Well, you can't win them all!  That was the overriding feeling after England failed to beat a stubborn and well drilled Hungarian team at Wembley.  England didn't play badly, but they didn't play well either, and much credit should go to Hungary for carrying out their game plan almost to perfection.

Despite picking the team most of us would have chosen, Gareth Southgate's men could see that right from the start it was obvious the match would be a stiff test for the home side, something they haven't often had to contend with during this qualifying period.  Hungary were well organised, aggressive, and dangerous on the break, and England had to have their wits about them at all times. A lively opening ten minutes, saw both teams shutting their opponents down quickly, so there was little goalmouth action forthcoming. The first chance of note came in the 9th minute when Jack Grealish, superb throughout, and Luke Shaw, combined on the left to send in a cross to the far post. Harry Kane was there but he was just beaten to the ball on the stretch by a defender.

As the corner was taken, John Stones was rugby tackled to the floor by his marker and the referee blew his whistle.  But instead of giving a penalty, he warned both players, and ordered the corner to be retaken.  A weird decision that made me wish we still had the lady referee that we had in the last game, back in charge!

Declan Rice and Mason Mount were working hard in midfield but the Hungarians were very aware of Phil Foden's attributes, and when the Man City player gained possession the defenders swarmed around him, giving him no space to work his magic.  On 14 minutes the very lively Roland Sallai put in a good effort which was just off target, following a good break down the right.  A bad pass by Mount then gave the Hungarians another chance but the defence was quickly back to snuff out the danger.

The first 20 minutes had been nip and tuck, although Shaw's first time ball into the box was only just intercepted before it reached Kane. Grealish was increasingly dangerous and the visitors found him hard to deal with as he ran at them consistently.  One shot was easily saved by goalkeeper Peter Galacsi, but Grealish was definitely England's danger man.  However, on 23 minutes the game changed.  A ball bounced high in the box as Shaw looked to clear.  In the end he fly-kicked it away, but Loic Nego had tried to put his head to the ball and the referee deemed it dangerous play as Nego writhed around in apparent agony.  Strange to relate, he was soon up and about again after the penalty was given.  It was checked by VAR but this ref had given England nothing up to this point, so the decision stayed.  Sallai sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way to emphatically score from the spot.

England had to now regroup, as this was an unusual situation, being a goal down at Wembley, it hadn't happened for a while.  Another decision went Hungary's way when Kane was clattered from behind in the box.  You've seen them given!  But Hungary were now looking confident, boosted by the goal, and England had a game on their hands.  Zsolt Nagy then clattered Grealish and their were ironic cheers as the referee gave England a free-kick.  Hungary cleared that and they were not about to surrender this lead easily.

On 35 minutes it was noticeable that England had stepped it up a bit, and two minutes later they scored an equaliser.  This time a free-kick would be well used.  Foden whipped in a cross, with the ball touching a couple of heads on the way to the far post where John Stones was there to crash it home.  Five minutes later Grealish looked in with a great chance, but delayed his shot allowing the defenders to scramble the ball clear.  Before the break, Grealish again went close after controlling a great pass by Kyle Walker, and then right on the whistle, Raheem Sterling was on the end of Shaw's cross to the far post.  His first header was parried by a sprawling Galacsi, and Sterling's rebound effort was shot wide.

England began the second-half with some careless passing that gave Hungary the chance to push forward.  Shaw was not his usual self, although that could be said of several of the England players.  Sallai put in another good effort that was deflected for a corner, and despite some promising attacks by the visitors, Pickford had yet to be called upon.  Hungary's strength was in their organisation, workrate, and general appetite for the game.

Foden then sent Sterling away and his cross was only just scrambled away.  Kane had a shot easily saved after more good play by Grealish, Sterling won a corner, from which Stones headed inches wide.  Then came a moment that puzzled every England fan as Southgate's first substitution was to take off Grealish and bring on Bukayo Saka.  No problem with Saka coming on, but to take off your best attacker was a mystery, especially as Sterling and Kane were both having 'one of those nights!'  A forlorn looking Grealish, sat in the stand, looked as perplexed as everyone else by that strange decision.

On 70 minutes all would have been forgiven as Kane put Sterling through on goal.  A super sharp Sterling would have buried that chance but Galacsi was out quickly to save.  Not long after Kane sliced another chance over, both he and Sterling were taken off, with Tammy Abraham and Jordan Henderson coming on.  England's play became scrappy as the game reached its climax.  Poor play by both Saka and Henderson, gave possession away cheaply, and a half-hearted attempt by Abraham to reach Mount's cross was about all England could muster.  Abraham did have another chance but he didn't look too sharp.  In fact he had to be substituted himself for an injury near the end, with Olli Watkins coming on. 

In the end it was all to no avail.  England, on the night, were out-thought, out-fought and outrun.  Having said all that, they didn't lose, so no real damage done.  The ball is still very much in their court.
     

Source Notes