England made a brighter start to this last match of the group games, against North Macedonia, and in the third minute Oli Watkins just failed to bundle the ball across the goal-line after a fine pass into the box by Jack Grealish. Just after that, debutant Rico Lewis shot over after finding himself in a good position. And then England tried something so devoid in the Malta game, a long ball from the back over the top (hooray!), and Bukayo Saka so nearly worked his way into a scoring position before the ball was scrambled clear by the Macedonian defence.

England were well on top and on 14 minutes fine work down the left between the Manchester City trio, Phil Foden, Grealish and Lewis, set up Declan Rice for a shot, and just as against Malta he was unlucky with his effort, as it rebounded clear off the far post. A minute later Watkins had a free header but his effort lacked power and direction. That was a great chance wasted and the cutting edge was just not quite there in the England attack. Saka was being repeatedly fouled and Elif Elmas was booked by the referee for the latest foul on the Arsenal winger.

On 24 minutes England were lucky not to concede a penalty, when Harry Maguire dreadful pass across field went straight to a home player and as Elmas reached the penalty area, Maguire was so lucky after trying to retrieve the situation by bundling the striker off the ball. The referee, who I'm afraid made many wrong decisions in the match, saw nothing wrong and play continued, much to Maguire's relief one suspects. On the half-hour another excellent pass by Foden into the box should have been met by Watkins but the Villa striker was a yard short as the ball whizzed across goal.

Lewis, looking really impressive and exciting with his positive play, was certainly enjoying himself on this special occasion for him. However, in the 38th minute he was in a great defensive position to head clear from the Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski, and the latter went down as though he had been shot! The ref Filip Glova from Slovakia, waved play on but suddenly the incident was being referred to the VAR people. Now if Maguire had been lucky earlier, then Lewis, sadly, was booked and a penalty was given on review as Lewis's hand had touched the face of Miovski. Filip flopped after making his dreadful decision and it was so unlucky on the youngster. The drama wasn't over though as Erik Bardhi stepped up to take the penalty. Jordan Pickford made a fine save from the spot-kick, diving to his left, but the ball rebounded to Bardhi who gratefully shot home.

My immediate thought was that maybe that goal might give England the kick up the backside that the team needed after these two latest Internationals.

To be fair to Lewis, who looks a fine prospect, it was he that fired in the next England shot after good work by Saka and Foden. The low shot was saved by Stole Dimitrievski, and just before the break Trent Alexander-Arnold fired in an even better effort that the keeper did well to touch over the bar. Mayhem followed the resultant corner as several England players appealed for handball but the ref wasn't interested and there was no sign of VAR this time.

England started the second-half on the front foot and fine work by Saka ended with a cross to the far post which was bundled in by Grealish. The England players celebrated but were then brought back down to earth as VAR cancelled the goal for an offside decision. Two minutes later Grealish was bundled over by three defenders in the box but this time, once again, VAR was noticeable by its absence. The home players were writing in agony after every challenge and the referee was buying it every time. This caused much frustration to the England players as a frustrating game was getting more and more frustrating every minute. It was now the time for cool heads. Alexander-Arnold was booked when the ref made a poor decision over a throw-in. The home side were even punching the air when they won a throw-in!

On 58 minutes England sent for the cavalry! Harry Kane was sent on for the ineffective Watkins, just as England took a corner. Foden's cross came in, Kane went for it, and the ball went in off the defender Jani Atanasov's shoulder. Did Kane get a touch, no, as it became clear later, but his presence certainly played a pivotal part in the equaliser.

The game became a little ragged over the next period of play, with Kyle Walker missing a through ball which caused England danger, and the ref continued his mistake-ridden game by giving a goal-kick to Macedonia when it was clearly a corner to England. Kane was pulled up for a foul when a defender again went down screaming blue murder, and at this stage, the 66th minute England's shape was worryingly all over the place. On 71 minutes Grealish and Lewis combined for A-A to have another shot blocked, whilst some of the falls by the Macedonia players would have made Jackie Pallo blush! (for those younger readers, Jackie Pallo was a wrestler). Saka was then brought down and Kane was booked! Confused? So was I.

With ten minutes left, and a bit of quality needed, Gareth Southgate sent on Marcus Rashford, Kalvin Phillips and Cole Palmer, and that was it really. In Rashford's case the Manchester United player needs to regain his appetite for football because at the moment he seems to be struggling and we need him at full power when the big games come along again. This match ended with England's unbeaten record in the group games intact, despite a scrappy and disjointed end to this campaign. The good news is we have qualified top of our group. Hopefully we can add a slightly more adventurous style to the games in the future and entertain the fans again.

Probably a good idea now if everyone has a break from International football until the next fixtures in March. Meanwhile I can relax seeing how my club side Preston North End progress, although relax is not usually a word I associate with supporting PNE.

  

Source Notes