(Football news) England cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over Ivory Coast at the Wembley Stadium with stand-in captain Raheem Sterling scoring one and setting up another while Ivory Coast’s captain Serge Aurier was sent off in the first half. Ollie Watkins opened the scoring for England in what was his second goal for the country after converting from three yards out when he was set up by Sterling.
Former Spurs player and Ivory Coast skipper/right back Serge Aurier was given marching orders with a second yellow card. He received the first one after fouling Jack Grealish and the second goal came six minutes later for dissent after being held up by Watkins. With the visitors down to 10 men, England took advantage of the circumstances within five minutes as Watkins set up Sterling whose shot was blocked by goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare but Jack Grealish teed him up to score in the second attempt.
Despite England firmly in the driving seat, their second half performance lacked the edge and the team couldn’t score the third goal of the match until the final touch. Tyrone Mings’ header gave England the three goal margin and maintained their winning start to the year ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. One of the biggest talking points of the match was England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire being booed by his own fans before kickoff. The 29 year old had a fairly good match and kept a clean sheet for his side in his 42nd appearance for England.
Speaking after the match, England manager Gareth Southgate said “The reception was a joke, an absolute joke. I don't know how it benefits anybody. We're either all in it together or we're not. I imagine if you asked a few of them why they did it they probably wouldn't even be able to answer. It's a mob mentality. One end of the ground you have a hardcore group trying to get his name sung – it wasn't everybody. Players will look at that and think, that could be me. It makes players not want to come. That happened with John Barnes here, that happened with Ashley Cole a couple of times, it happened with Raheem, now Harry.
“We need Harry to do well. We aren't going to win a World Cup with a load of players with three or four caps. That's never happened in the history of the game. The way he has performed for us has been absolutely phenomenal. I don't get it. He's in an England shirt and not only should you support a player in an England shirt regardless, but when you've played at the level he has for us – and put the performances in he has – it should be total commitment behind him.
“His performance was pretty faultless really. He stepped out from the back really well for the first goal, and was involved in the second one too. The team is totally united. We recognise everyone has difficult moments, but he's a top player and he will come through it. They are real England fans and some are influenced by whatever – social media or players that played previously who are influencing opinion. The club situation is obviously very difficult, but he's in an England shirt. I remember decades ago a few players being booed in an England shirt and it's never been acceptable to me. Fans should always get behind their team."
Maguire also received support from his teammates with Jordan Henderson saying “I can't get my head around what happened at Wembley tonight. Harry has been a colossus for England. Without him, the progress made at the last two tournaments would not have been possible. To be booed at his home stadium, for no reason? What have we become? What happened tonight was just wrong. As someone who wants to win with England I feel fortunate to share a dressing room with him. We all feel the same."
Jack Grealish said “Harry has been unbelievable for this country – the World Cup, the Euros, he has been brilliant. Our first two goals, the first one comes from him driving with the ball and the second one comes from him driving a little bit. Not every centre-back has those qualities." Declan Rice took to Twitter to extend his support by saying “Harry Maguire has been incredible every single time he's put on the England shirt. Absolute nonsense now it's becoming. Back your own players. Especially with a major tournament coming up."
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