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England national football team
International Friendlies
Mar 29, 2016 at 8pm UK
 
Netherlands national football team

1-2

Vardy (41')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Janssen (51' pen.), Narsingh (77')

Live Commentary: England 1-2 Netherlands - as it happened

Relive Netherlands' 2-1 win over England as Roy Hodgson's side squander a one-goal lead to fall to just their second defeat since the World Cup.
2

England slumped to just their second defeat since the World Cup this evening as Netherlands came from behind to win 2-1 at Wembley.

Jamie Vardy opened the scoring for the home side with just four minutes remaining in the first half, but Vincent Janssen marked his full debut for the visitors by levelling things up from the spot shortly after the interval.

Janssen was involved in the winner too as he nudged Phil Jagielka off the ball before setting up Luciano Narsingh to fire home at the back post.

Find out how all of the action unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute coverage below.


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Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's international friendly between England and Netherlands at Wembley. Both sides had contrasting results in the first match of their respective Easter double-headers, and tonight is another chance for the hosts to build towards Euro 2016 this summer. Let's start with a look at the two teams on show...

ENGLAND STARTING XI: Forster; Walker, Smalling, Stones, Rose; Drinkwater, Milner, Vardy, Barkley, Lallana; Sturridge
Subs: Clyne, Heaton, Walcott, Cahill, Jagielka, Henderson, Dier, Kane, Alli, Welbeck

While we're waiting for the Dutch to release their team news, let's first take a look at that England starting XI, and the first thing to note is that there is a debut for Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater. He has been a key cog in the Foxes' remarkable season this term and is tonight being rewarded with his international bow at the age of 26, although you'd have to think that he is still very much a fringe player in terms of the Euro 2016 squad. Even so, a good performance tonight could well give Roy Hodgson extra to think about.

Jamie Vardy joins his Leicester teammate in the starting XI, although he is expected to play in a wider role than he is used to at the King Power Stadium. That is due to the presence of Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, who today makes his first England start since September 2014 following such a long spell out through injuries. Roy Hodgson said in the build-up to this one that the striker is getting back to his best, though, and if he can stay fit until the end of the season then you'd have to think he will be part of the Euro 2016 squad.

In all, Roy Hodgson has made eight changes to the side that started Saturday's remarkable victory over Germany, including the Tottenham trio of Dele Alli, Harry Kane and Eric Dier all dropping out. Spurs do still boast a couple of representatives in the team, though, with Rose one of only three players to keep his place from Berlin and Walker joining him on the opposite side of the defence. Indeed, this could well be the back four that we see at the Euros, with many calling for Hodgson to have one eye on the future and go with Smalling and Stones in the middle.

Behind them, Jack Butland's Euro 2016-ending injury against Germany, coupled with Hart's absence through injury too, means that Fraser Forster starts between the sticks ahead of Heaton as expected. Lallana and Smalling are the other two to keep their place from the win over Germany, and tonight is also a big opportunity for Ross Barkley with the uncertain that surrounds Wayne Rooney's place in the starting lineup at the moment. Liverpool's James Milner will have the honour of leading his side out for the first time, with Rooney injured and vice-captain Cahill on the bench.

A proud night for the Foxes, and deservedly so...



NETHERLANDS STARTING XI: Zoet; Veltman, Bruma, Blind, Willems; Wijnaldum, Bazoer, Afellay; Promes, Janssen, Memphis

Well, it isn't quite the most fearsome Netherlands starting XI that you will have ever seen, with a whole bunch of big names missing from it. Sneijder picked up a calf injury against France last time out so misses out, while Arjen Robben, who scored a brace the last time these two sides met and is one of only three non-English players to have scored at the new Wembley for club and country is not in the squad, much to England's relief I'm sure.

Danny Blind has made six changes overall to the team that was beaten by France including, like England, an enforced switch between the sticks. Cillessen suffered a broken nose in Amsterdam and so is replaced by Zoet this evening, although the back four tonight all started last time out too. The team sheet suggests that there will be a change of formation, though, with four at the back rather than five.

There are plenty of changes in front of the defence, which incidentally includes Danny Blind's son, Manchester United's Daley Blind. England fans will certainly be familiar with a number of them, including Blind's teammate at Old Trafford Memphis Depay. It is safe to say that things haven't exactly gone to plan for him in England so far, with his best performances coming on the European stage, so this is a good chance for him to prove a bit of a point tonight.

Promes is the only player in front of the defence to keep his place from the France starting lineup, although Stoke's Ibrahim Afellay does start having come off the bench to score on Friday night. He is joined in the midfield by Bazoer and fellow Premier League player Georginio Wijnaldum. Further forward, Janssen is expected to lead the line in what appears to be a 4-3-3 formation from Blind.

