ENGLAND 1 HOLLAND 2

BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM, LONDON.

England went from the high of beating Germany, to losing to a Dutch side that failed to qualify for Euro 2016. Arguably Roy Hodgson made 8 changes to the team that started in Berlin on Saturday but it was understandable, as he needed to look at other options. Danny Drinkwater who is riding high with Leicester at the top of the table made is debut and Daniel Sturridge returned to the side.

Just after the quarter of an hour mark, Memphis Depay played a cross-field pass, which found its way to Ibrahim Afellay, who hit a shot, which was saved comfortably by Fraser Forster.  In the 25^th minute Georginio Wijnaldum him a low shot but Fraser tipped it round the post for a corner.

Two minutes later a counter attack initiated by Danny Rose culminated with the ball finding its way to Jamie Vardy who hit his shot over the bar.  From a quickly taken free kick, Ross Barkley let fly from distance but the ball was wide of Jeroen Zoet’s goal.

With five minutes of the half left, England found the break through. A ball was played from the left to the right and Daniel Sturridge let it run to Vardy who passed it to Kyle Walker on the right.  Walker returned the ball to Vardy who tapped the ball into the Dutch net from close range. England led 1-0 at the break.

Just after the break the Dutch had a chance.

From the same attack Rose was adjudged to have handled Luciano Narsingh’s cross and the referee awarded the Dutch a penalty.  Vincent Janssen stepped forward and sent Forster the wrong way to level the game at 1-1. Holland nearly took the lead as Riechedly Bazoer’s shot deflected off Stones but Forster readjusted himself and gathered the ball.

On the hour mark, Vardy hit a shot from just outside the box, which swerved but Zoet tipped it over the bar for a corner. Vardy has taken to international football like a duck takes to water.    Two minutes later Theo Walcott, who replaced Sturridge, hit a shot from close range but once again Zoet made a save.

In the 76^th minute Janssen muscled Phil Jagielka off the ball and the England players expected a free kick, which never came as he squared the ball for Narsingh who slotted the ball past Forster to give the Dutch the lead.  With 7 minutes of the game left, Harry Kane let fly from distance but it was wide of the post.

The Dutch who are still mourning the loss of their greatest ever player Johan Cryuff will try to take some positives from this game despite falling from grace having reached the Semi Finals of the last two World Cups. The Dutch manager Danny Blind said: “We needed this result. We are still disappointed we are not going to France this summer.”

 For England though Jamie Vardy showed that he belongs on this stage and despite Danny Rose giving away a penalty, he has virtually nailed down the left back position.   Drinkwater was named man of the match but whether he gets into squad let alone the starting lineup is for Hodgson to decide.

The England manager said: “The decisions were not favorable to us.  I was more disappointed we did not reach the level of creativity and intensity we reached on Saturday night. I was hoping for a better performance. At the moment I am bitterly disappointed we have lost a home game in front of 82,000.”