International
| England 2 |
|
|---|---|
| Hungary 1 |
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Contentment can be mysterious. The crowd left in good humour after England had won 2-1 against opponents who are ranked an obscure 62nd in the world. There had been booing before and during the match but it felt dutiful, as if the onlookers knew it was expected of them after the debacle of the World Cup finals. They were far happier to be engrossed by the sight of their side fighting to recover from 1-0 down.
Even the most practised misanthrope could have been stirred by the goals with which Steven Gerrard retrieved the situation. One of them was fierce and the other exquisite as he issued a reminder of the range to his repertoire. The captain had been England's best player in South Africa, although that compliment carried a sardonic edge given the mediocrity around him.
Fabio Capello was lucky that the blaze of excitement over Gerrard's finishing will have blinded everyone, temporarily at least, to the pedestrian work that made up so much of the night. This is a new start for England, but it is also one that will call for a great deal more work before fluency or incisiveness is achieved.
The manager can take heart that his men rallied after falling behind to a goal that had not actually crossed the line. On an evening when it emerged that the veteran David Beckham can expect to be brought back purely for a token outing in a friendly, the hitherto uncapped Arsenal youngsters Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs were blooded as substitutes.
It was of more immediate relevance that Ashley Young came off the bench to make a good impression. This game cannot, in itself, have revived a feeling of expectation over England, but it sufficed that the audience could be sure that the make-up of the squad is now a matter for deliberation after it has lately looked as if individuals were being included out of nothing more than habit.
The situation continues to be flawed and Wayne Rooney, once more drawing a blank, is without a goal for his country since the match with Croatia in September 2009 that secured the team's passage to the World Cup. There was still an initial forcefulness to what was, more or less, a 4-3-3 formation. Rooney was marginally offside as Gerrard put him clear in the third minute, but there was a feeling of intent. It did not last, even if Phil Jagielka, back in the line-up after 16 months, might have scored three minute later instead of jabbing the ball into the side-netting with his left foot following a corner.
No one could have claimed that Capello is not attempting an overhaul. The goalkeeper Joe Hart, for instance, had hitherto been picked only as a substitute and, in a reversal of fortune, Adam Johnson was on the flank even though Capello had deemed him too nervous to go to the World Cup. There was an air of renewal, but the facts of the match were less comforting as everyone took stock at half-time.
Hungary will have been happily surprised at that juncture to recognise that the match had held little terror. In some aspects there was encouragement and Theo Walcott was lively for a spell. All the same, a system with attacking intent that contained players free of staleness had not cracked open the opposition.
Adjustments were needed, with the hitherto uncapped Bobby Zamora, 29, among the substitutions after the interval. Michael Dawson was brought on as well, for John Terry. The England manager had to balance the aim of making amends to fans with the requirement to prepare for the Euro 2012 qualifiers themselves, which begin next month with the visit of Bulgaria.
Life appeared easier for the opposition. There were virtually no expectations for this fixture that could burden them and the side were visibly pleased not to have come to harm with an hour gone. If anyone had forgotten, there were more reminders that England are far from being an outstanding side.
The fixture had grown lacklustre and real engagement with the game only came once Hungary took the lead in 62nd minute. Following a break down the England right, Vladimir Koman's attempt went beyond Hart and Jagielka was credited with an own goal, although it turned out that the ball had not had gone over the line before Dawson had been able to clear the danger.
If there was a benefit it lay in the note of authenticity that comes in difficulties. The England fans may never have anticipated that their real excitement at Wembley would arise from witnessing the side draw level with Hungary. After 69 minutes, though, a surge by the Arsenal left-back Gibbs ended with Gerrard lashing home from the edge of the area.
The Liverpool midfielder struck once more four minutes later. He took Young's ball and spun beautifully to escape the attention of two markers before firing home at the near post. A 2-1 win was not what had been anticipated against supposedly frail visitors, but the Wembley crowd had at last been caught in the fascination and frustration that come to all who follow England.