Not exactly a star-studded Netherlands team, then, and they will be coming up against an England side full of confidence following their recent results. There really is only one place to start when it comes to tonight's hosts, and that is their 3-2 win over Germany on Saturday night. Roy Hodgson's side looked on course for a comfortable defeat when they fell two goals down with just over half an hour to go, but goals from Kane, Vardy and Dier saw them come back to pull off a memorable victory over the world champions in their own back yard.

The injury to Butland was a blow from that game, but the positives far outweighed the negatives. It was a particularly fruitful night for Tottenham players, with Alli arguably the best player on the park, Kane and Dier both scoring and Rose making his debut. The result is one that England fans won't forget in a long time, but there should also be an air of caution about getting too carried away - something that has happened far too often for England ahead of major tournaments.

Even so, their build-up to Euro 2016 could not have gone too much better. They were the most dominant team in all of qualifying for the tournament, winning all 10 of their matches to top Group E and post the only 100% record. They also boasted the second-best defence having conceded only three goals in their 10 games, while only Poland scored more at the other end, leaving England with the best goal difference of any team in qualifying.

The momentum was slowed somewhat by a defeat to Spain in their first friendly after qualifying, but back-to-back wins over France and Germany have served to restore some feel good factor to England. There is certainly no shame in losing to the reigning European champions on their own soil, so the fact that England's defeat to Spain is their only won in their last 18 matches - stretching back to the disappointing 2014 World Cup - is an impressive record.

They have won 14 of those games too, including seven of their last eight, with the only exception being that defeat in Spain. Since their goalless draw with the Republic of Ireland last June, England have scored at least twice in each of those seven wins, and they have been tight at the other end too, particularly at home. They have conceded just one goal in their last nine home games, with that coming in November 2014 in a 3-1 victory over Slovenia.

They have kept four clean sheets in a row at home since that game, and eight in the nine Wembley outings since a 1-0 defeat to Germany in November 2013. That was also the last time that they conceded a goal in a home friendly, making it 411 minutes since Per Mertesacker scored the winner in that match. They have only lost one of their 11 friendlies since that defeat to the Germans, including wins in their last two, and another victory tonight would make it three in a row in friendlies for the first time since 2012.

England's record at Wembley under Roy Hodgson is highly impressive, with the manager suffering just two defeats from 20 matches there since taking over. Those came in back-to-back friendlies against Chile and Germany back in November 2013, but aside from that blip he has won 16 and drawn two of his outings here. England as a team have won each of their last nine home games, which is their longest run since 11 in a row between 2008 and 2010.

Netherlands are visiting something of a fortress tonight, then, and while they have a fine record against England, which I will talk about more a little later, this is by no means the best shape that they have been in. While England are building up to Euro 2016, the Oranje have a summer of friendlies to look forward to having failed to qualify for the tournament following some dreadful form in their group.

They finished fourth in Group A of qualifying, a full nine points behind leaders Czech Republic and seven and five off Iceland and Turkey respectively - so they weren't even particularly close to reaching the finals. It is a far cry from the form that saw them finish third at the 2014 World Cup, with their only victories in qualifying coming home and away against the bottom two sides in the group - Kazakhstan and Latvia.

They managed just one point from the remaining six games against the teams who finished above them in the standings, while those matches against Kazakhstan and Latvia also provided 13 of their 17 goals in qualifying. They were beaten home and away by both Czech Republic and Iceland and managed a draw and a defeat at the hands of Turkey.

They come into this match having lost five of their last eight outings, while since the World Cup they have failed to win 10 of their 16 games and have not won two consecutive matches in a row. There have at least been plenty of goals recently, though - Holland's last three games have all ended 3-2, with Blind's side winning one of those and losing the other two.

The most recent of those came on Friday night as they played out a dramatic encounter against France in Amsterdam, with the Euro 2016 hosts eventually running out 3-2 winners. Griezmann and Giroud had given France a 2-0 lead, but goals from Luuk De Jong and an 86th-minute strike from Afellay appeared to have rescued a draw for Netherlands. However, that was not to be at Matuidi put France back ahead almost immediately, and this time Les Bleus were able to hold on for the win.

That match was overshadowed by the death of the great Johan Cruyff just a day earlier, though, with Netherlands' greatest ever player losing his battle with cancer. Aside from being a genius on the field, who helped revolutionise the way the game was played with his Total Football, Cruyff was hugely influential off it. He was instrumental in the Barcelona academy that has since provided some of the greatest players of the modern era, and his name must certainly be mentioned when discussing the most important individuals to have ever graced the sport.

