Hungary 0 England 4: Sterling and Kane lead rout as Southgate’s men stay on course for World Cup in hostile atmosphere
THEY were kicked all over the park, pelted with missiles and even targeted by a flare.
But Gareth Southgate’s England emerged from a night of hostility and mayhem with a clear roadmap to the World Cup in Qatar.
This side hadn’t played an away game in front of a full house for almost two years but you would never have guessed it.
England relished combating the strong-arm tactics of their Hungarian hosts, on and off the field.
They revelled in the ear-splitting din. They gave as good as they got when their opponents bruised their bones.
And when Raheem Sterling’s opener sparked a volley of plastic beer cups, Declan Rice even took a sup from one in a glorious little ‘**** you!’ moment.
Four second-half goals – Sterling scoring himself then teeing up Harry Kane’s diving header before Harry Maguire nodded in from a corner and Declan Rice added a late long-ranger – left England clear at the head of their qualifying group.
You might have expected a post-Euros hangover after that joyride to the final, and the ultimate buzzkill of a penalty shoot-out defeat by Italy – yet there was nothing of the sort.
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Southgate’s men were excellent – patient in the first half, thrilling in the second.
England’s manager had warned them not to ‘swan around’ after an impressive summer. Instead they dogged it out in the first half and hared about the place after the break.
There was everything Southgate could have asked for – maturity, ballsiness, ruthlessness – a serious team, with murderous intent.
After Hungary were ordered by UEFA to play three matches behind closed doors following monkey chants and homophobic banners at Hungary’s Euros matches here, there were fears that England would walk into another eastern European race storm.
The atmosphere in the Puskas Arena was hostile – England greeted by jeers and strong-arm salutes from thousands of black-shirted ultras behind the goal.
There was widespread booing and whistling when England took the knee – although as Southgate pointed out on the eve of the match, that was also true at Middlesbrough before his side played two pre-tournament warm-up matches.
And there were reports of monkey chants aimed at black players in the closing stages – although these were not clearly audible from the media seats up in the Gods.
Southgate brought the people’s champion Jack Grealish into the starting line-up as he reverted to a flat back four, Kieran Trippier the only of those who started the Euros final to miss out here.
A darting run inside from Sterling left several Hungarians flailing and when England forced a corner Maguire headed narrowly over.
The visitors were bossing possession but creating little – a rising shot from Kane cleared the bar, Grealish almost picked the lock with a pitching-wedge pass.
At the back, there were signs of ring rust from John Stones – yet to play a minute for Manchester City this season – as he allowed a dangerous through-ball to bounce over his head.
Rice was harshly penalised for a foul on Adam Szalai 25 yards out but Dominik Szoboszlai was off target with his free-kick.
England had been famously humiliated by the Hungarians home and away in the 1950s, but they hadn’t lost to this opposition since way back in the 1962 World Cup and defeat never looked possible.
This Hungarian side, who held France and Germany during the Euros, are no pushovers but neither were they dripping with ambition.
Early in the second half, Walker sent a cute slider through to Kane who conjured the first on-target effort of the match, his shot saved by the legs of Peter Gulacsi.
Rice was booked for a late challenge on Attila Fiola, sparking an outbreak in the handbags department.
And the West Ham man, relishing the physicality of it all, was the man who won possession when England seized the lead.
Grealish rolled a pass to Mason Mount on the left and the Chelsea man, who’d had a quiet Euros including a spell in isolation fed Sterling who slightly scuffed his shot into the corner of the net.
There was a moment of pin-drop silence before Sterling ripped off his shirt and then the vessels rained down – Rice, who claimed he’d never had a beer in his life, took a swig from one as England celebrated en masse, enjoying the chance to stick to the ultras.
Seven minutes later, it was two – Sterling crossing artfully to the near post and Kane flinging himself to nut it home.
Again England staged a celebratory huddle, again missiles were hurled at them.
Grealish then angled a pass into Kane only for Gulacsi to save with his legs again.
But the third goal arrived soon, a trademark Maguire header from a Shaw corner, spilled horribly by Gulacsi and trickling over the line.
And the Hungarian keeper was culpable again for the fourth as he allowed Rice’s effort to slip through his grasp.
This was a statement result from Southgate’s men. That trip to Qatar is as good as booked now and, when they get there, England will be serious contenders to rule the world.
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