Match Summary

England Team

Hungary Team

Let's be honest about this, it was a very good performance by the 'new' England.  All the pre-match talk was of a rough reception expected from the fans after the team's dismal World Cup performance, but what we actually saw was the fans gradually warming to the effort, determination and no little amount of skill in a deserved friendly win over Hungary.

Fabio Capello made many changes, he had to really, and all the younger lads who played can hold their heads up high after some very promising displays.  Right from the first whistle England played at a quick tempo and pressed forward willingly.  Adam Johnson and Theo Walcott showed sharpness and nimble footwork on the wings, with only the final ball into the box a little disappointing.  Wayne Rooney, still not fully enjoying playing for England it would seem, played the lone striker role well though, and he cleverly brought other players into the play.  Phil Jagielka, who I thought had a fine game, had England's first goal chance early on, but poked the ball wide following a corner.  It seemed that a goal would soon come as the experienced boys did their jobs effectively and on 20 minutes England should have scored.  A brilliant move down the right involving Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Walcott ended with the latter pulling the ball across goal right into the path of Adam Johnson.  Maybe the excitement did get to him a little as his eyes lit up but his shot flew over when it seemed easier to score.

At the other end Joe Hart, making his first start in goal, showed a steely determination and he was so positive in all that he did.  He is here to stay if Capello has any sense.  His handling was good throughout and he confidently dealt with the rare Hungary attacks that came his way.  The back four all played well and looked in no trouble at all throughout the opening half.

If there was one criticism of England's attacking play it was that Rooney was too often on his own in the box when the wingers had possession.  Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry played deeper roles and it was left to the skipper Gerrard to support the Manchester United player.  Clear goal chances were few and far between during the remainder of the half, only a Gerrard free-kick tipped over by goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly looked like producing a goal.  Although there was some booing as the players went off at the break, the crowd saw a lot to be pleased about in the first 45 minutes.

At the interval Capello brought on three debutants, Kieron Gibbs for Ashley Cole, Bobby Zamora for Lampard and Michael Dawson for John Terry.  Ashley Young also came on for Walcott, and all four players did well.  Again England began at a brisk pace and Young was soon putting in a good cross from the left.  He and Gibbs linked up well in a couple of attacks and the Hungarian defenders were often defending desperately in this half.

The last thing that England needed after all their dominance was to concede a goal, but that is exactly what happened on 62 minutes.  A through ball was missed by Dawson and Zoltan Gera broke free.  He passed to the player on his left and when the low cross came in Jagielka touched the ball beyond Hart.  Dawson did really well to race back and stretch to hook the ball off the line.  But the French linesman and referee decided the ball had crossed the line and a goal was given.  How ironic that a goal should be conceded like this after what happened to England in South Africa against Germany.  This time replays suggested that Dawson had managed to clear the ball.

To their eternal credit England knuckled down, increased the tempo again and eventually gained their reward.  And it was the captain who turned the game around.  On 69 minutes he passed to Gibbs and when the full-back was blocked, Gerrard latched on to the rebound, strode forward and hit an unstoppable shot past the goalkeeper from the edge of the area.  It was a magnificent strike and a thoroughly deserved equaliser to lift the crowd.  Four minutes later and the crowd went wild with delight as Young fed the ball to Gerrard in the box and with some superb footwork the skipper beat two players before flicking the ball wide of Kiraly.

Zamora almost added a third with a rasping drive that was tipped over and England were ending the match on a high.  But there was one last scare as Gera combined with Tamas Priskin to run clear of the England defence, with only Hart to beat.  The goalkeeper capped a splendid night by standing tall and blocking Gera's shot to give England the result the players deserved.

To see the England team giving everything is all that the crowd really wants and on this night not one of the players can be faulted for their efforts.  Certainly there was a lot to be pleased about, not least by the mature performances from the youngsters on display.  The crowd went home 'very appy' as Mr Capello would say.

Source Notes

BBC Sport
TheFA.com
ITV.com/football
SkySports.com/football
FIFA.com
Mike Payne - football historian and contributor
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CG