Johan Cruyff scores for Holland against Argentina on June 26, 1974.© Getty Images


More tributes will be made to the great man this evening, and Netherlands will be hopeful of paying their own tribute by picking up a victory. However, they have failed to win 12 of their last 16 away friendlies dating back to March 2008, although one of those four wins did come against England at Wembley, while another was also on British soil in their most recent away friendly - a 3-2 victory against Wales. Their form is perhaps best summed up by the fact that they have lost four of their last six friendlies, which is the same number as they lost in 34 before that.

PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Wembley, which means it is time for a prediction! England should be flying going into this match, while Netherlands will be far from it after their recent form. Everything points to a home win, but it wouldn't be the first time that England flatter to deceive if they were to lose this game! Even so, the hoses should have enough to pick up a 2-0 victory this evening.

Netherlands have had England's number down the years, though, going unbeaten in the last six meetings with the Three Lions since their famous 4-1 defeat at Euro 96. They have won two and drawn four in that time, while the record can be stretched further back to just one loss in the last 12 meetings - a spell that includes four wins and seven draws.

Indeed, England have not won any of their previous five home games against tonight's opposition, with that comprehensive win at Euro '96 technically counting as a neutral venue. The most recent meeting here came in February 2012, and there was more drama between the sides as England came back from two goals down in the final five minutes, only to then conceded again in the 92nd-minute as Robben's brace contributed to a 3-2 victory for Netherlands over an England side with Stuart Pearce at the helm and Scott Parker as captain.

This will be a particularly important night for many of the England players who are still unsure of their place at Euro 2016, with chances to impress Roy Hodgson becoming very limited now. The Three Lions have been drawn in a Euro 2016 group alongside Russia, Wales and Slovakia, and it is one that they will expect to progress from.

Right, the players are out and the anthems have been sung and we're almost ready to go at Wembley now. Before kickoff, though, there will be a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the Brussels terrorist attacks last week.



KICKOFF: Following an impeccably observed silence, England get us underway at Wembley looking to back up that win over Germany.

Vardy shows an early glimpse of his enthusiasm as Willems gives the ball away, which the Leicester man immediately pounces on. He wins an early corner, but it swings out of play from Milner.

A dodgy moment for Forster as he takes a little too long in possession and is closed down. He does get the ball away, but it puts his defence under pressure and England concede a free kick inside their own half which comes to nothing.

Veltman skips past and just about gets into the box before drawing a sliding challenge from Rose. It is a dangerous one from the England full-back and he doesn't get the ball, but the referee points for a goal kick rather than a penalty. Rose can count himself a little lucky there.

Bruma comes across to make an important contribution here, getting a foot in to push the ball away from Vardy just as the striker was about to pull the trigger.

Shooting chance for Memphis as he escapes his marker from a throw-in, running into the box. He takes it down and tries a volley on the turn, but it is a difficult one that flies well off target.

England have just been a little sloppy in the opening exchanges of this match, both in attack and defence. No real chances for either side to speak of so far.

Wembley rises as one in the 14th minute to pay tribute to Johan Cruyff, who was synonymous with the shirt number. The arch is lit up in orange too as tributes are paid to one of the greatest of all time.

SAVE! The first shot on target of the night comes from the visitors as they sweep forward quickly. A pass inside finds Janssen in a bit of space and he strikes his effort firmly from just outside the box, but Forster holds on to it well.

Netherlands are carrying a threat when they come forward in this match, taking advantage of space behind England when the hosts come forward, particularly on Danny Rose's side.

Concern for Holland here as Promes goes down following a small clash with Rose, although it was the landing that appeared to do the damage. It looks as though it is a problem with his right knee.

Promes is back on and looks like he will be fine to continue here. Meanwhile England are still struggling to get into any real rhythm, particularly in the final third of the field. It just hasn't happened for the hosts so far.

England show a little more urgency in winning the ball back, with Sturridge, Milner and Vardy all fighting for it. It is all very scrappy, though, and possession doesn't last long for either side.

SAVE! Forster is again called into action as the ball breaks to Wijnaldum on the edge of the box and he curls it towards the bottom corner. It is a comfortable enough save from the England keeper, but he still has to turn it wide for a corner.

CHANCE! England finally create their first chance of the evening as Smalling wins the ball just inside the Dutch have which sparks a quick spell of passing. Rose is heavily involved before playing the final pass in to Vardy, who carries it into the box before lashing over the top.

At the other end Promes tries to fire a cross in towards Memphis that is sliced and for a second looks as though it might cause Forster problems, but it flies over the top.

