{"id":26437,"date":"2022-06-04T15:37:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-04T19:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26437"},"modified":"2022-06-05T10:40:18","modified_gmt":"2022-06-05T14:40:18","slug":"lackluster-england-lose-nations-league-opener-in-hungary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26437","title":{"rendered":"Lackluster England Lose Nations League Opener In Hungary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Dominik Szoboszlai (right) scores (PA Wire\/PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

England suffered a shock 1-0 loss to impressive Hungary in a Nations League opener that started with the depressing sound of boos from stands filled with children as Gareth Southgate\u2019s side took the knee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nine months ago racism marred the Three Lions\u2019 4-0 World Cup qualification win at the Puskas Arena, which was half full on Saturday despite the hosts serving a UEFA punishment for discriminatory behavior at Euro 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were around 35,000 in attendance for a match that was supposedly being played behind closed doors as Hungary made the most out of regulations that allowed children to attend in such circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The composition of the crowd made the pre-match jeering when England took the knee all the more jarring in Budapest, where the Magyars went on to secure a shock, albeit deserved, 1-0 win in the Group A3 opener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hungary last beat England in 1962 and it was Dominik Szoboszlai who wrote his name into the history books, firing a well-struck penalty beyond Jordan Pickford in the second half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision to award the spot-kick for recently-introduced substitute Reece James\u2019 challenge on Zsolt Nagy looked harsh, but England could hardly argue with the result given how they toiled throughout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a demoralizing start to a run of four Nations League games in 11 days for Southgate\u2019s men, who have to pick themselves up for Tuesday\u2019s tough trip to Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hungary impressed throughout this match against the star-studded visitors, whose surprise at the number in attendance will be matched by the reception for their pre-match anti-racism gesture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harry Kane curled the ball wide during a bright England start, with debutant Jarrod Bowen following a blocked snapshot by hooking another effort at goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Roland Sallai had got away a shot before those attempts and Hungary came close to taking a 12th-minute lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A move that started at the back ended with impressive Loic Nego greeting a diagonal ball with an exquisite first-time cross from the right that Szoboszlai prodded past the onrushing Pickford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ball was trickling towards the line, only for Conor Coady to hack it clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a let-off for England as play swung from end to end in the humid Hungarian capital, where Coady headed off target before Nagy forced Pickford into a smart save.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The England goalkeeper was breathing a sigh of relief in the 33rd minute after Adam Szalai attempted to score an extraordinary opener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hungary captain\u2019s first thought when turning just inside the England half was to leather an outrageous strike that panicked Pickford before going just wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bowen\u2019s trickery would almost unlock Marco Rossi\u2019s Magyars

cialis uk<\/a><\/div> , who continued to look undaunted in attack and Kyle Walker just got back to prevent Szoboszlai meeting Nego\u2019s latest fine cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Debutant James Justin took a knock in the first half and was replaced at half-time by Bukayo Saka, who followed a mazy run with a low shot that Peter Gulacsi stopped shortly after his introduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, again, this was far from one-way traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nagy fired wide and Hungary consistently unsteadied England down the flanks, with a deep cross leading to a 66th-minute winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently-introduced substitute James was adjudged to have fouled Nagy when dealing with the ball from the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was no VAR intervention and Szoboszlai stepped up to slam home the resulting spot-kick, leading to high-pitch squeals echoing around the Puskas Arena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

England upped the ante as they searched for a leveller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bowen saw a shot saved, Jude Bellingham had an attempt blocked and Coady headed across the face of goal, but Hungary should have made it 2-0 in the 81st minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saka, now playing as left-back, was too far forward and substitute Laszlo Kleinheisler cut in and forced Pickford into a save, with Andras Schafer somehow missing the rebound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bowen was denied from an acute angle and Kane rifled into the side-netting as the clock wound down, with Hungary holding on for a famous victory.<\/p>\n

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