Image: Harwood-Bellis header makes it five. englandfootball.com
15.56 p.m. Initial team news is that Harry Kane is returning to the England line up today, with Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento. Still many names unfamiliar to many, but not to England manager Lee Carsley as they came up through his Under 21 squad. This is Carsley’s last match in charge.
Ireland are making two changes from their win over Finland on Thursday, full team news coming soon.
15.59 England: Pickford, Livramento, Walker, Guehi, Hall, Jones, Gallagher, Bellingham, Madueke, Gordon, Kane
Ireland: Kelleher, O’Shea, McGuiness, Collins, Scales, O’Dowda, Ebosele, Cullen, Molumby, Ferguson, Szmodics.
England will be hoping that the excellent performance of Bellingham, Madueke, and Gordon will be repeated today. Ireland may rely on Kelleher, who was magnificent against Finland as he has been for Liverpool this year.
More nearer kick off when the teams appear for warm up.
16.35 An interesting fact. Jordan Pickford today picks up his 73rd cap for England today, which moves him level with the great Gordon Banks who some of us remember, from the 1966 world cup winning team and the magnificent and much repeated 1970 world cup save from a Pele header. I am feeling old now.
16.45 As kick off nears, Wembley seems slow to fill up. No doubt it will be packed by 5 p.m.
16.54 The players are coming out of the tunnel. The stadium is filling.
16.55 National anthems. Ireland’s greeted with the traditional Wembley disrespect of booing.
16.56 It is raining
16.57 Now England’s. I have to admit that whilst all other nations have stirring music and patriotic words calling on their country to unite behind their team, we just have a dirge that asks the almighty to look after one person, now the King. Also these are better if they have a professional singer leading them. Still, not really the key issue of today.
17.00. Ireland kick off, playing the ball back and then straight out of play.
17.04 Madueke breaks through on the right wing but his cross is blocked as is a follow up shot by Jones. Corner to England.
17.06 From the corner, Walker heads wide.
17.07 Ireland try and break down their right wing.
17.08 Great ball from Bellingham into the box for Gordon, who is blocked. Another corner.
17.09 Corner does not clear the first defender, Gordon lobs in a cross/shot that Kelleher catches with ease
17.10 Malueke breaks again, Bellingham effort easily blocked
17.12 Another England corner as Bellingham wriggles through and his cross is blocked.
17.13 Walker leaps, and heads but well wide.
17.15 Ireland have a bit of possession in the England half, but end up being forced backwards.
17.16 Kelleher has time to clear but sends is straight out for an England throw, so back the team in white come again
17.20 Harry Kane nearly got a touch in the penalty area, which is the first time I have mentioned him.
17.22 The England wingers have both moved into the middle which spoils their effectiveness, they are looking for the ball.
17.23 Having said that, Madueke once again skips past two defenders but knocks the ball out for a goalkick
17.24 Finland Greece still goalless too
17.25 For the second time in 2 minutes, England play a hopeful long ball forward towards Gordon but it goes straight out for a goal kick. Ireland’s back five are holding England
17.28 Malueke had the ball within the penalty area and shot but it was blocked. Hopeful calls for a penalty for handball were ignored.
17.30 Good run by Bellingham into the penalty area leads to him spinning but he shoots wide. Better play from the home team
17.32 Szmodics of Ireland seems to have twisted his knee. Long delay for treatment.
17.35 Back on the pitch
17.36 Ireland break through with Szmodics who goes down in the penalty area, no penalty. England through Malueke break down the right but he loses the ball.
17.37 Madueke has an air shot in the penalty area.
17.39 Scales upends Kane in midfield, but fairly
17.41 Madueke gives away a free kick in the England end and is booked, but the lobbed in kick is cleared.
17.41 Bellingham booked for protesting
17.46 Late England corner
17.48 Kane and Molumby have a wrestling match and are both booked
17.49 Half time. Still 0 0 in Finland too.
17.50 Hardly edge of the seat stuff as Ireland’s defence has held England back with comparative ease. Not one shot on target from either team. Will there be changes during the break? I think so.