The visitors make another break forward, this time down the left flank, and Afellay does well to squeeze a cross into the middle. However, it is cleared away by Stones, who eventually gets it clear.

CHANCE! Another opening for England as Lallana, Milner and Rose combine down the left. The latter pulls a low cross back into the middle for Sturridge in space, but his shot is blocked by Bruma.

OFF THE LINE! Again England come close as a corner is drifted into the middle towards Barkley, who goes for a spectacular bicycle kick. He doesn't connect with it well, but the ball drops to Stones, who drags a low effort towards the bottom corner. Bruma is the man to clear it more of less off his own line, although there were two others who had it covered too.

This has been better from England in the last few minutes. It has taken them a while to get going tonight, but they are beginning to look a little more dangerous going forward now.

NETHERLANDS SUB: Promes never fully recovered from that knee injury and he will have to make way early here, with Luciano Narsingh coming on in his place.

CLOSE! England take a short free kick quickly and work it to Barkley, who turns his man well to take him into shooting space. He fires a low effort towards the bottom corner, but it goes a yard or so wide.

Good spell of pressure from the visitors as Willems puts a searching cross into the box that goes between the defence and goalkeeper. England quickly win it back and hit Holland on the break, but Milner's clipped delivery into the middle is cleared.

GOAL! England 1-0 Netherlands (Jamie Vardy)

Who else? Jamie Vardy gives England the lead at the end of a fine team move, planting a finish home from close range. The move starts at the back and goes down the left before the ball is worked in to Lallana just outside the area. He dummies a shot to lose his man before sliding a pass through for Walker, who in turn gives it inside for Vardy. It is a simple finish for the Leicester man from there as England draw first blood at Wembley.

England have been much improved since the half-hour mark in this game, but Hodgson is still not looking entirely pleased. Netherlands may feel a little hard done by having been the more threatening side for the majority of the first half, but it is England who are on top now.

There will be just the one added minute at the end of this first half.

HALF TIME: England 1-0 Netherlands

The referee brings an end to the first half at Wembley, and it is England who go into the break with the lead. They have not been at their best for the entirety of the half, but they improved in the final 15 minutes and eventually took advantage of their time on top to break the deadlock.

The goal came with just four minutes of the first half remaining, and it was comfortably the best move of the match as the hosts cut Holland apart. A number of players were involved before the ball reached Lallana, who provided a rare moment of quality in the final third to turn away from his man and play the ball through for the overlapping Walker. The full-back then knocked it back inside for Vardy, who was in the right place to tap home from close range.

Most of England's best moments came after the half-hour mark, with Daniel Sturridge and John Stones both being denied by Bruma blocks. The latter dragged an effort towards the bottom corner after the ball had dropped to him inside the box, but Bruma was the first of three man ready to stop the ball on the line. Moments earlier a good England move had teed up Sturridge with a chance, but the Liverpool striker fired his effort straight at the defender.

Barkley has also had an effort bounce narrowly past the post after a quick free kick had caught Netherlands out, while before Vardy opened the scoring he had lashed an effort over the top. For the opening half an hour, though, there was nowhere near enough tempo in the England play and it was the visitors who were looking like the most likely to break the deadlock.

England were sloppy both in the final third and defensively at times in that opening 30 minutes, and Netherlands twice got into decent shooting opportunities too easily. The first saw the visitors catch England on the break before Janssen saw his well-struck effort held by Forster, while the England keeper was also stretched in pushing away a Wijnaldum effort from just outside the area.

KICKOFF: Netherlands get us back underway for the second half as they look to get themselves back into the match in the coming 45 minutes.

SAVE! An early shot from the home side as a throw-in finds Sturridge inside the area, who holds off his marker before getting a shot away on the turn. The effort lacks a bit of power, though, and Zoet is able to get down and make the save.

SHOT! Barkley plays a one-two before driving forward from inside his own half all the way to the edge of the area. He almost overruns it but is able to just keep hold of it before leaving Lallana to curl one over the top.

PENALTY TO NETHERLANDS!

GOAL! England 1-1 Netherlands (Vincent Janssen, penalty)

The hosts level things up as Janssen marks his full debut with a fine penalty. Moments before the spot kick, Stones slipped to gift a chance to the striker, only for Forster to make an impressive one-handed stop. Netherlands keep hold of the ball, though, and a cross from the right strikes Rose on the arm leading the referee to point to the spot. It is perhaps a little harsh as Rose was so close, but it was an unnatural movement from the full-back so you can understand why it is given. Janssen then steps up and places the penalty into the top corner.

England look for an immediate response as Sturridge plays a clever pass to Milner, who reaches the byline and stands a cross up towards the back post. Vardy is challenging for it, but he can't climb above his man and the danger is cleared.

