KYLE WALKER’S maiden international goal, in his 77th England appearance, kept Gareth Southgate’s side on course for next summer’s Euros.
A stunning assist from skipper Harry Kane allowed the outstanding Manchester City full-back to equalise just before half-time after Oleksandr Zinchenko had fired Ukraine into a shock lead.
APKyle Walker rescued a draw for England against Ukraine[/caption]
GettyOleksandr Zinchenko fired Ukraine into the lead[/caption]
ReutersZinchenko celebrates netting the opener[/caption]
PAWalker netted an equaliser before half time[/caption]
GettyThe goal was Walker’s first ever for England[/caption]
But this was England’s most disappointing performance since the World Cup group-stage draw with the United States, as they gave up their 100 per cent record in this qualifying campaign.
Despite a host of in-form attacking players, Southgate’s team lacked their usual fluency and failed to create enough clear-cut chances despite dominating possession at the Tarczynski Arena in the Polish city of Ukraine.
A passionate crowd of displaced Ukrainian fans, exiled from their war-torn homeland, roared on Sergiy Rebrov’s side, who defended stoutly and were threatening on the counter-attack.
England will now have to wait until next month’s Wembley clash with Italy, at the earliest, before they clinch qualification for the finals in Germany.
The Three Lions now face an in-form Scotland in a Hampden Park ‘friendly’ on Tuesday and Steve Clarke’s Tartan Army will have little to fear on the basis of this sloppy display.
Southgate could call on a clutch of players inspired by summer moves – Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Maddison.
But his most controversial selection was that of Jordan Henderson, whose switch to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq has caused a storm with LGBT fans, while also casting doubt on his international future in footballing terms.
Ukraine’s players were draped in their national flag for the anthems and there was a feverish atmosphere before kick-off among the thousands of Ukrainian fans living here in Poland.
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ReutersJordan Henderson started for England in midfield[/caption]
GettyJude Bellingham started the game with confidence[/caption]
England were utterly dominant early on – with Bellingham full of confidence and invention – but they were unable to carve out a decent scoring opportunity.
Bukayo Saka appeared to be inhibited by an early knock and Ukraine, having defended assuredly, began to grow as an attacking force.
There were a few shaky moments for the English defence before Ukraine seized the lead on 26 minutes.
Their right-back Yukhym Konoplia surged down the right past Ben Chilwell and cut back for Zinchenko to drill home – England’s midfield having failed to pick up the Arsenal man’s run and Jordan Pickford diving the wrong way.
England were provoked into a renewed sense of urgency but Henderson skied a shot and Southgate’s side were beginning to show frustration – Maddison booked for a foul on Illia Zabarnyi.
Bellingham carved open the Ukraine defence with a diagonal pass but Maddison failed to capitalise with a poor first touch.
The place was rocking and England appeared to be wilting. They needed something out of the ordinary to equalise – and that’s what they produced.
Kane had dropped so deep he was standing next to his central defenders, to the side of the centre circle, when he conjured a visionary diagonal pass all of 40 yards towards Walker.
ReutersHarry Kane set up Walker’s goal[/caption]
ReutersWalker finally netted for England on his 77th cap[/caption]
The City defender chested down, rifled past Georgiy Bushchan and survived a VAR check for offside to break his duck after 12 years as an international footballer.
After the break Maguire headed on to the roof of the net from a Walker cross and a Henderson centre had Bushchan sprawling.
But a sloppy Bellingham pass afforded Ukraine a half-chance but Georgiy Sudakov screwed his shot well wide.
England had been struggling for fluency, on a difficult playing surface, but they clicked into gear when Maddison fed Kane, who held it up and slipped a pass to Saka, the Arsenal man leathering a shot which Bushchan tipped on to the bar.
Saka exchanged passes with Maddison, wriggled past a defender but had a shot blocked.
Midway through the second half, Southgate introduced Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden in place of Bellingham and Maddison, neither of whom had truly sparked.
Rashford had an angled drive pushed out by Bushchan, who then saved a close-range effort from a lunging Maguire.
Walker capped a fine personal display with a couple of excellent late challenges to dispossess Mykhailo Mudryk as Ukraine broke menacingly.
GettyGareth Southgate must not prepare his team to face Scotland[/caption]