For the 200th match report I have written for this wonderful website, I wanted a good game to celebrate, and by and large I did get my wish.  Seeing a very proud Declan Rice lead out the England team on his first game as captain of the side lifted the spirits on a dreadfully wet night at Wembley.  Both teams then went on to serve up an entertaining international, with some great play, and some downright awful play offered in equal measures.  Thankfully, the conclusion of the match gave us some pure class on show.

England came so close to taking a first minute lead as Jarrod Bowen, lively throughout, sprinted down the right before sending a cross in to the marauding Ivan Toney.  His attempt at a volleyed finish was actually stopped by his own flailing hand, otherwise it would have been a dream start, not only for England but for the recalled Toney.  After that though, England struggled for the next period of the match.  On six minutes they twice gave away possession cheaply, John Stones and Ben Chilwell the guilty parties.  Luckily other English players came to the rescue by winning the ball back.  A minute later superb control from Bowen again, won England a corner.  That was cleared and the next incident saw Stones go off with an injury, a big blow for the home side.

With Joe Gomez replacing him at the back, England suddenly found themselves a goal down thanks to a ludicrous bit of play by Jordon Pickford.  The goalkeeper seems to have adopted a position in the back four just lately, and he picked up the ball far out on the left of his penalty area.  Now, when I was at school I was told never to pass the ball across your area, but Pickford ignored this basic advice by passing the ball directly to Amadou Ogana in the centre.  The Belgian's pass then set up Youri Tielemans who cleverly made Pickford look a complete, I'm tempted to use the word 'idiot' but I will use novice!  What an awful goal to give away!  Credit to Tielemans though as he took his shot perfectly.  I've always loved the way that Pickford blames everyone else when England concede a goal, but this time there was no other person to blame but himself.

At the risk of being too critical, is Ben Chilwell a former member of 'One Direction'?  I ask because he only ever seems to want to play the ball backwards.  Luckily for England, things improved after 15 minutes of play.

Kobbie Mainoo and Jude Bellingham combined well to send Toney into the box.  The striker cleverly got across his man and went down under a challenge.  Penalty given!  A VAR check was completed and Toney composed himself for the kick and tucked the ball away with aplomb.  The rain was now lashing down, but the happiest player on the pitch after England's equaliser was goalkeeper Pickford.  And all credit to England's Number One in the 20th minute as Tielemans set up Jeremy Doku for a low shot which Pickford pushed away to safety.  (I love our keeper really, he's a former Preston North Ender!)

On 26 minutes, England almost snatch the lead as Bowen set up Bellingham only for Zeno Debast to get a touch which took the ball over the bar.  From the deep corner Lewis Dunk headed back across goal for Bowen to nod the ball in to the net.  Our celebrations were cut short by another VAR check which gave offside.  Although it was a correct decision, you had to feel sorry for Bowen who thought he had his first England goal.  In the next five minutes Bowen hit a good shot just over and then Bellingham had the miss of the match when he shot over when it looked impossible to miss.  That heralded a breakaway by Belgium on 36 minutes.  A superb crossfield pass from deep in his own half from Tielemans seemed easy for Dunk to win the ball with Romelu Lukaku lurking.  For some inexplicable reason, Dunk lost possession by going to ground and Lukaku had a clear sight of goal.  The Belgian forward then came up with a fabulous pass with the outside of his boot to find Tielemans following up and planting a diving header past Pickford.

With three minutes of added time before the break England hit back with goal attempts from Bellingham and Bowen who both forced saves from Mats Sels in the Belgian goal.  That preserved the visitor's lead at half-time.  Early in the second-half England broke away through the impressive Mainoo and that move ended with a corner and a shot wide by Chilwell.  Belgium began the half in an assured mood, but just gradually it was England who slowly gained more control.  Rice was working his socks off as always, and Phil Foden was coming more and more into the picture.  One break from him led to a fierce shot by Toney that brought another save from Sels.

On 54 minutes a neat chip by Gomez found the head of Bellingham, but his weak header missed the target.  Doku was the Belgian danger man and his breaks caused England some discomfort without creating anything too drastic.  Bellingham did not have as good a game as usual at times, but he is a battler and worked hard to create something as England tried hard for an elusive goal.  There was plenty of end to end play as the half progressed with both sides forcing goalkeeper saves.  As time was running out England needed a slice of luck, or maybe just a little piece of magic.  Gareth Southgate sent on James Maddison as a substitute for Mainoo to try something new.

With ten minutes left Bowen's brilliant run set up a chance for Foden but his cross-shot flew inches wide of the far post.  With that, Gareth Southgate took off England's best player, Bowen, along with Toney, and brought on Anthony Gordon and Ollie Watkins.  As the last minutes ticked away England had a couple more near misses but the final touches were just not there.

Just as you thought the game was over England found that long overdue goal.  Watkins and Maddison battled for the ball on the goalline with a defender, and Maddison gained possession to square a pass into the path of Bellingham, who calmly side-footed a shot past the goalkeeper, much to the delight of the home crowd and the despair of the Belgian contingent.  It was a touch of class from Bellingham, and his after match chat showed what a lovely lad he is, speaking so much sense about the game as a whole.  England did deserve their draw and to gain their reward at the end of an enthralling contest left them looking forward to the future challenges.

PHEW, is my last word on the match!
  

Source Notes