Written by Isaac Dodshon
England go into this game as favourites, after a week which has seen a further three England players unavailable until the nations league fixtures due to breaching covid-19 regulations amid the international break, leaving Gareth Southgate furious. Meanwhile, Wales are faced with the situation where they are without Gareth Bale, who is still returning to full fitness, and Aaron Ramsey, who left his Covid-bubble too late at Juventus to be available for the fixture.
Lineups
England manager Gareth Southgate says there is “no such thing as a friendly” while Wales boss Ryan Giggs said it is “always a big game” with the home nations sides to meet on Thursday.
England and Wales have not met since Euro 2016 when the Three Lions won a group game 2-1 in Lens.
England have four victories and a draw in their last five games, while Wales are unbeaten in last eight matches.
However, Giggs said his “priority” was the Nations League tournament.
The Teams are out and kick off is nearly upon us
1′ – KICK OFF – We are underway at an empty Wembley stadium with both teams showing supporting the Black Lives Matter movement by taking the knee. Who will come out on top between Gareth Southgate and Ryan Giggs? Let’s find out.
4′ – Wales are the first of the two sides to have an attack as Moore reaches a long ball before laying the ball off to Tyler Roberts who wins a corner. The subsequent corner is wasted as it is cleared at the near post by Tyrone Mings
7′ – England earn their first corner of the game and waste theirs as well with Keane getting ahead of team mate Calvert-Lewin and failing to direct the ball towards the goal.
11′ – Neither side has properly stamped their authority on the match yet with no clear chances falling to either side.
13′ – CHANCE – Calvert-Lewin finds himself round the keeper after a lovely through ball from Kalvin Phillips but he fails to get any power on the shot with the ball easily cleared.
Embed from Getty Images15′ – Wales are dealing well with their possession so far but, despite getting close to England’s box on a few occasions, are yet to create a concrete chance in this game.
20′ – Tyler Roberts wins a free kick in a decent position for Wales after a pacey, direct dribble into the England half.
21′ – The subsequent free kick is defended well by England but Wales test debutant Saka with another cross as the 19 year old heads the ball to the centre of the box giving Moore Wales’ first chance of the game as he volleys the ball wide from a position where he should’ve tested the gloves of Nick Pope.
26′ – GOAL – Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Jack Grealish finds himself on the right wing and puts in a cross for Calvert- Lewin who stoops in and heads in a debut goal, putting the Three Lions into the lead. What a moment for the Premier League top goalscorer.
28′ – Wales quickly come close to equalising with Chris Mepham directing a strong header straight at Pope from a corner.
30′ – Moore beats Keane to a long ball with only the keeper to beat but Pope is quickly out to dive over the ball before Moore can get his shot away.
31′ – Moore goes down for treatment after a busy first half so far for him, after being the focal point of every Wales attack so far.
37′ – Saka gets his first chance to attack for the first time in the game and manages to win England a corner after his cross is blocked.
38′ – The following corner results in the ball falling in the box to Saka, but he fails to grab a debut goal before Trippier crosses the ball back into the box
39′ – Moore is down for the second time in the game and it looks like his game will be over, as Giggs has Neco Williams.
40′ – SUBSTITUTION – Moore off, Neco Williams on.
42′ YELLOW CARD – Chris Roberts receives the first booking of the game after a hard challenge on teenage debutant, Bukayo Saka.
45′ – TWO MINUTES OF INJURY TIME TO FOLLOW
HT ENGLAND 1-0 WALES
England end the first half in the lead after a timid first half where chances were few and far between.
SECOND HALF
46′ – WALES SUBSTITUTIONS
Morell off, Levitt on
Rodon off, Cabango on
46′ Ings kicks off the second half for England. Can they add to their first half goal, or will Wales find a way back into the game?
48′ – The first shot of the second half comes from Wales as Tyler Roberts fires wide of the goal. He’ll be disappointed he didn’t manage to shoot on target.
53′ GOAL – CONNOR COADY – ENGLAND 2-0 WALES
Embed from Getty ImagesTrippier whips in a free kick from a deep position on the right wing, managing to avoid the Wales defenders and finding Connor Coady at the back post who volleys the ball home.
57′ YELLOW CARD – ETHAN AMPADU
58′ ENGLAND SUBSTITUTIONS
Calvert-Lewin off, Mount on
Trippier off, Reece James on
Gomez off, Mings off
Reece James making his England debut off the bench.
61′ – YELLOW CARD
It’s 7 on 7 here, as Levitt takes Winks down and receives Wales’ third yellow card of the game.
62′ WALES SUBSTITUTION
Ampadu off, Vaulks on
63′ – GOAL – DANNY INGS – ENGLAND 3-0 WALES
An England corner finds Mings who towers at the back post who nods the ball down to Ings who acrobatically scores an overhead kick to put the game beyond doubt for the Three lions. What a way to score your first goal for England.
70′ – WHAT A SAVE FROM WAYNE HENNESSEY
An England advantage leads to Saka getting a deflected shot inside the box that Hennessey matches with a strong right hand. Saka still looking to become the fourth player of the day to get their first goal for England.
73′ WALES SUBSTITUTION
C.Roberts off, Gunter on
J.Williams off, Smith on
Gunter receives his 97th cap
76′ ENGLAND SUBSTITUTIONS
Grealish off, Barnes on
Winks off, Ward-Prowse on
Saka off, Maitland-Niles on
Barnes becomes the fourth England player on the night to be given their debut.
81′- Harvey Barnes wins England a free kick as he spins round Mepham, however, the following free kick is wasted as there is a foul on a Wales player.
83′ – Ings wants a second and he nearly gets it with a curled effort towards the top tight-hand corner which Hennessey gets a touch on to put it out for an England corner which finds Mings who heads wide from close range.
86′ – Mepham receives treatment from a tackle. This game looks be be done and dusted.
90′ – TWO MINUTES OF INJURY TIME TO FOLLOW
90+2′ James Ward-Prowse fires a shot towards Hennessey from outside the box but the Welshman manages to collect the ball, and that will probably be it for tonight’s game.
FT ENGLAND 3-0 WALES
Embed from Getty ImagesEngland become the first side to beat Ryan Giggs’ Wales side for 15 months and continue their streak of clean sheets, now going 6 games without conceding a goal. Southgate will be happy after a week where he lost players due to Covid-controversy as the players left in the England squad were good enough to put Wales to the sword in a dominant display.
