ENGLAND 1, HOLLAND 2
The euphoria of England’s historic win against Germany three days earlier disappeared as they were beaten by Holland at Wembley in their latest warm-up game for Euro 2016.
While there was disappointment among the fans, a contrast to the scenes of jubilation in Berlin, it is too easy to be swept aside by a tide of emotion.
This was a new look England side – eight changes from Saturday – as manager Roy Hodgson continues to experiment as he has to explore different options, both in terms of personnel and tactics.
And it would be grossly unfair to pass judgement because the day of reckoning won’t come until June/July when England must deliver in France.
Yes, it was another useful workout against a strong Dutch side that provided decent opposition for Hodgson’s side.
Jamie Vardy put England ahead in the opening half and it looked as though they would go on to win until things went awry in the second period after two controversial decisions from Spanish referee Antonio Miguel Mateu.
First he ruled Danny Rose handled a cross as England conceded a penalty for the equaliser while they also claimed substitute Phil Jagielka was fouled in the build up to the winning goal from Luciano Narsingh when England stopped waiting for the decision – something you wouldn’t do in Hackney Marshes on a Sunday morning according to one seasoned observer who described it as naivety beyond belief.
There were positives as Danny Drinkwater was named Vauxhall man of the match on his debut while Vardy was lively and a threat throughout while others did their prospects of making the Euro squad no harm.
Hodgson admitted to being “angry” about the refereeing decisions that led to both goals, especially the second one.
And he was also unhappy with the interpretation of the handball ruling saying he believed it ought to be a case of hand to ball.
“Perhaps I am a dinosaur because I see these decisions given every week in the Premier League,” he remarked.
Hodgson added he would not have been happy had they drawn because they lacked the intensity of the performance in Berlin.
He continued: “I gave a lot of different players the opportunity to play and aired the squad and may be it will be to my advantage when thinking about players for France.
“I am bitterly disappointed to lose in front of 82,000 fans after Saturday night’s high was followed a low.”
Hodgson admitted the lack of game time some of his squad had for England may have had an effect.
He said: “We have three more preparation games to regain our momentum and when I look back on this week I am sure I will take a lot of positives from it.
“I am sure the things that have happened will make us stronger and make my task clearer when choosing players for France.”
It was all change for England as Hodgson made eight alterations from the starting line-up in Germany on Saturday.
Rose, Chris Smalling and Adam Lallana were the only survivors from the memorable win in Berlin as England’s manager decided to experiment.
Fraser Forster replaced the injured Jack Butland in goal, Kyle Walker and John Stones were drafted into the back four, former Manchester United junior Drinkwater handed his first cap in midfield that also contained James Milner and Ross Barkley while Daniel Sturridge and Vardy provided the attacking threat.
Saturday’s heroes Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Danny Welbeck, Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Gary Cahill and Nathaniel Clyne were all on the bench.
There were some familiar names in the Dutch side including Manchester United pair Daley Blind and Memphis Depay while Newcastle’s Georginio Wijnaldum was in the side. And on the bench were the likes of Patrick Van Aanholt, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Michel Vorm.
Looking at their line-up, it is hard to comprehend how the Dutch failed to qualify for this summer’s Euro finals, and even more so after their victory.
There was one minute’s silence before kick off as both teams remembered the victims of the terrorist attacks in Belgium.
And there was a further fitting gesture after 14 minutes, one minute’s applause as a tribute to Dutch legend Johan Cruyff who died last week – 14 being the number he wore for his country.
It took until the 16th minute before either keeper was extended when a shot from Ibrahim Afellay forced a comfortable save from Forster.
Forster was forced into action again flinging himself low to his left to turn away a shot from Wijnaldum.
England’s first sight at goal came just before the half hour when Vardy blazed over before Stones had a weak goalbound shot blocked by Vincent Janssen, though keeper Jeroen Zoet had it covered.
Barkley fired a drive from 25 yards only about one yard wide with Zoet scrambling across his goal as new-look England gradually began to impose themselves more on the match.
The breakthrough came with four minutes of the half remaining involving a sweeping move between Milner, Lallana and Walker who cut back the ball from the by line to hand Vardy his second England goal on a plate. It was a goal Dutch manager Danny Blind thought Cruyff would have approved as he was delighted with the applause.
He pointed out Cruyff had great memories of Wembley where as a player he helped Ajax win the first of their European Cups and also he also managed Barcelona when they triumphed for the first time in the same competition.
There was an eventful start to the second half as Sturridge forced a save from Zoet while Lallana curled an effort wide.
England were seemingly in control until they lost their way in a minute of madness.
Stones, attempting to usher the ball back to Forster, slipped enabling Janssen to burst clear only for Forster to make a great block.
But moments later Mr Mateu ruled that Rose handled a cross from substitute Luciano Narsingh with Janssen firing into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
England made a double change just short of the hour as Sturridge and Rose were replaced by Theo Walcott and Clyne.
There was a positive response to conceding an equaliser as England created openings to retake the lead. A terrific drive from Vardy was excellently turned over by Zoet while Walcott looked certain to score until Blind appeared from nowhere to block. Walcott also fired over from another opening.
England made two further changes with 20 minutes left when Lallana and Smalling made way for Kane and Jagielka.
But it was Holland who snatched the lead with 13 minutes left in controversial circumstances as England claimed Janssen barged Jagielka off the ball before crossing for Narsingh to fire past Forster as the players stopped dead in their tracks waiting for a whistle.
Hodgson’s response was to send on Alli and Dier in pursuit of an equaliser.
Kane was as industrious as ever and saw a drive flash just wide of the upright, but England were unable to find another route to goal.