England vs. Netherlands: Winners and Losers from International Friendly
England slumped to a disappointing 2-1 loss to the Netherlands at Wembley on Tuesday, firmly killing the buzz generated by the dramatic comeback victory over Germany on Saturday. Are the Three Lions good or not? It seems we can’t tell, and the players don’t really know either.
Jamie Vardy finished a brilliant team move to put the hosts ahead just before half-time, but in the second half Danny Rose gave away a penalty which debutant Vincent Janssen converted. Luciano Narsingh then stabbed home after Janssen bundled Phil Jagielka over in the box.
Here, B/R picks its winners and losers from the game.
Winner: Jamie Vardy, England
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“Well, maybe, you never know. Hopefully,” Jamie Vardy told Squawka this week when asked if he thought he’d be going to Euro 2016. There’s no “maybe” about it, Jamie, you’re going; you’ve earned your spot.
The 29-year-old put the finishing touch on a superb England move at the end of the first half, tapping home Kyle Walker’s low ball into the box. It’s a goal that took his tally to two in this international break, and the feat has won any lingering doubters over.
His directness, speed and on-the-shoulder running provide a unique skill set in the England camp, and he’s proved he can do the damage against top-tier opposition.
Loser: The Non-Spurs Players in England’s Set-Up
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A very popular strategy for Euro 2016 involves playing as many Tottenham Hotspur players as physically possible. Ride the momentum of a great young side into the tournament. Why not?
Well, this result works in favour of that ploy; after watching a Spurs-inspired England play Germany off the Park in Berlin on Saturday, this flat performance represented a stark comedown.
Jamie Vardy was good and Danny Drinkwater handled his debut well, but it’s clear which club’s players manager Roy Hodgson needs to utilise if he wants his team to flow. This loss to the Netherlands is a blow to non-Spurs players in the set-up; many of them were given their chance at Wembley on Tuesday and didn’t impress.
Winner: Vincent Janssen, Netherlands
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For Vincent Janssen, Tuesday represented the next step in a truly remarkable campaign. His first international goal on his international debut, sent into the top corner expertly from the penalty spot, will be a moment he’ll never forget.
This season he made the step from Jupiler League to the Eredivisie, and heading into the international break he sat atop the league’s goal-scoring charts with 20 goals. He’s contributed 39 percent of AZ Alkmaar’s total of 51 goals this season, per WhoScored.com.
He also assisted Luciano Narsingh for the Oranje’s winner (albeit following a foul on Phil Jagielka in the buildup), completing a dream night.
Loser: Danny Rose, England
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Danny Rose had an eventful evening, and his topsy-turvy 58 minutes will leave Roy Hodgson extremely reluctant to trust him as his first-choice left-back.
After blowing Germany away on his debut, putting together a brilliant performance in every third, this was a real disappointment. An iffy first 20 minutes gave way to a strong end to the second half—in which Rose created two chances—but early in the second half he gave away a silly penalty and allowed the Dutch a route back into the game.
A cross struck his arm in the box and yes, he was just a few yards from it, but his arm was correctly deemed as in an unnatural position, and Vincent Janssen did the rest. Eight minutes later Nathaniel Clyne replaced him, leaving Rose's international position clouded in obscurity with very little time left to clear the waters.
Winner: John Stones, England
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John Stones didn’t play a perfect game, but he did offer England fans a glimpse of one of the best parts of his game: the scything long pass.
In the buildup to the opening goal, Stones played a brilliant ball between the lines to find James Milner high up on the left. From there, the ball was worked inside and converted by Jamie Vardy. He played another similar pass later on, too, setting up another chance for the Three Lions.
If England anticipate playing against deep-set teams and low blocks at Euro 2016—particularly in the group stages—then Stones just set himself apart as a potential playmaker in the back line. The way he moves play forward so quickly is an asset waiting to be used.
