England vs Hungary LIVE: Nations League result, final score and reaction tonight
Follow all the action from Molineux as the Three Lions play their final game of the summer
This can no longer be written off as meaningless. The Nations League has instead produced England’s worst-ever home defeat to a side from outside the old “home nations”, and worst in all since 1928, as Hungary symbolically surpassed their own famous 6-3 of 1953.
We might well see a similar inquest. This obviously can’t be dismissed as just the Nations League any more. There felt more to it than fatigue or circumstances.
Gareth Southgate has real problems to solve, as his team lost momentum and - perhaps most relevantly - he lost the support of a significant section of a home crowd. It is the first show of the sort of negativity that used to sour so many campaigns and managerial reigns of the past, and this went really toxic.
Southgate and his players were repeatedly booed, with that reaching a crescendo as Harry Maguire was brought on to shore up a defence that had lost John Stones to a red card.
It was that kind of night, where it was hard to settle on what the low point was. It just kept getting worse. Follow all the reaction as England lose to Hungary below:
Harry Kane backs Gareth Southgate despite England’s poor run of form
Harry Kane believes boss Gareth Southgate is still the man to take England forward despite a 4-0 home defeat to Hungary.
Roland Sallai’s brace was complemented by a thunderous Zsolt Nagy strike and – shortly after John Stones’ red card – Daniel Gazdag made it 4-0 on a night when fans booed the team and chanted “you don’t know what you’re doing” at Southgate.
The second consecutive defeat to the Hungarians left England without a victory in four Nations League matches.
Harry Kane backs Gareth Southgate despite England’s poor run of form
England were thumped 4-0 at home to Hungary.
What did Gareth Southgate think of the game?
The England boss gave his thoughts to Channel 4 saying: “We picked a young team with energy and when the game started to go against them it started to look that way, that is my responsibility in the end. At half-time we needed to go for the game and made changes with more of an attacking impetus. It left us more open when we were pushing and it left us wide open. Across the four matches, that is my responsibility, I tried to balance looking at new players, resting players we could not keep flogging but in the end the teams have not been strong enough in the two Hungary games, the other two results were positive but tonight is a chastening experience.
“We have seen you have to be at full strength. It was a important experience for a number of the younger players and we learnt a lot from the Italy and Germany games, Hungary are a good side and I think I have given them too much to do tonight. I understand the reaction to that in the stadium, this group of players have been unbelievable for their country and it is important for people to stay with them. They will still be strong going forward.
“In the end, this is about winning matches with England but tonight was the sort of night my predecessors have had experienced. I am not going to say it does not hurt but it is clear to me what we were trying to do across the four matches. The Nations League campaigns have put negativity and pressure onto us and you don’t normally have that as England manager. It is my job to protect the players, the results are my responsibility.
“People will rightly say, ‘what are you talking about?’ We needed to see some things. We have had some unbelievable nights with England over the last four or five year but this is the other side and that is the reality of football.”
Dismal England hammered by Hungary in Nations League as crowd turns against Three Lions
This can no longer be written off as meaningless. The Nations League has instead produced England’s worst-ever home defeat to a side from outside the old “home nations”, and worst in all since 1928, as Hungary symbolically surpassed their own famous 6-3 of 1953.
We might well see a similar inquest. This obviously can’t be dismissed as just the Nations League any more. There felt more to it than fatigue or circumstances.
Gareth Southgate has real problems to solve, as his team lost momentum and - perhaps most relevantly - he lost the support of a significant section of a home crowd. It is the first show of the sort of negativity that used to sour so many campaigns and managerial reigns of the past, and this went really toxic.
Dismal England hammered by Hungary as crowd turns against Three Lions
England 0-4 Hungary: John Stones sent-off as Wolverhampton crowd boo players off the pitch following historic defeat
Post match thoughts from Harry Kane
“A disappointing night. First half we created enough chances to score but it has been the story of our Nations League, we have not quite had the cutting edge.
“Second half was not acceptable after going 2-0 down. It is not the time to panic, we have to the heads up and come back stronger in September.
“It is our first big defeat in a long time, the defence has been structure of our success. A night to forget but we have to take it on the chin and move forward, we have to prepare for a big World Cup and will learn a lot from this camp.
“Let’s not forget where we have come from, our fist final in 60 years, a semi-finals in the World Cup compared to where we have been in the last 50 years. I under the fans’ frustration, we will keep working to try and have a successful World Cup.”
On boos aimed at Gareth Southgate and his future: “It’s not even a question I should be answering.”
‘They haven’t performed’ says Cole
Former England defender Ashley Cole on punditry duties for Channel 4 gives his verdict on England’s performance: “Too many players were off it. They’ve been held responsible before and they take it on the chin when they have haven’t performed.
“On reflection they’ll look in the mirror and know it wasn’t good enough. They did have a few excuses, but they also came up against a Hungary side who were hungry and wanted it.”
Ex-England midfielder Joe Cole added: “A shocking performance, the players were not at it and the attitude were wrong. I can understand the frustration of the fans.
“Does Gareth Southgate know what he is doing? Of course, he has taken the team to a semi-final and final but that was dreadful.”
England 0-4 Hungary
England have lost a home match by 4+ goals without scoring for the first time in their entire history.
Roland Sallai is the first Hungary player to score twice in an away game against England since both Ferenc Puskás (2) and Nándor Hidegkuti (3) did so in a 6-3 win at Wembley in 1953.
England 0-4 Hungary
England are firmly at the bottom of Group A3 now. Hungary meanwhile move to the top. This is also the worst run of Gareth Southgate’s tenure as England boss.
Full-time: England 0-4 Hungary
90+2 mins: England lose to Hungary for a second time. The boos ring out around Molineux, they haven’t enjoyed what they’ve seen tonight. It’s England’s heaviest home defeat since 1928 when they lost 5-1 to Scotland.
Questions will be asked of Gareth Southgate, he’ll be put back under pressure. These four games haven’t gone to plan at all and with the World Cup looming England need to find something special in September to bring the fans back on board.
GOAL! England 0-4 Hungary (Gazdag, 89’)⚽️
89 mins: Oh my. A miserable night for England is capped off with a goal for Daniel Gazdag. England’s defence is all at sea, there’s no shape to it and a simple pass through the middle of the pitch sends the substitute into the box. He shoves Walker away from the ball the lifts it over Ramsdale with a beautiful finish.
England 0-3 Hungary
88 mins: Expect a lot of boos at the end of the game from the England fans. Gareth Southgate may have been using these matches to look at new players and formations in preparation for the World Cup but the fans at Molineux expected England to win this game.
They’ve been battered in truth.
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