Match report
England’s fine start to the nation’s qualifying campaign for next year’s European Championships continued on Sunday, courtesy of a comfortable victory over Ukraine.
The Three Lions, of course, were back in action a short time ago.
After navigating what was widely regarded as their toughest qualifying fixture to ultimately emerge on the right side of a 2-1 scoreline against Italy during the week, Gareth Southgate’s troops returned to base in London, to play host to Ukraine.
And, when all was said and done, once more, the Three Lions simply proved too much.
Harry Kane was first on target at Wembley, getting on the end of Bukayo Saka’s delightful delivery to slot home from close range:
AND HARRY KANE DOES IT AGAIN 🔥 #C4Football | #ThreeLions | #ENGUKR pic.twitter.com/RpCcXZ6UP2
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) March 26, 2023
Then, just minutes later, Saka was central once more, on this occasion turning goalscorer courtesy of a stunning long-range effort into the far top corner:
A smart finish from Saka puts @England two goals up 😍 #C4Football | #ThreeLions | #ENGUKR pic.twitter.com/3nd5h8HD1o
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) March 26, 2023
Player ratings
England
Jordan Pickford – 6
Kyle Walker – 6.5
John Stones – 6.5
Harry Maguire – 7
Ben Chilwell – 7.5
Jordan Henderson – 7
Declan Rice – 6.5
Jude Bellingham – 7.5
Bukayo Saka – 8.5
James Maddison – 7
Harry Kane – 7.5
Ukraine
Anatolii Trubin – 5.5
Oleksandr Karavaev – 5
Oleksandr Svatok – 6.5
Mykola Matviyenko – 6
Vitaliy Mykolenko – 5
Taras Stepanenko – 5.5
Oleksandr Zinchenko – 6
Ruslan Malinovskyi – 5
Georgiy Sudakov – 6
Mykhailo Mudryk – 4.5
Roman Yaremchuk – 5.5
Fan reaction
Bukayo Saka is an absolute joke of a talent for just 21 years old. His decision making, technique and general understanding of his role out on the right is astounding given his relative inexperience.
It’s scary to think how good he’s going to be in a few years. pic.twitter.com/XqlnRlhMhc
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) March 26, 2023
Bukayo Saka has dropped €100M on the pitch. pic.twitter.com/laMNeaJMMB
— WelBeast (@WelBeast) March 26, 2023
Mudryk can’t even hack it against a washed Kyle Walker pic.twitter.com/8NPqEQDfOM
— 🛸 (@stadcfc) March 26, 2023
Check out this incredible throwback! 10 years ago, a young James Maddison tweeted his dreams of making it big in football. Now, at 26, he’s rocked his first start for England! pic.twitter.com/mcvruFhrCN
— The FTBL Index 🎙 ⚽ (@TheFootballInd) March 26, 2023
Edu Gaspar fooled Chelsea into bidding €100m for Mudryk
Before going for Arsenal main target Trossard😭💉 pic.twitter.com/xBkiIB66tW
— UpYourArsenal🔴⚪🔴⚪♥️ (@UPYOURARSENAL04) March 26, 2023
At the age of 29, Harry Kane has scored 55 England goals – realistically how many international goals can he finish his career with?
His record is going to be in place for many years and will be extremely hard to beat! My guess: 78 goals.#England #COYSpic.twitter.com/vEwkXQ6jBP
— Chris Cowlin (@ChrisCowlin) March 26, 2023
🤩 Harry Kane presented with the golden boot as England all-time record goalscorer 🦁
45 minutes later, he continues to add to the record 😊 pic.twitter.com/6y45c9VsqP
— Eurosport (@eurosport) March 26, 2023
STARBOY ⭐💫👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 Gareth get him off at halftime please thank you , and can zinchenko follow suit 👍🏿👊🏿 #ENGvUKR
— Darren Bent (@DarrenBent) March 26, 2023
Ukraine can barely keep possession, can’t get anywhere close to England’s box and have been dominated the entire game. Are people expecting miracles from Mudryk? The potential is there.
— Futbol Chelsea (@FutbolCheIsea) March 26, 2023
Chilwell unsurprisingly picking up where he left off with Chelsea. There’s good balance on the left with him and Bellingham there, Maddison roaming. https://t.co/CMcLDSC144
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) March 26, 2023
James Maddison is such a lovely footballer. I feel like he is ahead of where Jack Grealish was before he moved to Man City, he very much belongs on this international stage with England and will be highly sought after in the summer market: https://t.co/0CZrXSDWnt #ThreeLions
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) March 26, 2023
Zinchenko knew what was coming. pic.twitter.com/HMMZn2OqYk
— Doc (@karthikadhaigal) March 26, 2023
Jude Bellingham. Good grief what a player. Has something of Robson in him.
The most ‘Manchester United’ player I’ve seen since Gareth Bale. Hopefully ends up with him actually going to United this time.
— Wayne Barton (@WayneSBarton) March 26, 2023
Welcome to the #ThreeLions family, @ivantoney24! 🦁 pic.twitter.com/aNG0Md2B3f
— England (@England) March 26, 2023
This England team looks unstoppable, we might actually win the euros
— honest Leicester fan (@LeicesterHonest) March 26, 2023
This England Ukraine match is not so much petering out as has left stadium and gone home for an early supper #ENGUKR
— richard foster (@rcfoster) March 26, 2023
Stat roundup
Harry Kane has scored in each of his last nine European Qualifiers for England:
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⚽And he has two hat-tricks in his last three European Qualifiers at Wembley. 🎩
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) March 26, 2023
James Maddison created more chances (3) and completed more take-ons (2) than any other player in the first half vs. Ukraine.
Enjoying his full England debut so far. 🦁🦁🦁#EURO2024Qualifiers pic.twitter.com/CvF9Ex1nT7
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) March 26, 2023
23 – Bukayo Saka has been directly involved in 23 goals in his last 34 appearances for @Arsenal and @England, scoring 16 goals while providing 7 assists. Dreamy. pic.twitter.com/oUjTVXuIdU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 26, 2023
8 – Aged 21 years and 202 days, Bukayo Saka has scored eight goals for @England; only Dixie Dean (16), Jimmy Greaves (16), Wayne Rooney (12) and Michael Owen (10) have scored more goals for the Three Lions as of Saka’s current age. Winger. pic.twitter.com/h2tB7WbTGi
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 26, 2023
Today is Jude Bellingham’s 192nd senior game for club and country combined.
He doesn’t turn 20 until June.
For context, senior apps as teenagers – Wayne Rooney 158, Michael Owen 118, Raheem Sterling 111, Bukayo Saka 106, Robbie Fowler 82.
— Michael Reid (@michael_reid11) March 26, 2023
5 – James Maddison has created five chances today, the most by a player in his first @England men’s start since Theo Walcott v Andorra in September 2008 (6). Claim. pic.twitter.com/9wpMfQ1EBI
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 26, 2023
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