England Falls In Nations League to Hungary

A weary England side sleepwalked to a 1-0 Nations League defeat to Hungary on Saturday. Players are showing the strain of the now completed club season as fatigue influences the outcome of these pseudo-competitive Nations League matches. England right back Trent Alexander-Arnold, for example, played his 47th club match of the season in Liverpool’s Champions League final loss just one week before starting versus Hungary. Hungary’s second half penalty kick proved enough as FIFA’s 40th ranked side beat the English for the first time in 60 years. A surreal atmosphere in Budapest saw England players booed by schoolchildren when the players knelt in their traditional anti-racism gesture before the match. The match was initially scheduled to be played behind closed doors as penalty for previous racist behavior by the Hungarian crowd before the decision to fill half the capacity with schoolchildren. The lackluster match which ensued was otherwise notable only for the international debuts of West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen and Leicester’s James Justin. Bowen injected some energy to the dreary match. Justin, the oft injured defender, was replaced at halftime after picking up a knock. England heads to Munich to face Germany in a Nations League match as the two clubs meet for the first time since England defeated their European rival in the Euro Round of Sixteen last year. Germany has not lost in the 10 matches since that Euro defeat at Wembley. German Manager Hansi Flick will need to decide which Chelsea forward, Timo Werner or Kai Havertz, starts for his side. Departing Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger remains a fixture in Germany's back line while Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan should see action in the midfield. Phil Foden remains sidelined for England due to a Covid diagnosis. Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi may return from injury. Raheem Sterling should be available to liven England’s attack after the Manchester City star missed the Hungary game due to illness.