In the second match at the European Championships, England’s footballers drew 0-0 with the island rival Scotland and did not take the chance to secure advance to the round of 16 in the “Czech” Group D. The home favorites in London did not follow the initial triumph 1-0 over Croatia, the Scots scored for the first time after losing 0-2 to the Czech Republic and stayed in the game.
The English are second to the Czech team in the score table. He drew 1: 1 with the Croats today and at the end of the opening phase of the tournament at London’s Wembley Stadium, he will compete with Albion. A point is enough for both teams to be sure of progress. Scotland will also challenge the Croats in Glasgow on Tuesday.
“It wasn’t our best performance. But it’s another point towards progress, which is our primary goal. We will have another big match with the Czech Republic in a few days and we want to finish the group as best we can,” said English captain Harry Kane in a television interview.
“I think we deserved to win. We had a great chance. At times we held the ball great and frustrated our opponents. Other times we would get even more out of it, but the point keeps us alive and that’s important,” added Scottish captain Andy Robertson.
Coach Gareth Southgate’s charges interrupted a series of seven victories, but did not cash in the seventh of the last eight duels. The English did not lose to Scotland for the fifth time in a row.
The guests started more actively and the Stones blocked the Adams’ dangerous shot. The English stopper then almost opened the score in the 12th minute, when he headed into the stick unobstructed by a defender. Right next to it, Mount ended, then Kane missed the Scottish goal.
After half an hour of play, England was held back by the goalkeeper Pickford, who pulled out O’Donnell’s volley well. The home team were tormented with the rest of the first half, and there was a whistling sound in the stands, which accompanied the Albion player into the locker rooms.
In the second act, the picture of the game did not change much, moreover, the chances diminished. Shortly after the break, Scottish goalkeeper Marshall also appeared against Mount’s hard blow. Otherwise, however, the home team, led by the indistinct captain Kan, continued to struggle with a strong defensive block of the opponent.
“It was a difficult match. The Scots defended very well, they were in the right place at the right time. We know that no match against the Euro is easy, and Scotland was fighting for their lives today,” said striker Kane.
The Scots seldom threatened after an hour of play, when Pickford was replaced on the goal line by defender James. The English then demanded in vain penalties after Sterling’s fall in the penalty area. But the island derby didn’t offer more.
“It was a frustrating evening. We have to pay a big tribute to Scotland. If you can’t win the match, then it’s important not to lose it,” said coach Southgate.
European Football Championship:
Group D (London):
England – Scotland 0: 0
Judges: Mateu Lahoz – Cebrián Devís, Del Palomar – Hernández (video, all Šp.). ŽK: McGinn, O’Donnell (both Scotland). Attendance: 22,500.
England: Pickford – James, Stones, Mings, Shaw – Rice, Phillips – Foden (63. Grealish), Mount, Sterling – Kane (74. Rashford). Trenér: Southgate.
Scotland: Marshall – McTominay, Hanley, Tierney – O’Donnell, McGinn, Gilmour (76. Armstrong), McGregor, Robertson – Dykes, Adams (86. Nisbet). Trenér: Clarke.
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