Raheem Sterling scored one goal and set up another as England dominated Hungary 0-4, away at Budapest on Thursday. Elsewhere, in Group I, Poland also decimated Albania by a similar score, as they won over the Albanians by 4-1. So, yesterday saw, among other World Cup football news, England and Poland win with 4 goals each in Group I.
England won 4-0 over Hungary in their own home, taking a giant step toward World Cup qualification in 2022.
This is their first match since the Euro 2020 final, which they lost to Italy, who tied in Group C.
Goals from Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, Harry Maguire, and Declan Rice gave England the win. The Three Lions have now won their fourth match in four games this season.
They even moved to the top of Group I, being five points clear from the rest of their group’s teams.
And all this must help them move on from their heartbreak against Italy at Wembley in July.
Their celebration was only marred by objects thrown by home fans during England’s celebrations.
Watch the match highlights here.
England Scored Four Goals and Kept Clean Sheets against Hungary
The England side made only one change here, from the Euro 2020 penalty shootout defeat – Jack Grealish replaced Kieran Trippier.
And they absolutely dominated play in Budapest, but had to wait to score because all four goals of the match came in the second half.
Sterling took his chance early in the second half, and scored a goal, and Gareth Southgate’s men were comfortable thereafter.
England had to wait until the 50th minute for their first clear-cut chance, which Kane squandered by scuffing his finish. He allowed Peter Gulacsi to block after an incisive Kyle Walker pass.
However, the visitors quickly carved Hungary open again, and Sterling was less forgiving than Kane. He steered the ball into the bottom-right corner from Mason Mount’s cutback.
When Mount and Sterling paired up in play again, the latter’s driven cross deflected off Attila Szalai. It reached the head of Kane, who did not disappoint this time.
But Gulacsi denied Kane once more as Grealish led a counter-attack on the left.
However, the goalkeeper was not as impressive just moments later as Maguire’s header squirmed into the net.
These goals were thus the rewards for England for a patient first-half performance.
Gulacsi’s bizarre – in that it was brilliant yet flawed – performance was complete when he recovered a tame Sterling finish.The forward had set up an open goal.
Gulacsi then blocked the deflected ball again, this time struck by the profligate Kane. These two saves, however, only ended in Gulacsi somehow letting Rice’s simple shot slip beneath him.
World Cup Football News – England and Poland Win with 4 Goals in Group I:
Poland 4 – 1 Albania
Hungary 0 – 4 England
Goals: 0 – 1 Sterling 55, 0 – 2 Kane 63, 0 – 3 Maguire 69, 0 – 4 Rice 87
Bookings: Bolla, Orban, Gazdog; Rice, Sterling
Hungary: Gulasci, Szalai, Orban, Keckes, Fiola, Schafer, Kleinheisler, Bolla, Szoboszlai, Sallai, Szalai
Substitutions: Varga, Gazdog, Salloi
England: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Phillips, Rice, Sterling, Mount, Grealish, Kane
Substitutions: Saka, Lingard, Henderson
