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England draw Netherlands in UEFA Nations League finals

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England will play the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League semi finals in Guimares, Portugal on June 6, 2019.

The winners the other semi final, Portugal vs Switzerland, to be played on June 5, will meet the victors in the final on June 9.

All four teams are already assured of at least a play-off place for Euro 2020 should they fail to qualify for the finals through the normal qualification process.

The final ranking table in the UEFA Nations League was used to help determine seedings for the Euro 2020 qualifying groups.

If the four finalists don’t require their UEFA Nations League playoff spot then it will be rolled down the final ranking list of Nations League teams until all four places have been allocated to teams that didn’t qualify for the Euro 2020 finals.

The overall winner of the Nations League will receive £6.7m in prize money with other nations getting less money.

England avoid Germany in Euro 2020 draw

England were drawn with Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Kosovo in Group A of the Euro 2020 qualifiers, with fixtures to run between March and November of 2019.

They avoided Germany, who were paired with the Netherlands again, along with Northern Ireland in Group C.

Republic of Ireland were placed in group D with Switzerland, Denmark, Georgia and Gibraltar.

Scotland will face Belgium, Russia, Cyprus, Kazakhstan and San Marino while Wales will meet Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan.

The winner and runner-up up in each group will qualify automatically but England and Scotland have the benefit of a guaranteed play off place if they don’t qualify because they won their respective UEFA Nations League groups.

Manchester City will host Women’s European Championship games in 2021.

Manchester City’s Football Academy Stadium will be one of the venues when England host the 2021 Women’s European Championships.

England had previously staged the tournament in 2005 

The Football Association was reportedly the only bidder but met strict guidelines before UEFA awarded the tournament to them.

England survive second half onslaught to earn famous victory in Spain after Raheem Sterling goals

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SPAIN 2, ENGLAND 3 (UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE)

England survived a second half onslaught from a shell-shocked Spain to win 3-2, despite another late surge by the Spanish, and earn an invaluable three points in the UEFA Nations League as Raheem Sterling finally broke his international goal drought.

England raced into a 3-0 lead after a first half goal deluge to match the rain in Spain at Seville making light of their recent difficulties in goal by scoring all three shots on target with Sterling scoring either side of Marcus Rashford before the break.

It was the first time Spain had conceded three goals in a competitive home fixture and they pulled one back through Paco Alcacer soon after half time before England survived a massive penalty shout against Jordan Pickford, survived a multitude of Spain shots on goal, with the home side hitting the crossbar, but Sergio Ramos’ late late goal couldn’t prevent England from earning their first victory in Spain since February 1987 when Gary Lineker scored all four goals in a 4-2 win at the Bernabeu.

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Gareth Southgate had two enforced changes to make after John Stones and Jordan Henderson were ruled out through suspension. Joe Gomez and Harry Winks replaced them while Kieran Trippier came in for Kyle Walker as England largely stuck with the same side that drew 0-0 in Croatia.

Eric Dier was booked early on as Spain threatened to score first but it was England who broke the deadlock and in some style with a fantastic opening goal by Raheem Sterling.

Raheem Sterling breaks his England goal drought in style

Sterling finally broke his England goal drought with his first goal in 28 appearances after 16 minutes. The City winger took just one touch to set himself up after Jordan Pickford’s forward pass to went to Harry Kane in midfield. The England captain swept the ball out to Marcus Rashford whose cross took out the entire Spain defence allowing Sterling the time to lash the ball into the top corner past David De Gea.

The cathartic reaction from the wide-man said it all after a three years and 1825 minutes since his last goal – at home to Estonia in the Euro 2016 qualifiers – on October 9, 2015.

Spain were roused and redoubled their efforts with Pickford dropping a free kick and being bailed out by Kane while Harry Winks was lucky to not be punished for his own mistake.

Pickford started another move with another powerful ball up which was eventually won by a tenacious Kane. One quick turn and an early pass into the box later and Rashford only needed one touch before beating his Manchester United team mate – his own wastefulness from the Croatia game put behind him in the space of minutes rather than years – for his fourth England goal in his last six starts.

England were under pressure but they were the better in the break, stealing possession just 30 yards out, before the ball went into the box again from Ross Barkley. Harry Kane brought it down and Sterling gobbled up his second chance in the space of 13 minutes from close range.

Marco Asensio’s turn and shot was deflected into the side netting off the post by Joe Gomez as Spain came out in the second half seeking to up their game after a disastrous first half.

Spain got away with a foul on Sterling on the edge of their area before Saul’s shot was saved by Pickford but Luis Enrique had had enough made a couple of changes. Paco Alcacer replaced Iago Aspas while Saul Niguez was replaced by Dani Ceballos.

In-form Alcacer had pulled one back within seconds of coming onto the pitch, getting in front of Kane and glancing Asensio’s cross inside the unguarded far post and with just over half an hour to play it was game on and thoughts of England’s home game against Spain in which the visitors levelled matters with two late goals started to come to mind. 

