Hungary 1-0 England: Dominik Szoboszlai scores penalty to decide Nations League opener

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England begin their Nations League campaign in disappointing fashion with defeat in Hungary. …

Dominik Szoboszlai
Dominik Szoboszlai (10) scored his sixth goal for Hungary

England’s Nations League campaign got off to a losing start as a disappointing display brought a deserved defeat by Hungary in Budapest.

This international was billed as taking place behind closed doors as Uefa punishment for racist and homophobic behaviour by Hungary’s fans during Euro 2020.

And yet it was played in front of a large crowd, consisting mainly of schoolchildren allowed in under Uefa rules – and the young supporters revelled in a poor England performance and Dominik Szoboszlai’s winning goal from the penalty spot after Reece James fouled Zsolt Nagy.

The start of the game was overshadowed by loud jeering of England’s players as they took the knee and what followed was a jaded, mediocre effort that carried all the hallmarks of the end of a long season.

West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen worked hard on his debut but Leicester defender James Justin, also making his first appearance, suffered an injury and had to be replaced by Bukayo Saka – though the Arsenal man produced a rare England threat with a fine run and shot that Hungary keeper Peter Gulacsi saved with his legs.

England now move on to Munich, where they face Germany in their second Nations League A3 game on Tuesday.

England looking leggy

England went into this game on the back of a highly impressive, and lengthy, run of good form that saw them qualify for the World Cup in comfort, so this performance will come as a disappointment to manager Gareth Southgate.

They had not lost, other than to Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, since Belgium beat them in November 2020.

England cannot, however, have any complaints about this outcome, other than perhaps the concession of a rather soft penalty.

There are, of course, mitigating circumstances in that these competitive fixtures – although even seasoned internationals such as Belgium’s Kevin de Bruyne argue they are little more than glorified friendlies – come at the end of a gruelling season for so many England players.

The visitors lacked spark and it was perhaps no surprise that the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold looked so jaded having figured in Liverpool’s losing Champions League final against Real Madrid only a week ago.

What will concern Southgate was the sloppiness and lack of spark against a Hungary side who looked much fresher and more creative, especially Nagy, who won Szoboszlai’s penalty, and Loic Nego.

Harry Kane, seeking his 50th England goal, sparked only fleetingly, although service was sparse, while Southgate’s side lacked the energy and zip of their opponents.

There was a competitive edge to this game as far as Hungary and their fans were concerned and how they celebrated at the final whistle.

Southgate will have learned little from this but he would have hoped for better – and will need to get it in Munich if England are not to suffer a similar fate.

Surreal scenes in Budapest

This was meant to be a game played behind closed doors to punish Hungary and their fans for their behaviour at Euro 2020 and yet their victory was concluded amid joyous scenes and deafening roars at the final whistle.

Hungary invoked Uefa’s Article 73 to invite children aged 14 and under to the game, who had to be accompanied by an adult.

It resulted in a large attendance, England’s players being jeered when they took the knee before kick-off and then an almost festival atmosphere as Hungary’s players went on a lap of honour.

As punishments go, this was allowed to become a celebration.

