that stands on the point of qualifying for the Euros, the place will probably be one of many favourites.
Scotland had been in effective kind going into this recreation, having received the primary 5 of their Euro2024 qualifying ties in a group that features Spain and Norway, however there have been lengthy durations of this recreation the place England made them look naïve.
If the match was one thing of a actuality verify for Scotland, it was one other signal of England’s pedigree. This was a tough check in a hostile setting and England handed it with flying colors.
Bellingham was magnificent in midfield, creating two of England’s targets for Phil Foden and Harry Kane and scoring one himself and there have been effective performances from others, together with Foden and Marcus Rashford.
Even Harry Maguire, who scored an own goal to offer Scotland hope halfway via the second half, was cheered from the pitch by the England followers and he acknowledged their help with a raised fist.
Southgate has been criticised, too, for his loyalty to Maguire however he tore into the central defenders’ critics after the match. ‘There has been ridiculous treatment of him for a long period of time,’ Southgate stated. ‘It’s a joke. I’ve by no means identified a participant handled the best way he’s by our own pundits. It’s past something I’ve ever seen.’
The evening was a great event that honoured the fierce rivalry that has existed between these two soccer nations all the best way again to November 30, 1872 after they met for the primary time at Hamilton Crescent within the Partick space of Glasgow.
It allowed us to wallow within the recollections of previous events whereas revelling within the potential of the newest technology of England gamers on view.
Southgate chosen Foden in his beginning line-up, which can have given among the supervisor’s extra hysterical critics pause for thought however in all probability little greater than that. For an England coach who has been extra profitable than any predecessor since Sir Alf Ramsey. Southgate will get valuable little credit score for the progress he has introduced.
If he picks Foden, he will likely be criticised for leaving out Rashford. If he leaves out Jordan Henderson – which he did – he will likely be lambasted for choosing Kalvin Phillips. Some England followers would reasonably have a high-profile supervisor and an unsuccessful group. It is a unusual discount they need to strike.
In that world, after all, England ought to have received each Euro2020 and final yr’s World Cup at a canter. In that world, a nation such as Scotland ought to be nothing greater than cannon fodder no matter the enormous strides they, too, have made underneath Steve Clarke.
‘It’s kind of important to them,’ former Scotland worldwide Pat Nevin stated earlier than the sport, referring to the England gamers, ‘but it’s not the same. What it means to us is absolutely extraordinary. If any player plays in this game and wins it and is Scottish, you will remember that and talk about that for the rest of your life.’
In spite of all that, England began higher. Rashford stored discovering house behind Scotland’s excessive line and when 18 minutes had gone, he reduce inside and laid a perfectly-weighted cross into the trail of Foden. Foden leaned again as he hit it and the ball ballooned excessive over the crossbar to joyful jeers from the house followers.
England solid one other alternative six minutes later. Again, it got here down the left. Again, Rashford was instrumental. This time, his slide-rule cross freed Bellingham and when Bellingham’s cross fell to Kyle Walker at the again publish, he chested it down however drove his shot throughout the face of goal.
England bought the goal their superiority deserved simply after the half hour. They labored the ball down their proper till Rashford performed it again to Walker. Walker drove it throughout the field at tempo and Foden caught out his left foot to steer it expertly into the online from shut vary.
Two minutes later, England had been additional forward. As England threatened once more, the Scotland defence appeared to panic after they retrieved the ball and as an alternative of clearing it, their captain, Andy Robertson handed it straight to Bellingham.
The Real Madrid midfielder, who has made such an electrical begin to his profession in Spain, was solely about ten yards out and he lashed the ball previous Angus Gunn to ship the England followers behind the goal into raptures.
The residence followers appeared to take some comfort within the look of Maguire within the second half after he was introduced on to interchange Marc Guehi. Maguire’s identify was cheered, satirically, by the Scots however initially it did little to enhance their fortunes.
Then, halfway via the half, Robertson made a measure of amends for his earlier mistake. When the Liverpool full-back drove ahead and lashed a cross into the field, Maguire caught out a leg at the entrance publish and inadvertently diverted the ball previous Aaron Ramsdale.
Scotland had been again in it. When the roar subsided, the house followers sang Maguire’s identify over and over once more. These are uncomfortable occasions, for each membership and nation, for the Manchester United defender.
Substitute Eberechi Eze, on for Rashford, ought to have re-established England’s two goal benefit when he raced clear via moments after approaching however he couldn’t squeeze his shot previous Gunn.
It didn’t matter. Ten minutes from the top, Bellingham turned brilliantly on the sting of the Scotland space, misplaced his man with ease and slid a intelligent cross into Harry Kane. Kane took one contact to manage the ball and transfer it on to his left foot and then curled it round Gunn.