Jordan Pickford escapes red card

Pickford was lucky to get away without conceding a penalty and potentially a red card after losing the ball while trying a Cruyff turn and appearing to commit a foul in his area with a desperate lunge to win it back off Rodrigo.

England had been all action but now the supreme effort was starting to show in Southgate’s team who hadn’t had a shot on target since their first half goals. Marcos Alonso thrashed the ball over the before Alvaro Morata replaced Rodrigo in Spain’s last throw of the dice.

England braced for a late onslaught in response with Kyle Walker introduced for Barkley but Sergio Busquets should have been more heavily punished for pulling back Sterling as the visitors retained a speedy counter attack.

Pickford made a good save from Alcacer as the Spanish siege was well under way in the last ten minutes of the exhilarating contest with Asensio shooting wide as the home side got closer.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was brought on to shore up the right side, replacing Kieran Trippier while Nathaniel Chalobah came on for his first senior England cap – replacing Winks with England hanging on grimly as shots rained in from Spain who had captured almost 73% of the possession, firing in 20 shots on goal to England’s paltry 5.

Asensio’s shot was blocked by Pickford and bounced off Morata just wide as England continued to live dangerously right till the end, even watching Marcos Alonso’s chance hit crossbar before Sergio Ramos’ last gasp goal from another Spain cross was the last action in their first home defeat in 39 competitive games since June 2003.

  • The result left England in a solid second position with 4 points in their UEFA Nations League table. Spain stayed on 6 points while Croatia were firmly at the bottom of the league with just 1 point.
  • The Croats host Spain on Thursday, November 15 before travel to Wembley for the final league game to play England on Sunday, November 18.
  • England could qualify for the play-offs if they beat or match Spain’s points total. Depending on Croatia’s result against Spain, England could avoid relegation to League B by avoiding defeat against Croatia.

MATCH STATS – Spain 2, England 3

Spain: De Gea, Jonny, Nacho, Ramos, Alonso, Alcantara, Busquets, Niguez (Ceballos 57), Aspas (Alcacer 57), Rodrigo (Morata 72), Asensio

Booked: Ramos, Jonny, Ceballos

Goals: Alcacer 58, Ramos 90+7

England: Pickford, Trippier (Alexander-Arnold 85), Gomez, Maguire, Chilwell, Dier, Winks (Chalobah 90+1), Barkley (Walker 76), Sterling, Rashford, Kane

Booked: Dier, Winks, Maguire, Rashford

Goals: Sterling 16, 38; Rashford 29 

England lack spirit in Ghost game draw in empty stadium against Croatia

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CROATIA 0, ENGLAND 0 – UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE

England handed a debut to Jadon Sancho but were left ruing missed chances as they drew a blank in the so-called “Ghost-game” away to Croatia.

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Eric Dier and Harry Kane both hit the woodwork with great chances, while Kane had a goal ruled out for offside, and Marcus Rashford fluffed two great chances to score as England struggled to put away their chances against a lacklustre Croatia who were in damage control mode.

Former Manchester City youth product Jadon Sancho became England’s second youngest debutant at the age of 18 years and 201 days – second only behind Manchester United’s Duncan Edwards but he showed signs of his electric pace in his 12 minutes on the pitch.

England’s UEFA Nations League qualifier at the HNK Rijeka Stadium was played out in eerie silence without fans present as the home side was being punished for racism after marking a swastika on the pitch before a Euro 2016 home qualifier against Italy.

The subsequent ban has also affected England fans, hundreds who whom had already made travel plans when then ban hit and were looking forward to seeing England avenge their World Cup Semi Final defeat in the summer in Russia.

Ross Barkley and Ben Chilwell were handed starts for England.

Leicester City left back Chilwell was a late addition to the senior squad after an injury to Manchester United’s Luke Shaw but made his senior starting debut after a cameo against Switzerland in the last game.

England boss Gareth Southgate switched to a flat back four against Croatia after the added boost to creative influence in the squad but used Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson to provide more midfield solidity.

Croatia had been much changed in the last 93 days since their World Cup encounter with England.

Several players have retired or were injured but England’s hosts retained plenty of quality in midfield with Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic although the variable quality of the pitch had a great say in the resulting game.

England will lose John Stones and Jordan Henderson for the trip to Spain after both picked up bookings on a night that will surely only be remembered for the empty stands and occasional song from intrepid travelling England fans outside the stadium – they didn’t miss much.

Match Stats – Croatia 0, England 0

England: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell, Henderson, Dier, Barkley, Sterling (Sancho 78), Kane, Rashford

Croatia: Livajovic, Jedvaj, Lovren, Vida, Pivaric, Kovacic (Badelj 73), Rakitic, Kramaric, Modric, Perisic (Pjaca 68), Rebic (Livaja 80)

Attendance: 0

England lose Luke Shaw to head injury during Spain defeat

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ENGLAND 1, SPAIN 2 (UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE)

Luke Shaw was stretchered off with a head injury after his first England start in three injury-hit years, against Spain in the UEFA Nations League, as the national team was beaten in a competitive match at Wembley for the first time in 11 years.

