Four games in eleven days, but despite this, the team put up a thrilling and deserving performance. Trouble is, it wasn't England. Hungary were more up for the game, better organised, more positive, quicker to the ball and full of the desire so lacking in England's display.

I don't wish to criticise too much as we have had some fine entertainment from this England squad over the past few years, but this time manager Gareth Southgate got his selection badly wrong, and I'm afraid he has to bear the brunt of the criticism, which he completely understands, I'm sure.

The game had a quiet opening and in the first ten minutes, only one chance, for Bukayo Sako, looked like breaking our recent scoring record. On 12 minutes John Stones headed goalwards, but without power or direction to trouble goalkeeper, Denes Sibusz. In the 16th minute England were caught in possession. Not for the last time on the night, and a free-kick was given away. From the kick the ball was not cleared properly, missed by Harry Kane completely, back helping his defence, and the ball dropped loose. Roland Salloi pounced and crashed a shot past Aaron Ramsdale from close range. A poor goal defensively, with several mistakes compounding the issue. From that moment on it was "no way back" for England.

Four minutes later Kane put through a dangerous pass but Saka and a teammate collided and the move broke down. It was going to be that sort of night. One of the problems for England over these four matches is the standard of crossing, both from open play and from dead ball kicks, has been abysmal. When a decent cross did come in there was no-one on the end of them. Another fault, and this is unusual for England, was the first touches. Jude Bellingham, who was one of several to have a poor game, failed to control the ball and it almost led to a second goal for the visitors. He gave away a free-kick which saw Reece James head off the line, before a breakaway saw Jarrod Bowen sprinting towards the Hungarian goal. Alas, he ran out of steam when under pressure and another chance was lost. He did win a corner and Stones should have done much better with a free header from the kick.

Another fault that is dominating our play at the moment is the predictability of it all. Little triangles playing across the pitch or back to square one, and getting us nowhere. It is all well and good having possession of the ball, but surely more positiveness is needed moving forward?

Stones was again guilty of a bad pass and Hungary went close with a shot that Ramsdale had to save. The England frustration was also beginning to appear as the referee gave many decisions against them, but England were also guilty of some silly challenges. In the 36th minute England came close to an equaliser, but it wasn't one of their players who tested the goalkeeper. A good move down the left ended with Saka putting over a dangerous cross. Vilmos Orban, facing his own goal, tried to head the ball away but instead forced Sibusz to save desperately. Stones was then booked after Adam Szalai threw himself to the ground in theatrical style for the umpteenth time and the French referee deemed it a foul.

At this stage Hungary were in control whilst England lacked ideas and, more importantly, flair, and were also devoid of any rhythm in their play. Bowen was next to make some progress, however, his cross, and then another by Bellingham were not helpful to any forward in the middle. The Conor Gallagher, Kalvin Phillips and Bellingham midfield was not functioning as Southgate would have wanted, and Kane's half-chance right at the end of the half came to nothing. It had been a very poor half for England but Hungary were delighted with their efforts so far.

After the break Raheem Sterling came on for Bowen and England started the half with a little more zip in their step. Another poor cross eluded Kane, but then the England skipper found Saka with a good pass only for the Arsenal man to mess up the move. The next problem was in substitutions, as a whole load of changes were made. It does not help when you are struggling as England were, to have a long delay caused by dawdling players going off and coming on. I must admit to dreading next season when five subs will be permitted in League football here.

On 67 minutes Phil Foden replaced the ineffective Bellingham, whilst, three minutes later, an awful mistake by the equally ineffective Phillips, gave Hungary a second goal their play deserved. He lost the ball and it was switched to Sallai, who wasted no time firing past Ramsdale. That was the cushion the visitors wanted, but it was to become much worse for England. They did put together a few attacks in the next ten minutes with none of them threatening. Kane did hit the bar with a looping header from substitute Mason Mount's cross, but it was easily cleared. Then in the 80th minute it was game, set and match to the visitors.

England failed to cut out a right-wing move and the ball was eventually laid back by Martin Adam to Adam Nagy, and he scored with ease. No defending, no challenge and certainly too easy for Nagy. To cap a nightmare evening Stones then received a second yellow card and a red, and was sent off the field. To be fair on the City man he was totally innocent, and how VAR wasn't brought in I can't understand? It came about when Daniel Gazdag ran into Stones' back and shoulder and then went down like he had been hit by a missile. Of course, once again the ref bought it.

So there we were, 3-0 down and what does Southgate do? He brings on Harry Maguire to shore up the defence. It didn't work as just four minutes later Gazdag outpaced the England defenders to clip the ball over Ramsdale and complete England's misery.

Thankfully the referee added on just two minutes when the substitutions alone took at least eight minutes, but by this time no-one in Molineux cared, and the final whistle came as a blessed relief. Fierce feelings were shown by the crowd, against the England players and the Manager, and you couldn't really blame them. Humiliation, shambles, you name it, those words were used. But let's be fair, Hungary played perfectly, took their goals well and really appreciated the generosity of the England team.

In conclusion, I can only add, thank goodness for Jonny Bairstow's magnificent performance earlier in the day.
  

Source Notes