Mason Mount’s shot clipped Toby Alderweireld’s boot and looped over Simon Mignolet, powerless as he watched it arc into goal.
You’d take it, though, yes, if this was a World Cup knock-out game? You’d take a spawny win over the number one team in the world, a team that hadn’t previously lost for 13 games, stretching back across two years.
You might even take the very soft penalty that got you level, Jordan Henderson collapsing to the turf over what looked a very mild tug on his shoulder. And certainly you would take the second-half performance which showed great resilience and organisation against an opponent with the potential to inflict serious damage.
Mason Mount (middle) scored a fortunate winner as England beat Belgium 2-1 at Wembley in their Nations League clash
Mount’s strike took a wicked deflection off of Spurs defender Toby Aldeweireld and looped beyond Simon Mignolet in goal
In the first-half Belgium looked capable of taking the game away from England; in the second, they ran up against a brick wall. Kyle Walker was outstanding, the recently maligned Harry Maguire equally solid. England guarded the back line well, too, largely through Declan Rice. And, yes, this was a Belgium team without Eden Hazard.
Against that, England had no Raheem Sterling and were already 2-1 ahead when Harry Kane was introduced. In the circumstances, it was a display that spoke more to the character of the team. Gareth Southgate will know England’s performance level can be better than this; equally he will know the same cannot be said of the result. Beating Belgium in a competitive game is as much a statement as the victory over Spain in this competition almost two years ago.
And that’s how it goes sometimes. You get the breaks. Belgium will feel they shouldn’t have lost, but they got bogged down after half-time and England took advantage. They’re quite opportunistic under Southgate. It’s one of their strengths. They win games that previous generations might have lost.
There were times when Belgium seemed appreciably superior, when Kevin De Bruyne’s passing range was so impressive, we felt the old questions rising in our throats. Where is our one like that? Why don’t we produce players like him? Then England found a way to win, regardless. A bit of luck, granted, but no little toil too. And it’s pointless playing better than this, and losing – which has often been the English way.
The win sees Gareth Southgate (above)’s side move above Belgium in the Nations League table, a point clear of their rivals
Kevin De Bruyne (left) was hauled off by Roberto Martinez (middle) as the visitors struggled to stamp their authority
But not on Sunday. Southgate’s England found a way to underwhelm against the number one team in the world, yet still emerge victorious. And make no mistake, there’s an art in that. When Germany used to do it, we were in awe.
For while the winning goal was blessed with good fortune, the build up contained much to admire. There was a fine crossfield diagonal from Trent Alexander-Arnold which was kept in by Kieran Trippier. He was looking to pick out Mount in a shooting position, did so with an intelligent header and once the Chelsea man had the ball at his feet, he was always going to cut inside and have a pop. When he did it spiralled viciously off Alderweireld’s boot, stranding Mignolet, and looping into the net.
After that, England resisted Belgium’s pressure impressively although withdrawing De Bruyne after 66 minutes – nearly putting in Yannick Carrasco for an equaliser was his final contribution – clearly helped. It says something that with the minutes ticking away it was Marcus Rashford MBE, not Romelu Lukaku ex-MU, that had the best chance to score, a shot from range that travelled narrowly over. Kane could have done more with a header, too.
The Nations League match was played at an empty Wembley Stadium despite calls in the Great Britain to bring fans back in
Of course, there was a significant period of the first-half when it looked as if the game might get away from England. The Belgians were more fluid, better organised, and inventive, much as they had been at the World Cup in 2018. Both meetings in Russia came with caveats, the first a dead rubber after the countries had progressed from the group, the second a battle for an unloved third place. For all the limitations of the UEFA Nations League as an event, in a strange way this had more about it. There is a trophy to be won. And both sets of players are short of trophies at international level.
So Belgium’s early dominance was a worry. In the third minute, Youri Tielemans hit a sublime crossfield pass into the path of De Bruyne, which Rice had to be at his most alert to cut out. Soon after, Carrasco found Timothy Castagne on the overlap, his cross picking out Lukaku, who should have done more with his header.
The pressure was building, however, and in the 15th minute England snapped. Eric Dier dived in on Lukaku, a slide tackle in the penalty area. Do that and you’ve got to come out with the ball, or at least noticeably get a fair portion of it. Dier did neither. He did send Lukaku tumbling, though, and referee Tobias Stieler of Germany appeared to get advice to point to the spot, despite initial reluctance.
Lukaku stepped up with one of those pitty-pat tiny footsteps runs and sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way. For the next 20 minutes or so, England fought to stay in the game. De Bruyne had a shot saved by Pickford, Thomas Meunier had one that went wide. Soon after Rice was booked for a foul on Axel Witsel. It was beginning to slip away from England.
Belgium took the lead via Romelu Lukaku’s early penalty following Eric Dier’s clumsy foul on the Inter Milan striker
Roberto Martinez’s side had a first-half goal by Yannick Carrasco ruled out for offside as they had the better opportunities
So it came as no small relief when referee Stieler gave his second penalty of the night and breathed life into what was an increasingly one-sided encounter. Meunier tugged Henderson’s shoulder and he went to ground with an audible cry.
It is often said that foreign players are accused of tricking referees while a blind eye is turned to domestic transgressions, so in the interests of balance let’s be plain: it looked soft. There was a foul in there but whether it was enough to cause Henderson’s dramatic reaction is another matter.
Indeed, after the game Meunier could be seen miming the incident, including the theatrical tumble, in front of Henderson in a way that is best described as joking but meaning it. They both left smiling, although Meunier’s laughter was probably hollow.
England equalised late in the first-half at Wembley through Marcus Rashford’s spot kick as he found the roof of the net
England’s penalty came after Thomas Meunier held back Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson at a corner kick
At the time, England were not getting back in that game. The penalty was their first and only shot of the half. Marcus Rashford stepped up and levelled the scores.
Given his prowess from the spot for England, it can be presumed he would have quite the record for Manchester United, too, were it not for a certain Bruno Fernandes.
With two minutes remaining before half-time, Carrasco broke on the right and Kieran Trippier did well to put him off as his shot flew wide. It was Belgium’s seventh chance in 45 minutes. England can’t always rely on grit and good fortune like that but, once in a while, it’s nice to be the Germans.
Look at Sportsmail’s minute-by-minute coverage of the England win with SPENCER MORGAN.