Paris (AFP) – A drained England aspect went all the way down to a shock 1-0 defeat in Hungary in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday, whereas Germany needed to come from behind to attract 1-1 with an inexperienced Italy staff.
RB Leipzig star Dominik Szoboszlai scored the one aim of the sport from the penalty spot in the second half in Budapest as Hungary beat England for the primary time since 1962.
Defeat on penalties to Italy in the European Championship remaining final yr was the one time Gareth Southgate’s aspect had been beaten in their earlier 22 video games.
“We proved at Euro 2020 what we’re capable of doing against the best, and we’ve shown this again. The tough thing will be to repeat this,” Hungary captain Adam Szalai instructed broadcaster M4 Sport.
England’s line-up featured debuts for Leicester City full-back James Justin and West Ham United ahead Jarrod Bowen, however the guests failed to bother the hosts, who have been roared on by a 30,000 crowd largely consisting of college kids.
“They are bitterly disappointed because we want to keep winning matches. If we want to be a team right at the top tier of football, we need to come here and win,” mentioned England supervisor Gareth Southgate, earlier than conceding that fatigue performed a task.
“It has been a long season. The heat was a factor and took a lot out of the players.”
Hungary have been pressured to play the sport behind closed doorways as a result of behaviour of followers throughout their residence matches at Euro 2020.
However, UEFA pointers permit kids below the age of 14 to be given free tickets below such circumstances and the Hungarian Football Federation took full benefit.
The aim got here in the 66th minute, with Szoboszlai beating Jordan Pickford from the spot after England substitute Reece James was adjudged to have fouled Zsolt Nagy.
Southgate’s males will subsequent face Germany and Italy, who performed out an entertaining stalemate in Bologna in Saturday’s different League A, Group 3 recreation.
– Ireland lose –
Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini gave a much-changed Italy staff the lead 20 minutes from time when he turned in an excellent cross from teenage debutant Wilfried Gnonto.
Gnonto, 18, had simply been despatched on after impressing in FC Zurich’s run to this season’s Swiss Super League title.
However, Germany wanted simply three minutes to attract stage as the house defence didn’t clear Jonas Hofmann’s ball into the center and Joshua Kimmich fired in.
Germany play England in Munich on Tuesday whereas European champions Italy — trying to transfer on following their failure to qualify for the World Cup — host Hungary earlier than travelling to face Southgate’s aspect in Wolverhampton subsequent weekend.
Elsewhere the Republic of Ireland slumped to a primary defeat in 9 video games as they suffered a shock 1-0 loss away in Armenia.
Eduard Spertsyan scored the one aim in the second half in Yerevan in the League B, Group 1 opener.
Armenia now journey to play Scotland on Wednesday whereas Ireland host Ukraine the identical night time earlier than going through Scotland in Dublin subsequent weekend.
There have been additionally Nations League wins on Saturday for Montenegro, Luxembourg and Turkey whereas Finland have been held 1-1 at residence by Bosnia and Herzegovina after taking the lead by way of a Teemu Pukki penalty.
The winners of every of the 4 teams in League A will undergo to the ultimate phases in June subsequent yr with promotion and relegation between the opposite leagues and the prospect to earn locations in Euro 2024 qualifying play-offs for groups who fail to qualify by way of the same old route.
