Hungary-England 1-0, Szoboszlai decides – La Gazzetta dello Sport

Marco Rossi’s Hungary signs another great feat after stopping France and Germany at the European Championship and ends England’s unbeaten streak made up of 22 games in almost two years (with Italy in the European Championship the knockout reached the penalties). The Southgate team falls in a Puskas Arena animated by about 30,000 children, a situation that has sparked the controversy of the British Football Federation. In fact, the race should have been held behind closed doors precisely because of the racist behavior of the public in a previous challenge between the two selections. However, by appealing to the UEFA regulations, access was granted to the little ones, with an adult companion for every ten young fans. However, the weather was not entirely clear, with the English players booing when they knelt before kick-off. We don’t see a great show on the pitch, but Hungary, in addition to becoming more dangerous, knows how to occupy the field better. The decisive goal arrives in the middle of the second half and the initials Szoboszlai from the spot.

ENGLISH IN DEBUT

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Southgate made his debut in the competition by launching two rookies, Jarrod Bowen of West Ham and James Justin of Leicester. Despite the offensive set-up, the English 3-4-3 does not offer a particular forward production. Yet the early stages of the match seem promising: Sallai immediately tests Pickford’s reflexes, Kane tries his right to turn without hitting the mirror. At 12 ‘Hungary close to the advantage, at the end of an acrobatic action: Nagy opens for Nego, who on the fly puts in the center for Szoboszlai. With his touch he manages to anticipate the opposing goalkeeper, but Caudy saves on the line. The rhythms drop dramatically, with England lowering the center of gravity so as not to expose itself to the restarts. So the only way to try to score is an invention: Szalai sees Pickford out of goal and kicks from midfield, the ball ends just wide (32 ‘).

MISSED OPPORTUNITY

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The British need a kick, Southgate plays the Saka card at half-time in place of Justin in an attempt to increase the thrust. And actually he is the first to signal himself in the second half with a nice serpentine, ending with the diagonal that Gulacsi finds ready. At 64 ‘the key episode. James, who has entered four minutes, badly controls a ball in the area. Szolt Nagy passes in front of him, the Chelsea winger hits him and the contact is punishable by the Portuguese referee Dias. Szoboszlai appears on the spot, baptizing the corner to the right of Pickford; the goalkeeper senses, but the trajectory is precise and Hungary takes the lead. England’s response comes with Bowen’s volley which didn’t surprise Gulacsi, a few minutes later Bellingham shoots in the center of the area but the defense neutralizes. Not even Caudy’s inactive ball attempt has the desired results: his header passes close to the post and goes off to the bottom. The Hungarians took advantage of the spaces left by their opponents and sensationally wasted the doubling in the 81st minute, with Schafer shooting high the tap-in with an empty net after Pickford’s rejection on Kleinheisler. In the final, Kane gives the illusion of goal, with a splendid shot that however ends on the outside of the net. Not bad, however, for Hungary: the penalty converted by Szoboszlai is enough for the three points that upset the hierarchies of group A3, with Italy and Germany as protagonists.