SAVE! Good pressure from Netherlands here as a few crosses in quick success need to be cleared. The ball eventually drops top Bazoer, who fires one towards goal from just outside the area that strikes Drinkwater on the way through. The deflection makes it difficult for Forster, but he reacts well to make the save and gather the ball at the second attempt.

Both teams are really pushing for a second goal now, and both look capable of getting it too. England are eager for a quick response to that penalty, while the goal has given Netherlands a timely boost.

Very important from Zoet as Barkley looks for an unmarked Sturridge at the back post, only for the keeper to come flying off his line and pluck the ball out of the air ahead of the striker.

YELLOW CARD! Bruma goes into the book for tripping Vardy after the England man had got to the ball first. No complaints there.

ENGLAND SUBS: England make their first couple of changes tonight as Sturridge and Rose are replaced by Theo Walcott and Nathaniel Clyne.

Clyne looks to make an immediate impact, but he might not want to see this one again! He comes forward well enough, but when the ball breaks to him outside the area his volley ends up in row Z.

SAVE! Almost a brilliant strike from Vardy as the ball breaks invitingly for him to have a go from range. He puts his laces right through it and can't catch it much better, but Zoet paws it over the top for a corner.

CHANCE! Really good defending from Blind to deny England a second here! Stones comes out of defence well and slides a pass in to Walcott, who looks to have space in the area. However, his low strike is blocked by Blind before it can test the keeper.

England have looked like the more dangerous of the two sides since Netherlands got their equaliser, and their second-half display has on the whole been more encouraging than their first-half performance so far.

CHANCE! Another chance from Walcott has he spins away from his man and bears down on goal. The angle is against him, but he only seems to have one thought in his mind and blazes his shot over the crossbar.

Milner clips a ball over the top for Walcott to race on to, and the Arsenal man is clipped inside the box by Willems, although it looked to be accidental and the referee says no penalty.

ENGLAND SUBS: Another two changes for England as Smalling and Lallana are replaced by Phil Jagielka and Harry Kane, the latter of whom gets a huge reception from the England fans.

Bright play from Kane moments after coming on as he darts down the right channel and is found by Milner. He is tracked all the way, though, and England win another corner.

Stokes flicks the corner on and Kane takes it under control, but before he can pull the trigger, Bruma gets an important challenge in.

Not for the first time tonight Zoet comes off his line to meet a cross after Walker had beaten Willems all ends up. Zoet only gets a small touch on it, but the referee relieves the danger by blowing for a foul.

GOAL! England 1-2 Netherlands (Luciano Narsingh)

Netherlands take the lead to stun Wembley! Bazoer slides a pass into the box which Jagielka looks to have under control, but he is shoved off it by Janssen. The hosts are adamant that it should be a free kick, and they have a point, but Janssen plays on to reach the byline and pick out Narsingh at the back post. It is not the easiest chance for the Netherlands sub, but he keeps his composure to finish past Forster.

That goal came from nothing really, and now England have a little over 10 minutes to get themselves back into this match. Defeat here would really harm the momentum they got from that Germany victory.

There was a Netherlands change in the aftermath of that goal too, with Bazoer replaced by Marco van Ginkel.

ENGLAND SUB: England make a change of their own as Dele Alli comes on in place of Milner.

NETHERLANDS SUB: Another change from the visitors too, with Patrick van Aanholt replacing Willems.

CLOSE! Good work from Kane as he skips away from his man before firing a low strike towards goal from around 25 yards that zips wide of the near post.

ENGLAND SUB: Can he be the hero once again? Hodgson turns to Eric Dier late on to replace debutant Drinkwater.

Only a few minutes remain for England to get themselves back into this match. They have only ever lost twice at Wembley under Roy Hodgson, but are on course for a third defeat as things stand here.

There is late concern for Stones here as he strides out of defence before diving in to try to keep hold of the ball, perhaps overstretching and being caught. England - and Everton - will hope that is just an impact injury.

There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this match.

NETHERLANDS SUB: A late change for the hosts as they look to hold out in the closing stages, with Jordy Clasie replacing Janssen.

FULL TIME: England 1-2 Netherlands

A predictable bump down to earth for England after that win over Germany? Just a few days after beating the world champions they lose to a side who failed to qualify for Euro 2016, although they will be able to draw positives from the performance. Ultimately, though, it is only a third home defeat for Hodgson during his time in charge, as goals from Janssen and Narsingh saw the Dutch come from behind after Vardy had opened the scoring for the hosts.

That is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as the wind is taken out of England's sails by Netherlands, who come from behind to win 2-1 at Wembley. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!

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