AIDY BOOTHROYD hopes this embarrassing slip-up to minnows Andorra serves as a warning to his Young Lions for the Euros next year.
His much-changed England team looked to have got away with it on a plastic pitch when supersub Eddie Nketiah struck late to equal Alan Shearer’s Under-21s goals record.
Super-sub Eddie Nketiah thought he’d won it for EnglandCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Andorra provided a late sting in the taleCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But an injury-time lob from centre-back Christian Garcia meant this proved to be the banana skin Boothroyd had predicted pre-match.
It ended his side’s perfect record in the group but victory over Turkey at Molineux on Tuesday will still seal qualification to the finals.
The ex-Watford chief said: “The result is a warning to make sure we are absolutely bang on every single time we play.
“Couple that with the changes I made, the surface and everything else, the bottom line is we’re expected to win these games as you could see from our opponents’ celebrations at the end.
“They’re lessons for us. I don’t think they’ll be complacent because they’re a good bunch.
“But it’s certainly a referential experience I can use to make sure whoever we play that we’ve got to be absolutely 100 per cent at it, no matter who is playing.
“We’re England and that’s what’s expected.”
Boothroyd left his big-hitters on the bench, handing debuts to Manchester United’s Brandon Williams as well as Liverpool pair Rhys Williams and Curtis Jones.
England’s Premier League stars were embarrassed by AndorraCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Young Lions looked bemused by their poor resultCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The changes saw his side lack rhythm and they fell behind on 28 minutes when Ricard Fernandez found the corner with a low shot.
Captain Tom Davies restored parity just before the break with a sweet strike from 23 yards into the top corner, before Brentford’s Josh Dasilva tapped home on 69 minutes.
Yet the hosts would not lie down and Fernandez grabbed his second soon after, tapping in after Alex Martinez had struck the bar.
Nketiah was summoned and converted Ebere Eze’s neat pass with eight minutes to play, joining Shearer and Francis Jeffers on 13 Lion Cubs’ goals.
On the Arsenal starlet’s feat, Boothroyd added: “If he can emulate the guy he shares the record with then he will have had a brilliant career by the end of it. But it’s just the beginning for him.”
Yet there was to be a sting in the tail as centre-back Garcia galloped up in stoppage time and cheekily lifted the ball over Aaron Ramsdale to leave Boothroyd’s England red-faced.
England’s humbling took place in the picturesque mountainsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Watch Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah score hat-trick as Arteta’s Gunners thrash Charlton 6-0 in friendly
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