Player of the match

SzoboszlaiDominik Szoboszlai

with an average of 6.64

Hungary

  1. Squad number10Player nameSzoboszlai
    Average rating

    6.64

  2. Squad number9Player nameSzalai
    Average rating

    6.35

  3. Squad number7Player nameNego
    Average rating

    6.31

  4. Squad number4Player nameSzalai
    Average rating

    6.29

  5. Squad number1Player nameGulácsi
    Average rating

    6.27

  6. Squad number20Player nameSallai
    Average rating

    6.27

  7. Squad number17Player nameStyles
    Average rating

    6.26

  8. Squad number5Player nameFiola
    Average rating

    6.24

  9. Squad number8Player nameNagy
    Average rating

    6.21

  10. Squad number18Player nameNagy
    Average rating

    6.19

  11. Squad number19Player nameÁdám
    Average rating

    6.15

  12. Squad number6Player nameOrban
    Average rating

    6.13

  13. Squad number15Player nameKleinheisler
    Average rating

    6.10

  14. Squad number2Player nameLang
    Average rating

    6.09

  15. Squad number13Player nameSchäfer
    Average rating

    6.05

  16. Squad number23Player nameVécsei
    Average rating

    6.01

England

  1. Squad number10Player nameBowen
    Average rating

    5.71

  2. Squad number5Player nameCoady
    Average rating

    4.79

  3. Squad number4Player nameRice
    Average rating

    4.77

  4. Squad number1Player namePickford
    Average rating

    4.72

  5. Squad number21Player nameSaka
    Average rating

    4.59

  6. Squad number8Player nameBellingham
    Average rating

    4.50

  7. Squad number2Player nameWalker
    Average rating

    4.38

  8. Squad number7Player nameAlexander-Arnold
    Average rating

    4.24

  9. Squad number9Player nameKane
    Average rating

    4.12

  10. Squad number19Player namePhillips
    Average rating

    4.11

  11. Squad number14Player nameStones
    Average rating

    4.11

  12. Squad number16Player nameGrealish
    Average rating

    3.94

  13. Squad number3Player nameJustin
    Average rating

    3.90

  14. Squad number11Player nameMount
    Average rating

    3.80

  15. Squad number6Player nameMaguire
    Average rating

    3.54

  16. Squad number15Player nameJames
    Average rating

    3.16

Line-ups

Hungary

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 1GulácsiBooked at 89mins
  • 2Lang
  • 6Orban
  • 4Szalai
  • 7Nego
  • 8NagySubstituted forStylesat 82′minutes
  • 13SchäferBooked at 21mins
  • 18NagySubstituted forVécseiat 88′minutes
  • 20SallaiSubstituted forKleinheislerat 71′minutes
  • 10SzoboszlaiSubstituted forFiolaat 82′minutes
  • 9SzalaiSubstituted forÁdámat 88′minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Kecskés
  • 5Fiola
  • 11Sallói
  • 12Dibusz
  • 14Bolla
  • 15Kleinheisler
  • 16Vancsa
  • 17Styles
  • 19Ádám
  • 21Spandler
  • 22Szappanos
  • 23Vécsei

England

Formation 3-4-3

  • 1Pickford
  • 2WalkerSubstituted forStonesat 62′minutes
  • 5CoadyBooked at 51minsSubstituted forPhillipsat 79′minutes
  • 6MaguireBooked at 51mins
  • 7Alexander-ArnoldSubstituted forJamesat 62′minutesBooked at 64mins
  • 8Bellingham
  • 4Rice
  • 3JustinSubstituted forSakaat 45′minutes
  • 10Bowen
  • 9Kane
  • 11MountSubstituted forGrealishat 62′minutes

Substitutes

  • 12Trippier
  • 13Pope
  • 14Stones
  • 15James
  • 16Grealish
  • 17Ward-Prowse
  • 18Gallagher
  • 19Phillips
  • 20Sterling
  • 21Saka
  • 22Ramsdale
  • 23Abraham

Referee:
Artur Manuel Soares Dias

Match Stats

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Hungary 1, England 0.

  2. Second Half ends, Hungary 1, England 0.

  3. Corner, Hungary. Conceded by Jarrod Bowen.

  4. Attempt saved. Martin Ádám (Hungary) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bálint Vécsei.

  5. Jarrod Bowen (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Foul by András Schäfer (Hungary).

  7. Foul by Reece James (England).

  8. Martin Ádám (Hungary) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Péter Gulácsi (Hungary) is shown the yellow card.

  10. Attempt missed. Harry Kane (England) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.

  11. Substitution, Hungary. Bálint Vécsei replaces Zsolt Nagy.

  12. Substitution, Hungary. Martin Ádám replaces Ádám Szalai.

  13. Attempt saved. Harry Kane (England) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Reece James.

  14. Substitution, Hungary. Callum Styles replaces Ádám Nagy.

  15. Substitution, Hungary. Attila Fiola replaces Dominik Szoboszlai.

  16. Attempt missed. András Schäfer (Hungary) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.

  17. Attempt saved. László Kleinheisler (Hungary) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ádám Szalai.

  18. Substitution, England. Kalvin Phillips replaces Conor Coady.

  19. Attempt missed. Conor Coady (England) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Reece James with a cross following a set piece situation.

  20. Jarrod Bowen (England) wins a free kick on the right wing.

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