Gareth Southgate’s England thrashed Hungary 4-0 in their latest 2022 FIFA World Cup European qualifier. However, the tactician wasn’t pleased with the response from the Hungary crowd during the game.
England received hostile reception during their latest 2022 World Cup qualifier against Hungary. While the Three Lions beat their opponents, they were subjected to jeering from the crowd whilst taking the knee before kick-off and had projectiles thrown at them later during the game.
Head coach Gareth Southgate called for action and protection of his players, deeming the incidents as completely unacceptable.
“Everybody knows what we stand for as a team and that’s completely unacceptable,”
“Everything has been reported to UEFA and we have to see what happens from there. There’s no more that this group of players – and all the staff in fairness – could do in the fight against racism. We’re trying to uphold our part of it and other people have got to take the right action to try and make progress.
“I don’t think our players can do anything more than they have done in the last two or three years to get the right messages out, to take the right stands and it is for other people to protect them.”
Southgate said.
Boos greeted the England eleven before the kick-off as they took the knee in their continuous stand against racism. The hostilities continued as Raheem Sterling opened the scoring in the 55th minute, projectiles were thrown at the players from the stands.
England, nonetheless, continued to be unfazed by the reception and scored three more times to end the night with a 4-0 win. Harry Kane and Harry Maguire added a goal each shortly after Sterling’s opener before Declan Rice punctuated a big win with the sweetest of strikes.
With four wins from four, England remain top of their group. Behind them in second are Poland and Hungary with seven points each from four games.
The Three Lions face Andorra and Poland before the conclusion of the international break. A win in each of their next two games would put them in the driving seat for qualification to the World Cup during the next international window.
