Jesse Lingard celebrates after scoring his first senior England goal
Jesse Lingard’s first international goal fired England to a 1-0 friendly victory over the Netherlands – their first since Euro 1996 – in Amsterdam on Friday.
The Manchester United midfielder’s low shot from the edge of the area just before the hour secured a first English win in the Dutch capital since 1969, as Gareth Southgate’s squad stepped up their preparations for this summer’s World Cup in style.
It was no more than England deserved as they ended a run of seven games without a win over the Dutch, Ronald Koeman’s side, who failed to qualify for Russia 2018, rarely threatening in his first game in charge of his country.
Player ratings
Netherlands: Zoet (6), De Ligt (6), De Vrij (6), Van Dijk (6), Hateboer (5), Wijnaldum (5), Strootman (6), Van Aanholt (6), Promes (5), Depay (6), Dost (5).
Subs: Van de Beek (5), Propper (5), Weghorst (5), Babel (5).
England: Pickford (7), Trippier (6), Walker (7), Gomez (5), Stones (7), Rose (7), Oxlade-Chamberlain (6), Henderson (6), Lingard (7), Sterling (7), Rashford (7).
Subs: Maguire (6), Alli (5), Young (5), Vardy (5), Welbeck (5).
The game was billed as a friendly before kick-off but debutant Hans Hateboer’s shoulder barge into Danny Rose’s face in the opening minute ensured it was anything but.
That, and the early loss of Joe Gomez to injury, did little deter England though, as Southgate’s experimental side embarked on an encouraging first-half performance, which had everything except end product.
Team news
Gareth Southgate made seven changes to the England side which drew with Germany in November. Kyle Walker started on the right of a three-man defence to accommodate Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose in the wing-back positions. Marcus Rashford led the attack, flanked by Raheem Sterling and Jesse Lingard. Ronald Koeman handed Virgil van Dijk the captain’s armband and Hans Hateboer his debut in his first game in charge of the Netherlands.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s rasping eighth-minute drive drew Dutch goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet into action before Virgil van Dijk deflected a Lingard shot wide on 17 minutes.
Jordan Pickford ensured Matthijs de Ligt’s speculative drive on 22 minutes did not hand the hosts an unlikely foothold – something more clinical finishing would have achieved, Jordan Henderson glancing a Kieran Trippier free-kick wide 10 minutes later.
Jordan Henderson captained England in Amsterdam
A dominant England were almost made to pay for their profligacy when Bas Dost headed a Memphis Depay corner over five minutes before the interval, and the in-form Lyon forward drew a save from Pickford in stoppage-time.
England continued in the same vein after the break, though, and their exuberant display should have yielded a penalty on 52 minutes, but Stefan de Vrij’s clear trip on Marcus Rashford went unpunished.
Marcus Rashford was denied a penalty in the second half
A minute later, Raheem Sterling and Henderson got in each others’ way while trying to convert Harry Maguire’s knockdown in the area, but the English pressure soon told.
Pickford and Oxlade-Chamberlain combined to release Danny Rose down the left and when his cross was cleared to the edge of the area, Lingard kept his head to stroke the ball home.
Lingard’s winner secured England a first win away over the Netherlands since 1969
Falling behind kicked the Dutch into gear but a comeback never materialised as Dost’s scuffed shot on 63 minutes and a late Depay free-kick were saved by Pickford.
Opta stats
This was England’s first win over the Netherlands since the 4-1 victory at Euro 1996.
England are unbeaten in their last seven international games (W5 D2); their longest run since between June 2014 and October 2015 under Roy Hodgson (15 games).
England haven’t lost any of their seven games in Amsterdam (W3 D4), with their only ever away defeat against the Netherlands coming in Rotterdam in October 1993.
England have kept five consecutive clean sheets for the first time since October 2014 (also a run of five, under Roy Hodgson).
Jesse Lingard’s goal was his first for the England senior side, on what was his ninth appearance since debuting in October 2016 (v Malta).
The managers
Gareth Southgate: “It was a good test for us, we came away from home and controlled the game. We used the ball really well for 60-65 minutes, maybe more quality in final third was required but we were very solid. We had some good play up to that final ball.”
Gareth Southgate said he learnt a lot from England’s win over the Netherlands and was pleased with the performance of certain players asked to play in unfamiliar roles.
Gareth Southgate says he learnt awon lot from England’s win over the Netherlands and was pleased with the performance of certain players asked to play in unfamiliar roles
Ronald Koeman: “”Defensively we played quite well, but didn’t create many chances and we made some mistakes as well. Clearly there is a difference in quality between the Netherlands and England. You always hope for a match in which you perform better and create more chances (than this).”
Man of the Match – Jesse Lingard
Marcus Rashford tormented the Dutch defence all evening but the contribution of his Manchester United team-mate was telling.
For all of their dominance, England looked on course for a disappointing stalemate until Lingard transferred his impressive club form to the international stage. It capped an encouraging performance for England and on a personal level for Lingard as he did more than enough to reinforce Southgate’s faith.