17.57 The game in Helsinki is just as thrilling and just as 0-0.
17.59 According to the match statistics, England have had 75% of the ball and 8 shots. I think that is using a generous definition of shots. None on target, and Ireland have had no shots at all. It is beginning to look like Ireland will win a late penalty and pinch it, but that is my pessimism kicking in.
18.02 According to the statistics Greece have actually managed one shot on target in their match. Out of their 8 shots.
18.03 No changes at half time. Half the crowd are not yet back in their seats.
18.06 Good play from Kane who chips a ball across the area, but the subsequent shot is blocked away.
18.07 Livramento, gets a cross in now, but headed away. Now back in the England half
18.09 PENALTY TO ENGLAND. RED CARD TO IRELAND. Excitement now. Long ball into the penalty area from Kane, Bellingham checks back, Scales trips him, and gets a second yellow.
18.10 Kane of course to take
18.10 England 1 Ireland 0 Kane scores
18.12 I wish to make it clear when I suggested changes at half time I was not suggesting Kane, who made this with his ball in to the penalty area, and scored from the kick.
18.12 Good timing as Greece have just scored too.
18.13 England 2 Ireland 0 Gordon Livramento, crosses, rebounds to Gordon who hammers it into the net for his first ever England goal.
18.15 Livramento is playing further forward down the right, making more space.
18.16 England 3 Ireland 0 Guehi heads a corner and and Gallagher knocks it in, or is it offside?
No, it is a goal. I suppose the change I called for is that England have started scoring goals. And that is Gallagher’s first for his country too.
So are Greece, they are two up.
18.20 Ireland have gone to pieces, played the ball out for an England throw.
18.21 Kyle Walker has been replaced by Harwood-Bellis of Southampton.
18.24 Three Irish substitutions Azaz, Manning, Parrott, for O’Dowda, Ebosele, and Ferguson
18.27 Two great runs by Madueke causing panic in the Irish penalty area
18.28 Great cheap from Kane who is having a superb second half. Madueke cannot turn it into a shot
18.33 Gordon, Madueke, Gallagher off, replaced by Bowen, Rogers, and Solanke
18.34 England 4 Ireland 0. Bowen scores a scorcher with his first touch just having got on the pitch. 3 seconds after having come on the pitch. From a free kick by Bellingham.
18.36 I cannot type this quickly. Solanke hits the ball over the bar with his first kick, so still only four nil. A period of calm would help.
18.37 Gomes on for Jones.
18.37 5 0. Harwood-Bellis, and his first England goal. A Bellingham corner.
18.41 Four minutes and nothing has happened. What is going on?
18.41 Another corner, hold on, they have been productive. Not this time though
18.44 Szmodics replaced by McAteer
18.46 Kane shot well saved by Kelleher. Corner placed backwards.
18.46 Bowen’s shot on the turn well saved by Kelleher.
18.48 Great cross by Kane.
18.49 Only three minutes of injury time, which is perhaps kind on Ireland
18.50 Bowen cracks a shot from the edge of the area but it curls away from goal.
18.51 Full time whistle blows. On the whistle summary below
18.52 England thrash Ireland, but it only tells part of the story. Up until a superb through ball from Harry Kane 5 minutes into the second reached Jude Bellingham in the penalty area, his control and turn led Scales to bring him down giving away a penalty, and a second yellow card, England had not managed a shot on or even near the goal. From the moment Kane converted the spot kick, Ireland were overrun and four England newcomers scored their first even goals for their country, the first time that has happened in one game.
Lee Carsley hands over a team who have fought back from a shambles 6 weeks ago against Greece to win three matches in a row, top their group, and get promoted. The second half performance, regardless of how poor Ireland may have been, was a pleasure to watch. New manager Thomas Tuchel will take over a team brimming with confidence, and perhaps some of those who missed these two games, against Greece and Ireland, may be looking over their shoulders. For the full match summary, please click here.