Is getting relegated and looking like you'll never score another goal two months before the World Cup bad? Feels like that might be bad.
Italy 1-0 England: Southgate’s side relegated after another drab Nations League effortEngland have suffered the ignominy of relegation from the top tier of the UEFA Nations League after another lacklustre display in Milan resulted in a 1-0 defeat to Italy.
Of more pressing concern, though, will be just how poor Gareth Southgate’s side look so close to the World Cup. Their only goal in five Nations League games was a penalty; the only other team in the whole competition without a single non-penalty goal to their names is San Marino. The Euro 2020 finalists had played out a forgettable goalless draw behind closed doors in June and the first half in Milan somehow managed to be even more dreary as England toiled against the absentee-hit Azzurri.
Bukayo Saka, named England men’s player of the year earlier in the day, was deployed at left wing-back at San Siro, where Eric Dier won his first cap since November 2020 among six alterations from the Hungary humbling. A combination of Nick Pope, deputising for the injured Jordan Pickford, and the woodwork denied the West Ham striker’s powerful header at his near post before the frontman struck wide from distance.
Phil Foden threw his hands in the air in frustration as Kane took a shot from an acute angle when he was free at the back post as the visitors’ disjointed display continued.