Soccer

Dutch bring England back down to earth

Jamie Vardy impressive again but Roy Hodgson’s men made to pay for defensive weakness

Vincent Janssen celebrates with Georginio Wijnaldum after scoring the first goal for the Netherlands from the penalty spot. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters/Livepic
Vincent Janssen celebrates with Georginio Wijnaldum after scoring the first goal for the Netherlands from the penalty spot. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters/Livepic
Wed Mar 30 2016 - 01:37

England 1 Netherlands 2

England fell to just their second defeat since the World Cup as Roy Hodgson’s men lost to a Netherlands side not even good enough to reach Euro 2016.

Impressive progress has been made since England’s embarrassing exit in Brazil, including reaching this summer’s finals with a 100 per cent record. However, there was little of the intensity, drive and quality seen in Saturday’s comeback win in Germany as the Netherlands themselves came from behind to win 2-1 at Wembley.

Difficult decisions

It was a reality check after back-to-back wins over Euro 2016 favourites France and Germany, although Jamie Vardy again impressed by finishing a lovely team move. The in-form Leicester striker looks a shoo-in for the squad named on May 12th.

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England look susceptible at the back, with John Stones’s poor form compounded by a slip that needed Fraser Forster to come to the rescue. However, Danny Rose was adjudged to have handled as the move continued and Vincent Janssen scored from the spot, before overpowering Phil Jagielka and crossing for Luciano Narsingh to net the winner.

Hodgson’s anger at the goal was as clear as the players’, but the England manager will no doubt focus on positives such as Vardy’s display and a solid debut from Leicester team-mate Danny Drinkwater.

A subdued atmosphere was lifted when Vardy and Daniel Sturridge had efforts following good work down the left by Rose, while Stones had an effort hacked clear.

England were increasing the tempo and, shortly after Ross Barkley went close from the edge of the box, came a great opener. Adam Lallana collected the ball after Sturridge’s dummy and turned brilliantly. The Liverpool attacking midfielder then showed great vision to play through the overlapping Kyle Walker, whose squared ball was powered home by Vardy.

First appearance

Sturridge, making his first England appearance in a year and a half, forced Jeroen Zoet into action, with Lallana then curling wide after an impressive run forwards by Barkley.

That inability to net was soon punished, though. Stones’s slip would have resulted in a goal had Forster not impressively denied Janssen, only for a penalty to be awarded seconds later after Rose handled Narsingh’s cross. Janssen stepped up for the penalty and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Theo Walcott was denied by Daley Blind after being found by a fine pass from Stones, with the Arsenal forward darting down the right and firing over soon after.

Danny Blind’s side capitalised in the 77th minute, albeit in controversial fashion. Janssen barged over substitute Jagielka and the officials waved play on, with the striker cutting back for Narsingh to slot home. The anger was palpable as the players harangued the referee following what proved the decisive blow, with Harry Kane coming closest to levelling.

ENGLAND: Forster, Walker, Smalling (Jagielka 70), Stones, Rose (Clyne 58), Milner (Alli 82), Drinkwater (Dier 85), Vardy, Barkley, Lallana (Kane 70), Sturridge (Walcott 58). Subs not used: Heaton, Cahill, Henderson, Welbeck. THE NETHERLANDS: Zoet, Veltman, Bruma, Blind, Willems (Van Aanholt 82), Wijnaldum, Bazoer (van Ginkel 79),Afellay, Depay, Janssen (Clasie 90), Promes (Narsingh 37). Subs not used: Vermeer, Karsdorp,van Dijk, Huntelaar, de Jong, Letschert,V orm. Booked: Bruma. Referee: Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz (Spain).