England vs Ivory Coast. International Match.
Wembley StadiumAttendance73,405.
Match report and free highlights as Raheem Sterling scores and assists with the captain's armband, and Tyrone Mings heads in as England beat an Ivory Coast side reduced to 10 men by Serge Aurier's bookings in quick succession in the first half.
Wednesday 30 March 2022 16:48, UK
Stand-in captain Raheem Sterling scored one and set up another, while visiting skipper Serge Aurier was sent off in the first half as England cruised to a 3-0 friendly win over Ivory Coast at Wembley.
Former Tottenham defender Aurier had been done all ends up by Sterling in the build-up to England's opener on the half-hour, which was gleefully tucked home from three yards by Ollie Watkins for his second goal for his country.
Aurier's night then went from bad to worse when the right-back picked up two bookings in quick succession. The first was for chopping down Jack Grealish, the second came six minutes later for dissent after he was held up by Watkins - a reminder of Aurier's costly hot-headed moments in a Spurs shirt.
England capitalised on their numerical advantage within five minutes. Sterling scythed through the Ivory Coast midfield with the help of a Watkins lay-off and when his shot was parried away by goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare, the impressive Grealish coolly teed him up to turn in at the second attempt.
At that point it looked like a flood of goals might follow but England lacked some zip in the second half and had to wait until the final touch of the game to add a third, with Tyrone Mings heading in for a three-goal margin to maintain their winning start to a year which will be defined by the World Cup next winter. Tougher and more intense tests are to come.
While it was a memorable night for Sterling captaining his country in his hometown, there were boos for another senior England figure Harry Maguire before kick-off. The out-of-form Manchester United skipper - who did have his name sung during the match - had a relatively straightforward night on the field, with Ivory Coast toothless without the injured Wilfried Zaha and almost unable to get out of their own half in the second period.
Given the 10 changes made from Saturday's win over Switzerland, England had begun well in the opening 30 minutes against 11 and could easily have taken the lead earlier, with Declan Rice's shot headed away by Eric Bailly, Grealish firing through the legs of Aurier at the 'keeper, and Sterling's smart touch and shot denied by Deli's block.
Eighteen-year-old Jude Bellingham was another positive across the game, with a slick one-two with Sterling leading to the midfielder's shot being saved onto the post early on before he curled wide later in the first half.
He was at the centre of controversy at the beginning of the second period, when referee Erik Lambrechts further incensed the Ivory Coast players by awarding a penalty when Bellingham went down under Fousseny Coulibaly's challenge. But that decision was rightly overturned following a check of the pitchshide monitor - the half-time sub had got the ball first.
Bellingham's classy play continued, though, and he could be banging on the door for a starting spot come the World Cup.
A quadruple change, which saw England send on Kane, Phil Foden, Emile Smith Rowe and Luke Shaw on the hour mark, was the last thing the visitors needed but the chances dried up for the hosts, with James Ward-Prowse's drive over the bar the closest England came through the second half until Mings' late intervention. The Aston Villa man headed powerfully into the ground from Foden's corner to add some gloss.
Deli could have pulled one back for Ivory Coast before then, volleying over from Jean Michael Seri's excellent free-kick, but there rarely appeared a threat to England's now 22-game unbeaten run.
They'll be back in action in June when the level ramps up a notch in the Nations League. Until then Southgate can reflect on a positive start to a pivotal year.
Gareth Southgate hit out at England supporters who booed Harry Maguire before the win over Ivory Coast.
The Manchester United captain is enduring a difficult season with his club but Southgate called the abuse for a player who has helped England to a World Cup semi-final and European Championship final "a joke".
"I thought the reception was a joke. An absolute joke," Southgate told Sky Sports. "What he's done for us and the way he has performed for England has been phenomenal. I don't get it.
"We're either all in this together or we're not. He's in an England shirt and not only should you support someone in an England shirt regardless but when he's played at the level he has, it should be total commitment behind him. So, I don't get it.
"They are real England fans. And some are influenced by whatever, I don't know if it's social media, players that have played previously that are influencing opinion... Obviously his club situation is difficult but he's in an England shirt.
"I remember a few decades ago when some players were booed in an England shirt - it's never been acceptable. I've never got it. Why would people play any better? Fans should always get behind their team."
Patrice Beaumelle, Ivory Coast head coach: "Unfortunately we get a red card so early and afterwards we were obliged to run after the ball. Already 11 v11 it was quite difficult. 11 v 10 it was quite impossible. When we were one less player the game was done for us and it was quite difficult to give a good challenge.
"I think there is a clear challenge in the midfield and Serge gets obstructed and he is thinking it was a foul. For me it was a light foul but it was a foul. It killed the spectacle because even for the fans it wasn't a game anymore. He's the captain. He's a mature player and he has to lead the group. When you lead the group like that against England at Wembley the whole team is punished."
On Zaha's fitness: "After the first game he felt some pain in his hamstring. He had a scan which showed a grade 1 or 2 on the hamstring and it was not necessary to give any risk. For him it was a dream to play England, with Ivory Coast in London. This is football. I have to understand the players have a busy schedule. If his hamstring gets bad it's six weeks, two months. Today I released him to have some physio with his club. I asked him to come and watch the team tonight. He was so sad he couldn't play."
It's an England special of the Essential Football Podcast after the Three Lions' wins over Switzerland and Ivory Coast during the international break. Charlotte Marsh is joined by senior football journalist Pete Smith and football writer Ben Grounds to have a look back - and forwards - on England's 2022.
Part 1 | What did we learn from the two friendlies? How much can we read into Gareth Southgate's squad selection, and who did the guys pick in their 23 for Qatar?
Part 2 | What was the thinking behind the Maguire boos and did Southgate nail his response? Who could England face in Qatar, and who would be the best and worst-case scenario? Finally, how is England's 2022 shaping up?
England have booked their place at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar - but what are the key dates and kick-off times?
Who else has qualified, when's the draw and who is seeded? And what's happening to the Premier League when the World Cup is on?
Nations League
June 4: Hungary (a)
June 8: Germany (a)
June 11: Italy (h)
June 14: Hungary (h)
September 23: Italy (a)
September 26: Germany (h)
World Cup 2022 starts in November: Dates, draw, schedule, kick-off times
