LONDON – The one hundred and fifteenth British derby between England and Scotland ends in a draw. A 0-0 that in the end is celebrated by the Scots as if it were a victory, also because the national team coached by Clarke was clearly preferred with a courageous game against England at times bewildered, especially in the first half. Now the classification of group D sees the Czech Republic and the national team of the Three Lions in command at an altitude of 4 (but the English are second for goal difference), while Scotland grabs Croatia at 1 point and will challenge them in the next match to maybe aim for to qualify as best third.
Brave Scotland
Southgate changes the full-backs from the first game by proposing James and Shaw. Kane points forward and Sterling, Mount and Foden support. Clarke responds with 3-5-2 with Dykes and Adams in attack, while O’Donnell and captain Robertson operate on the outside. The derby is very much felt, obviously it is, and a foul charge by Dykes against Shaw after 10 seconds proves it. Scotland play with courage and the first chance is theirs when on a low cross from O’Donnell, Adams hits with a right right but Stones blocks him for a corner.
Stones stake, Pickford saves on O’Donnell
The English response in the 11th minute thanks to a Stones header after a corner: full post. Shortly after, Sterling steals the ball from McTominay, a ball in the area for Mount but he kicks badly at the bottom. So the match goes through a long pause made up of competitive spirit and broken plots. Or of deep throws by the British, but poorly controlled or calibrated. Pole aside, the biggest chance of the first half is Scottish and arrives at the half hour: long cross from the left of Tierney and right on the fly of O’Donnell with Pickford who rejects in diving. So Adams head fails to reiterate on the net.
Little England
At the beginning of the second half England had a better start and finally seemed to shake off the torpor of the first half: Marshall immediately had to work to deny Mount the goal. At 55 ′ one of Kane’s rare initiatives with passage to James, but high final right. After the hour of play, the English momentum dies down and Scotland returns to become dangerous when it takes a big header ahead of Mings to prevent Dykes’ advantage. At 62 ‘Scotland again: corner, ball to Dykes who turns it into the goal but James saves a ball on the line that was perhaps destined for the bottom. Southgate switches Foden to Grealish and shortly afterwards Kane also leverages Rashford in. But it changes little because the final match is all Scottish with Adams who in the 78th minute tries to fly with his right foot but without finding the door. Clarke’s national team ends the match with possession of the ball, risking only in recovery from a furious rugby scrum in the area, which ended with an attacking foul.
England-Scotland 0-0
England (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Stones, Mings, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Foden (18’st Grealish), Mount, Sterling; Kane (29’st Rashford). In panchina: Ramsdale, Johnstone, Maguire, Henderson, Trippier, Coady, Sancho, Calvert-Lewin, Chilwell, Bellingham. Allenatore: Southgate
Scotland (3-5-2): Marshall; McTominay, Hanley, Tierney; O’Donnell, McGinn, Glimour (31’st Armstrong), McGregor, Robertson; Dykes, Adams (41’st Nisbet). In panchina: Gordon, McLaughlin, Christie, Fleck, Cooper, Fraser, Patterson, Hendry, Forrest, McKenna. Allenatore: Clarke
Referee: Lahoz (Esp)
Ammonites: McGinn and O’Donnell
Corners: 6-5
Recovery: 0′, 2′.
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