England 0-2 Chile: Reality check for Hodgson as Three Lions shut-out at Wembley
England were dealt a reality check in their first match since sealing their place in next summer’s World Cup, as the Three Lions were undone by an impressive Chile side in a 2-0 defeat at Wembley.
Roy Hodgson fielded an experimental team which saw Southampton duo Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez start on their international debuts, while Frank Lampard captained the side on his 100th England appearance.
But the Three Lions chief’s decision backfired as they were outplayed in front of a packed home crowd, with Barcelona star Alexis Sanchez’s brace ending England’s ten-match unbeaten run.
Hodgson’s men started brightly, with Phil Jones' strong header forcing a great save from Chile stopper Claudio Bravo, who was on hand ahead to palm away James Milner’s drilled low cross.
The visitors were a mess at the back in the opening exchanges, but the game was quickly turned on its head when Sanchez nodded in from close-range after just seven minutes.
Leighton Baines was well beaten in the box by the striker, fueling the debate over whether the Everton defender should get the nod over the more defensively sound Ashley Cole as England’s first choice left-back in Brazil.
From then on in England struggled to get a foothold in the game and repeatedly found themselves penned-in in their own half.
Chile’s relentless pressing was a constant frustration for the Three Lions, who were unable to find time on the ball and grew more aggravated as the game progressed.
Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster, picked ahead of Joe Hart who continues his stint on the bench, made some fine saves to deny Wigan winger Jean Beausejour as Chile drove forward time and time again.
But England still had some chances, Lampard going close with a free-kick which was tipped onto the bar by Bravo, while Jack Wilshere saw his piledriver punched away.
After a poor first-half the home side were unable to make much of an impact after the break, despite the later introductions of the likes of Andros Townsend, Jermain Defoe and Ross Barkley.
And the game was well and truly put to bed in injury-time when Sanchez went clean through on goal and scored his second with a cool chip over Forster, to give Hodgson food for thought ahead of next Tuesday’s [un]friendly against Germany.
Elsewhere, Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane's Republic of Ireland tenure got off to a good start with a comfortable 3-0 win over Latvia.
Captain Robbie Keane opened the scoring in the first-half, while strikes from Aiden McGeady and Shane Long after the break secured a morale-boosting win for the side.
It wasn’t such good news for Northern Ireland though, as they were beaten 1-0 by Turkey in Istanbul, while Scotland played out a goalless draw with the USA at Hampden Park.