ENGLAND beat Australia 1-0 at Wembley tonight in their latest friendly clash.
Ollie Watkins netted the game’s only goal after Jack Grealish drilled a volley across the box just before the hour mark.
- Kick-off time: 7.45pm BST
- Stream/TV: Channel 4/My 4
- England XI: Johnstone, Alexander-Arnold, Colwill, Dunk, Tomori, Gallagher, Henderson, Maddison, Bowen, Watkins, Grealish
- Australia XI: Ryan, Strain, Souttar, Burgess, Rowles, Baccus, Irvine, Metcalfe, Boyle, Duke, Goodwin
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Southgate needing to find perfect balance
While it made sense to give some of the squad players a run-out this evening, it will no doubt be a completely different side against Italy.
This begs the question how Gareth Southgate can expect fluidity and togetherness from a team that has not played together in this international break.
If England beat Italy, his methods will seem to have worked, defeat could see them seriously questioned.
Focus switches to tough test
Having rotated the squad against Australia this evening, Southgate’s side now look towards the game against Italy.
They will offer a much sterner test with a more physical game.
No doubt the defence will be tested far more but a side wanting to get one over on England on their home soil.
FT: England 1-0 Australia
Australia can be content with their performance this evening.
For most of the game, they contained England and Matt Ryan had little to do in goal.
Had they taken their half-chances in the box themselves, it could have been a completely different evening.
FT: England 1-0 Australia
Ollie Watkins has spoken about his main aim tonight was not to come off the pitch without having scored a goal.
He achieved his aim this evening with a real poacher’s goal.
Grealish will claim he took that one off him but as the replay showed, the Man City man’s effort was never going in.
FT: England 1-0 Australia
These two nations have had some epic battles in numerous sports over the years as the fierce rivals clashed once again.
This was not one of them.
However, Ollie Watkins managed to get on the end of a Jack Grealish shot/cross to give Gareth Southgate another win as manager.
FT: England 1-0 Australia
The referee brings the game to a close.
In all fairness, it had all the excitement of a Soccer Aid game.
Ollie Watkins’ goal is the difference between the two sides.
England 1-0 Australia
90+2. Colwill has been a willing runner getting forward tonight.
Meanwhile, Trippier is looking to offer options down the opposite flank.
Both Nketiah and Colwill will be happy to get a victory on their full England debuts.
Credit: PA England 1-0 Australia
90. Australia come forward looking to get a sight of the England goal.
The cross is disappointing as it is adjudged to have gone out of play.
We are going to have three additional minutes added.
England 1-0 Australia
88. We are entering the final stages of the game now.
Australia are still looking to find that equaliser.
England seem content running the clock down now.
England 1-0 Australia
86. The Socceroos force another corner.
Dunk did well to cover to prevent the visitors having a shot at goal.
The referee seems to be having a chat with Kalvin Phillips, presumably about those corn rows.
England 1-0 Australia
84. Foden swings in a corner for England.
Australia manage to clear their lines with a solid header.
They have been quite dominant in the air this evening.
England 1-0 Australia
82. Nketiah is penalised for a foul in the England half.
It will give Australia the chance to pump the ball into the box.
Bos flicks it on but it runs harmlessly out for a goal kick.
Credit: Getty England 1-0 Australia
80. What a chance for the visitors.
As the corner is swung in, Metcalfe meets it and has a free header.
His effort strikes the outside of the post.
Somehow, an offside is given which seems somewhat impossible given his header was the first time the ball was touched from the corner.
England 1-0 Australia
78. Irvine isn’t happy with a decision and tells referee just that.
Not a fan of the language used, he is shown a yellow card.
Australia are starting to get a little frustrated now.
England 1-0 Australia
74. Nketiah will be hoping to mark his debut with a goal.
He is England’s record goalscorer at U21 level.
Meanwhile, it is Australia who are knocking on the door at the moment.
England 1-0 Australia
72. England finally make their changes.
Maddison and Watkins are the players to make way.
This will be an England debut for Eddie Nketiah.
England 1-0 Australia
70. Australia come forward and look to get the ball into the box.
Johnstone calmly claims the ball.
England seem in no rush to get forward now as Trippier tells them to slow it down.
England 1-0 Australia
68. The Socceroos are looking to bring some fresh legs on.
Meanwhile, Southgate is looking to bring Foden and Nketiah on.
Time to give some players an outing in this game.
England 1-0 Australia
66. England win a corner after Alexander-Arnold’s shot is deflected wide.
The Socceroos are ready to make some changes themselves.
They know they have to chase the game now if they want any sort of result from this game.
Credit: Getty England 1-0 Australia
64. It shows the depth of quality England have with these changes.
Debatably, they have a far better eleven players on the bench.
What a wealth of riches Southgate has at his disposal.
Still never won anything as a manager though.
England 1-0 Australia
62. Trippier slots into the right-back role, allowing Alexander-Arnold to move up into midfield.
Rashford will look to run at the Australian right back, who is already on a yellow card.
Jordan Henderson was seemingly booed as he came off.
England 1-0 Australia
60. Trippier, Stones, Rashford and Phillips come on for England.
It is nice to see Gareth Southgate’s favourite midfielder get a run out.
Grealish, Henderson, Gallagher and Tomori make way.
England 1-0 Australia
58. We finally have the first goal of the game.
Alexander-Arnold crosses the ball, finding Grealish who flashes a shot across goal.
Watkins slides in at the back post to convert.
Goal – Ollie Watkins (England)
England 0-0 Australia
56. England have a free kick in a wide position.
Maddison clips the ball into the box, headed clear by Souttar.
Australia have not managed to fully clear it as England have possession back.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
