By Robert Wheeler
- England suffer relegation following defeat against Italy
- Wales was relegated after losing to Poland
- Both teams to face off in the World Cup
Europe – England will play Wales at the World Cup in Qatar but both sides head into the tournament on the back of being relegated from Group A in the Nations League.
England
Italy 1 England 0
Relegation was confirmed for the Three Lions as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Italy at the San Siro. The only goal of the game came in the 68th minute when Giacomo Raspadori was allowed time and space to turn and finish into the bottom corner.
Harry Maguire who has not played for Manchester United since their 4-0 humiliation by Brentford was given a chance but failed to look convincing. England did have 57% possession and had Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice controlling the midfield but the side’s lack of a playmaker made it difficult for them to break down the Italian defence.
Jack Grealish was introduced during the second half and made an instant impact but ultimately failed to turn the game around.
England 3 Germany 3
‘God save the King’ was sung for the first time at the new Wembley Stadium for the first time and this was a match fit for a King.
It looked like it was going to be one of those days again for England as they slumped to a two-goal deficit due to strikes from İlkay Gündoğan and Kai Havertz. Maguire was again at fault for both goals as he fouled Jamal Musiala for Gündoğan’s penalty and gave the ball away in the build-up to Havertz’s goal.
Luke Shaw got England back in it when he finished from a Bellingham cross. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder was having another great game. Substitute Mason Mount equalised with a fantastic strike from outside of the box. Then Harry Kane dispatched his penalty to put the Three Lions in front.
However, Nick Pope fumbled a long-range effort from Serge Gnabry which led to Havertz’s 87th-minute equaliser which broke English hearts. Despite a much more spirited display against Germany, questions are being raised on Gareth Southgate‘s future. If results do not improve then it will likely be his final tournament as England boss.
Wales
Belgium 2 Wales 1
Kevin De Bruyne branded playing against Wales as ‘boring’ in the build-up to this game. Although he did not look very bored as he fired his side into the lead in the 10th minute. Michy Batshuayi tapped in from De Bruyne’s pass to double his side’s lead. Kieffer Moore got one back for Wales with a header, the 6 ft 5 forward could be a deadly weapon for Wales at the World Cup.
Rob Page‘s side was without Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale only came on in the 64th minute but Wales did only have 28% possession which is a bit concerning.
Wales 0 Poland 1
Wales’s relegation was confirmed as they were defeated 1-0 by Poland at the Cardiff City Stadium. It was a battle of two legendary forwards, Bale and Robert Lewandowski.
However, the goal came from Karol Świderski who fired in from a flick-on from Lewandowski in the 57th minute. Bale came close to equalising as he hit the crossbar with a header in injury time.
It is Wales’s first World Cup since 1958 but like England go into the tournament not in the best of form.
The World Cup starts on Sunday, 20 November. Wales faces the USA in their opening game and England plays Iran, both games will be on Saturday 21.
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