This was one of those International matches that has to be played, and the job has to be done, even though, the long, hard season just gone has taken its toll on players. As it turned out, the result was done and dusted by half-time.

After a slow start with England dominating possession, but not really going anywhere, the first opening came after six minutes when Trent Alexander-Arnold, playing in midfield, won a corner. From the kick the ball eventually found Harry Kane whose low shot was comfortably saved by Henry Bonello in the home goal. And just two minutes after that miss, England took the lead.

A lovely pass over the top by Alexander-Arnold for Bukayo Saka to run on to, saw the Arsenal player clear of the defender. He centred into the middle and the ball was heading for a tap-in by Kane, only for defender, Ferdinando Apap, to beat the striker to the ball and put the ball into his own net. That must have annoyed Kane because his eyes must have lit up at the thought of a 56th goal for his country. Saka shot over shortly after the goal and scrappy play was the order of the day for a while.

The England players looked a little rusty at times and first touches, normally so efficient at this level was evident by the number of times the ball ran away from the player. James Maddison was fouled on the edge of the box but his free-kick was easily saved. Another frustrating aspect of England's play was in the number of times the ball was passed backwards instead of forwards. Luke Shaw was particularly guilty of this, going backwards when he is perfectly capable of going past defenders.

On 28 minutes, however, the first really good pass forward sent Maddison away. He rode one challenge but the ball eventually squirted across towards Alexander-Arnold, who curled a beautiful shot into the far top corner for goal number two. And just two minutes later, the ball ran to Declan Rice who fired in a shot which Bonello pushed away. Kane was first to react and as he went for the ball he was fouled by Matthew Guillaumier, and it was an easy decision for the referee to award England a penalty. Harry's eyes lit up again, and he cooly slotted home the spot-kick.

England were certainly not firing on all cylinders, but no-one could argue with a 3-0 scoreline. Saka was injured chasing a Kane through ball, but when the crosses did come in there were few players making up the ground to get into the box. The keeper did save another Saka effort just before the break and England went off at half-time, totally in command.

Saka was obviously feeling the effects of his knock in the first-half, and Phil Foden came on for him at the restart. Maddison didn't have the best start to the half as he failed to control another good pass from Alexander-Arnold, and Maddison then overhit a pass forward which went out for a goal kick. A goalmouth scramble on 53 minutes also saw Maddison fail to add the finishing touch from close range.

England continued to push forward but there was no real conviction in their play, but to be fair it was very hot out there, and with a 3-0 lead, there was no need for any urgency. On 58 minutes Foden found Kane and the skipper's chip bobbled wide of the goal. That led to a raft of substitutions by both managers with Tyrone Mings (for Shaw), Marcus Rashford (for Jordan Henderson) and Callum Wilson coming on for Kane. Jordan Pickford's night consisted of nothing but acting as a sweeping defender as he spent more time out of his area than he did in it. With 67 minutes gone two good England attacks were blocked by determined defending, and it must be said that Malta did defend well in this half. Two minutes later Gareth Southgate sent on Eberechi Eze for his debut cap and he was soon in the action.

With just nine minutes to go Wilson's cross hits the hand of Steve Borg, and the referee went to the monitor on the touchline as the VAR judge told him to have a look at a suspected penalty. It was given but it was a very harsh decision. Harry Kane's eyes lit up again at the thought of another penalty, until he realised that he was now on the bench. So the honour fell to Wilson, and he despatched the spot-kick with the minimum of fuss.

Foden and Eze then had chances in the final five minutes but Malta successfully blocked both efforts, and then Wilson headed a Foden corner over the bar.

As a spectacle, in many ways this match was ruined by the half-time scoreline, and it can sometimes be a tough watch as an England fan, but the fact remains that the job was done, even though some of us would like a bit of ‘Bazball' to be part of this England set-up. And I did have one other question, has Jordan Henderson had his hair dyed?

Still, onwards and upwards, with North Macedonia next up.
 

Source Notes