England’s ambitions to be crowned kings of Europe got a cold dose of reality as they were held to a 0-0 draw by a gutsy Scotland side in a Euro 2020 ‘Battle of Britain’ on Friday.
Victory for Gareth Southgate’s England side in the eagerly-awaited Group D clash at a rain-swept Wembley Stadium would have sealed a place in the last 16 but they produced a nervous performance against the Scots who kept their own hopes alive.
Scotland’s Tartan Army had swept south into London for the first match against the Auld Enemy in a tournament finals since England’s 2-0 Wembley win at Euro ’96.
They could have headed back across the border savouring an historic victory for Steve Clarke’s side who matched their supposed superiors throughout an absorbing contest.
As England’s anxiety levels increased after the break, Lyndon Dykes had an effort cleared off the line by Reece James while Che Adams slashed a late effort wide.
It was only the fourth time in 115 editions of the world’s oldest soccer rivalry dating back to 1872 that a game ended goalless and the first time ever at Wembley.
England, whose starting XI had an average age of 25 years 31 days — their youngest ever in a major tournament — managed only one shot on target, although John Stones did thump a header against the woodwork.
It was a dispiriting evening for manager Gareth Southgate and not even the introduction of Jack Grealish after the interval could unlock the Scots rearguard.
The sight of skipper Harry Kane trudging off to be replaced by Marcus Rashford after a worryingly ineffective performance summed up England’s night.
“Fair result, fair play to Scotland they defended well,” Kane said, though that was doing a disservice to a Scotland outfit who were the better side.
“It wasn’t our best performance, but it’s another point closer to qualification and that’s our ultimate goal.”
England are level on four points with the Czech Republic who they face at Wembley on Tuesday when Scotland and Croatia, who each have one point, meet at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Scotland will face Croatia with renewed belief after a superb reaction to their 2-0 home defeat by the Czechs.
“Everybody’s buzzing after that,” midfielder Callum McGregor said. “I thought every player was first class, outstanding to a man. We needed that performance to keep us alive in the group.”
While too many of England’s players underperformed, Scotland’s played out of their skins with Chelsea youngster Billy Gilmour outstanding on his first start.
PERFECT STAGE
When the heavens opened again shortly before kick off it felt like the perfect conditions for Scotland’s ‘Bravehearts’ to upset the odds on the Auld Enemy’s turf.
Adams, one of four changes from the side that started against the Czech Republic, almost drew first blood for the Scots in the fourth minute when his goalbound shot from O’Donnell’s cut back struck Stones.
England responded with Stones rattling the frame of the goal from a corner by Mason Mount, who then wasted a glorious chance, prodding wide after good work by Raheem Sterling.
England never looked in control and were indebted to Jordan Pickford for a great low save from O’Donnell’s volley.
England were crying out for the dribbling skills of Grealish and they failed to land a shot on target in the first half of a match at Wembley for the first time since 2017.
Scotland, on the other hand, reached the interval growing in belief that something special was brewing.
Southgate resisted the temptation to play his cards at halftime and England began the second period well with Mount’s fierce shot forcing Marshall into his first save.
James, one of two changes to the England side that beat Croatia on Sunday, then lifted a shot over.
It was all too frantic for the hosts though and England suffered another scare when Dykes’ effort looked like creeping in before James headed clear.
Grealish entered the fray, replacing Phil Foden, but England were bogged down and rarely looked like breaking through as Scotland clung on for a share of the spoils and cheered long and loud by their travelling fans.
Sweden moved to the top of Group E with a 1-0 win over Slovakia on Friday after Emil Forsberg scored their first goal of the European Championship from the penalty spot to put the Scandinavian side on track for the knockouts.
In a game short of clear-cut chances, Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka tripped Robin Quaison in the second half and Forsberg beat him from the resulting penalty to end a 365-minute run without a goal for Sweden at the Euros.
The winger told SVT broadcaster that the first half was only “half-okay”. “In the second we played the ball up, we created a little more pressure. A great action by Robin Quaison to win the penalty, fantastic to score it,” he added.
Sweden, who last reached the knockout stage in 2004, lead the group with four points from two games, one ahead of Slovakia in their second successive Euros as an independent nation.
Spain, who have one point, play bottom side Poland on Saturday. The final round of Group E fixtures – Sweden v Poland and Slovakia v Spain – will be played on Wednesday.
Both teams threatened from set pieces early in the first half but Slovakia’s Juraj Kucka and Sweden’s Mikael Lustig saw headers sail over the bar.
Sweden were compact at the back, as they were against Spain in their goalless opener, and it was centre back Victor Lindelof initiating attacks with his distribution from a high defensive line, at times camped in Slovakia’s half.
Slovakia switched to a five-man defence when they were out of possession, frustrating the Swedes who were unable to string passes in the final third while Slovakia’s defence easily won the aerial duels.
Slovakia eventually made inroads towards the end of the first half as Sweden retreated but they lacked the creativity to make the final pass count and the first 45 minutes ended with neither goalkeeper tested.
ISAK IMPRESSES
Sweden started the second half on the front foot, with Alexander Isak and Forsberg having shots blocked.
At the other end, Ondrej Duda found space to pull the trigger at the edge of the box but saw his shot fly inches over the crossbar.
Sweden’s Ludwig Augustinsson brought the crowd to life at the hour mark when he directed a powerful header on target but he was denied by a fine reflex save from Dubravka, who tipped it over the bar.
Isak then turned things up a notch, leaping high to win a header which drifted agonisingly over before nifty footwork allowed him to make solo run from his own half past three defenders to curl an effort that was parried away by Dubravka.
The 21-year-old Isak turned provider in the 76th minute releasing substitute Quaison, who drew a foul from Dubravka in the box for the penalty.p
Reuters