Rodrigo Moreno set up a goal for Saul Niguez and scored the winner himself after capitalising on defensive errors by England who had earlier gone into the lead thanks to Shaw’s assist for Marcus Rashford.

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England had a possible injury time equaliser by Danny Welbeck ruled out for a foul on David De Gea as Spain faded after a dominant start.

Shaw’s club manager, Jose Mourinho, will have been concerned after watching the left back, who has been an ever-present for the Reds this season, taken from the field of play although news from the England dressing room at full time was positive with the Reds full back walking and talking by the end of the game.

The United boss will also have been frustrated by Rashford’s hat trick of chances saved by club team mate David De Gea during the game.

World Cup 2018 Golden Boot presented to Harry Kane

Harry Kane was presented with the Golden Boot from the World Cup by Gareth Southgate and played in a Gold Boots for this one-off match. Both were cheered by the capacity Wembley crowd whereas Spain captain Sergio Ramos was roundly booed for his role in injuring Liverpool forward.

There were three changes for England from their last game in the World Cup 59 days ago and the UEFA Nations League saw a greater urgency from both sides rather than a slower paced friendly making for a much more competitive game.

Joe Gomez came in for Kyle Walker who dropped to the bench, Luke Shaw replaced his Manchester United team mate Ashley Young, who had been dropped by Southgate, for his first England start in three years, while Rashford replaced Raheem Sterling who withdrew from the England squad a few days ago with a back injury.

And Rashford capitalised on a low ball in from Luke Shaw to beat their Manchester United team mate David De Gea and Nacho after Jordan Henderson intercepted a loose ball and started a counter attack with Kane within 11 minutes. 

Rashford made it four goals in six appearances at Wembley for England and it was the first England goal made and scored by Manchester United players since November 2012 when Ashley Young found Danny Welbeck for a goal against Sweden.

Spain were level quickly with Saul levelling exactly 120 seconds later. A sleeping Shaw allowed Dani Carvahal in down the Spain right and he combined with Rodrigo to find Saul for a low finish.

Harry Kane had an appeal for a penalty turned down after a Carvahal challenge and had a weak header easily saved by De Gea.

But it was Spain who scored next, with Rodrigo stabbing in from inside the six yard box in the 32nd minute after Harry Maguire played Spain onside at a Thiago Alcantara free kick from the left.

Jesse Lingard’s cross for Rashford whose header was acrobatically palmed away by De Gea who protected Spain’s lead with a great save.

Luke Shaw goes from assist maker to mistake maker before going off injured

Shaw had had a mixed first half but was pole-axed early in the second half after an accidental clash of heads with Carvahal leaving him possibly unconscious after falling heavily to the ground and was gently stretchered off with his head strapped after lengthy treatment to be replaced by Danny Rose.

Thiago’s volley touched the crossbar as Spain continued to press England with their technical superiority – the game seemed becalmed after Shaw’s departure after six minutes of treatment.

Henderson was next to be replaced, suffering with an injury, and he was replaced by Eric Dier.

Although Spain remained in control of the game but it had long lost its edge after the departure of Shaw.

England missed a great chance to level matters with less than ten minutes to go when Kane put Rashford through. Rashford went past Nacho but his shot went too close to De Gea and Spain were saved by their goalkeeper again.

Rashford was denied again by De Gea – this time from an offside position – as England still couldn’t claw back an equaliser.

Spain had been suffering from England set pieces and the home side got a chance to put in their World Cup set piece speciality but Maguire headed wide.

There were nine minutes of added time after the injury to Shaw and Danny Welbeck came on with Spain in retreat as the home side pushed up.

Welbeck had the ball in the net deep into injury time after appearing to snatch the ball from De Gea, who had collected an aerial ball sliced into the air by Ramos, and but his goal was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Ramos cleared a Trippier cross for a corner, as England tried to level matters, but De Gea collected the ball before Kane could reach it and Spain held on to win at Wembley for the first time since 1981.

Match Stats – England 1, Spain 2 – UEFA Nations League

England: Pickford, Gomez, Stones, Maguire, Henderson (Dier 63), Trippier, Lingard, Alli, Shaw (Rose 53), Rashford (Welbeck 90+3), Kane

Booked: Henderson 20, Shaw 41, Stones 64, Rose 90+4

Goal: Rashford 11

Spain: De Gea, Carvajal, Nacho, Ramos, Alonso (Martinez 87), Alcantara (Roberto 79), Busquets, Saul, Rodrigo, Aspas (Ascensio 67), Isco 

Booked: Carvahal 81

Goal: Saul 13, Rodrigo 32

Attendance: 81392