OneFootball
Phil Costa·14 October 2019
OneFootball
Phil Costa·14 October 2019
Here are three points we took away from the game …
How are we playing still playing football matches with brainless, senseless racist chants taking place?
On what was an impressive night for England, with plenty of exciting, attacking football on display, their players were instead targeted by idiots in the stands.
Credit referee Ivan Bebek and his officials who acknowledged the complaints and dealt with them (to the letter of Uefa protocol), but what happens now?
If England walk off next time – are they punished? Will Uefa punish Bulgaria sufficiently, instead of inadequate fines and pathetic stadium bans?
Plenty to think about on what was a deeply disappointing night.
Gareth Southgate was criticised for his muddled team selection in the defeat to Czech Republic, but he got it spot on against Bulgaria.
Marcus Rashford played like someone with a point to prove and opened the scoring with a stunning strike – his first in 12 games for club and country.
Then Ross Barkley added a neat brace with two finishes from close range, after timing his late runs into the box perfectly.
Finding balance in this side has proven difficult for the waistcoated wonder, but players will always be ready to take their opportunities.
Full credit goes to Tyrone Mings – who carried himself perfectly both on and off the pitch – on his senior England debut.
The Aston Villa defender completed 95% of his passes, won 9 of his 10 duels and even completed three dribbles for good measure.
Mings was also the direct subject of monkey chants but kept his head, alerted the linesman and later his captain Harry Kane.
On what should be a night to remember, hopefully the sad scenes remain an afterthought following his assured performance.
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