The English national football team started the Nations League with a bitter defeat. In the Puskas Arena in Budapest, promoted Hungary defeated the European Championship runners-up 1-0 (0-0), so Gareth Southgate’s team was under pressure early on. On Tuesday (8.45 p.m., ZDF) the Three Lions in Munich will face the German selection. Lithuania lost 2-0 (0-1) at home to Luxembourg, Armenia beat Ireland 1-0 (0-0), Finland and Bosnia-Herzegovina drew 1-1 (1-0).
Around 30,000 spectators – mostly school children – watched a long uneventful game in Budapest. Due to racist insults in the past, the Hungarian association was punished in the form of ghost games. According to the regulations of the European football union Uefa, children up to the age of 14 are allowed into the stadium for games that are closed to the public if they are invited and accompanied by an adult.
England have more of the game, the Hungarian selection the more dangerous chances
When the English team got on their knees just before kick-off as usual in a sign against racism, boos could be heard. Because of the discriminatory behavior of its fans in the European Championship games against Portugal, France and Germany, Hungary’s national team was sentenced to two Uefa home duty games without spectators. A probation period of two years applies to a third game. The English will also have to play their first home game in the Nations League on June 11 in Wolverhampton against Italy without a spectator. The association was sentenced to do this a year ago because of the riots surrounding the European Championship final.
Decisive goal: Dominik Szoboszlai converts a penalty kick.
(Photo: Bernadett Szabo/Reuters)
England had more of the game, but the Hungarian selection, which was equipped with many Bundesliga professionals, had more dangerous chances. Dominik Szoboszlai from DFB Cup winners RB Leipzig finally converted a questionable penalty kick into the lead for the outsider, who could have even done better through former Bremen player Laszlo Kleinheisler (81st minute). Hungary, 40th in the world rankings, is in the top division of the Nations League for the first time and set a first exclamation mark with the win. On Saturday next week, the underdog will face the DFB selection.